Ziziphus spina-christi
(Christ's thorn jujube)

Preferred Common Name

• Christ's thorn jujube

Other Scientific Names

• Rhamnus spina-christi L.
• Ziziphus spina-christi var. aucheri (Boiss.) Qaiser & Nazim.
• Ziziphus spina-christi var. spina-christi L.

International Common Names

• English: Christ's thorn; Syrian Christ-thorn
• French: epine du Christ; jujube
• Arabic: kurna; nabbag; nubak; sidr

Local Common Names

• Iran: serd
• Netherlands Antilles: apeldam

EPPO code

• ZIPSC (Ziziphus spina-christi)

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Rhamnales
•                         Family: Rhamnaceae
•                             Genus: Ziziphus
•                                 Species: Ziziphus spina-christi

The family Rhamnaceae comprises 52 genera and 925 species distributed worldwide, particularly across tropical and warm temperate regions. The genus Ziziphus consists of approximately 100–170 species of deciduous or evergreen trees and shrubs known for being drought tolerant and very resistant to heat (Saied et al., 2008; Stevens, 2012). The species Ziziphus spina-christi has been among the key plants of the Middle East and the Sahel region since ancient times. The epithet name ‘spina-christi’ derives from the belief that this tree provided the crown of thorns said to have been placed on Jesus’ head before he was crucified (Dafni et al., 2005; Saied et al., 2008; Orwa et al., 2009). Phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast genomic SSR markers showed that Z. spina-christi clustered with Z. mauritiana, while Z. jujuba clustered with Z. acidojujuba (Huang et al., 2017). Morphological studies in Saudi Arabia recognized two varieties var. spina-christi and var. microphylla, but reported variation in growth habit, branch colour and pubescence, and leaf shape (Almalki and Alzahrani, 2018). 

The following description is from the Flora of Pakistan (2017) and Saied et al. (2008):

A medium-size tree, with spreading, greyish white branches, glabrous or slightly pubescent. Stipular spines in pairs, one erect, approx. 2 cm long, the other recurved 5–8 mm long, sometimes spines absent. Leaves 2–6 x 1–4 cm ovate-elliptic or suborbicular, glabrous or pubscent on nerves beneath, rounded to subcordate at base, obtuse or shortly acuminate, margin entire or obsoletely crenate, 3-nerved; petiole 3–12 mm long, glabrous or puberulous. Inflorescence axillary tomentose, pedicel woolly, approx. 3–5 mm long. Flowers 4–6 mm across, subsessile, greenish yellow, sweet scented. Calyx approx. 1 mm long, keeled within, pubescent, ovate, ± acute, 5 petals spathulate; 1.25–1.5 mm long. Styles short, bifid. Disc prominently 10-lobed, glabrous, grooved. Ovary 2-locular. Fruit is a globose drupe, red-yellow to yellow-green with a non-separating hard stone surrounded by edible fruit pulp, 10–30 cm diameter.

Z. spina-christi was introduced from Palestine into Curacao in 1885. It has since escaped into the wild and is naturalized in Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire in the Caribbean (Van der Burg et al., 2012).

Soil drainage

• seasonally waterlogged

Soil reaction

• neutral

Soil texture

• heavy
• light
• medium

Special soil tolerances

• infertile
• saline

Z. spina-christi spreads via seed. Seeds are primarily dispersed by wind, animals and humans; fruits are sold in local markets (Saied et al., 2008).

It is cultivated throughout the tropics and therefore has been intentionally introduced to many countries outside its native range (Orwa et al., 2009).

Z. spina-christi is an aggressive colonizer that forms spiny, impenetrable thickets that displace and outcompete native vegetation. It is very difficult to control once established and has an extraordinary regenerative capacity. In addition, the seeds have a hard, woody shell allowing them to remain viable for a long time (Orwa et al., 2009; Van der Burg et al., 2012; PROTA, 2017).

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Has a broad native range
• Abundant in its native range
• Highly adaptable to different environments
• Is a habitat generalist
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Pioneering in disturbed areas
• Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
• Long lived
• Fast growing
• Gregarious
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year

• Ecosystem change/ habitat alteration
• Modification of successional patterns
• Monoculture formation
• Reduced amenity values
• Reduced native biodiversity
• Threat to/ loss of native species

• Competition - monopolizing resources
• Competition - smothering
• Rapid growth
• Produces spines, thorns or burrs

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately
• Difficult/costly to control

Economic Value

Z. spina-christi is widely cultivated for its fruits across the Sahara, Tunisia, Algeria, Niger, East Africa, Israel and Iran. The fruit is edible and occasionally sweet, but the flavour and texture are inferior to other Ziziphus spp. The fruits are eaten fresh or dried. They may also be ground into a floury meal or paste, used as a condiment or for making confectionary (Elsheshetawy and Faid, 2015). Sundried fruits are ground into a powder, water is added and the mixture shaped into cakes similar to gingerbread (Azam-Ali et al., 2006).

The wood is also used for fuelwood and for making high quality charcoal. The tree coppices well. The hard, heavy and termite resistant red or dark brown wood is used for spear shafts, posts, roofing beams, tool handles, utensils, artistic woodwork and cabinet making. The leaves provide valuable animal forage and fodder under open grazing conditions. Sheep and goats consume the fruits and camels consume the foliage. Grown as a windbreak it is also used as a living fence due to its thorny branches (Neuwinger, 2000; Saied et al. 2008; Orwa et al., 2009; Asgarpanah and Haghighat, 2012; Nuru et al., 2012; PROTA, 2017). 

Flowers also valued as a nectar source for honeybees (Sudhersan et al., 2016). It is the most important tree for honey production within its native range, particularly in the Middle East where the excellent flavoured honey from this tree is considered a speciality and sells for up to $190/kg, the most expensive honey sold in the region. In West Africa it is intercropped with millet (Orwa et al., 2009; Nuru et al., 2012).

Social Benefit

Flavonoids, alkaloids and saponins are the main phytochemicals that are reported from this plant species. Geranyl acetone, methyl hexadecanoate, methyl octadecanoate, farnesyl acetone, hexadecanol and ethyl octadecanoate are characterized as the major components of the leaves’ volatile oil. The various various alkaloids include ziziphine, jubanine and amphibine, alpha terpinol and linalol (Younes et al., 1996). Due to the easy collection of the plant materials, its low cost, and remarkable biological activities, Z. spina-christi has long been used in traditional Middle Eastern and African medicine, particularly the fruits, seeds, leaves, roots and bark (Asgarpanah and Haghighat, 2012). In the Sahel region, the roots are used to treat headaches, while the spines or ashes of the species are applied to snake bites. Boiled leaves are applied to various surface wounds, and also have anti-helminthic and anti-diarrhetic properties (Malgras, 1992; Boulos, 1983). In Egypt and the southern Sahara, a narcotic beverage is made from the fruits, which is considered to be a tranquilizer and sedative (Younes et al., 1996). In Morocco, the fruits are used as an emollient and astringent agent. It is also reputed to reduce abscesses and boils and poultice of young leaves are used to reduce eye inflammations. Among Bedouin in Israel the fruits were formerly used as an abortifacient, and as a control agent for rodent pests (Shappira et al., 1990). Azam-Ali et al. (2006) reported that in Saudi Arabia the fruits, when eaten in quantity, act as a laxative and the stem bark is used to relieve fevers and toothache. 

Aqueous leaf extracts showed strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enteric, but no activity against Staphylococcus aureus. However, hydroalcoholic leaf extracts showed antimicrobial activity against S. aureus, but not against the other three bacteria (Masoumian and Zandi, 2017). In mice Mubaraki et al. (2017) demonstrated a protective effect of leaf extracts against Plasmodium berghei-induced cerebral tissue injuries, markedly reducing weight loss in malarial mice compared with the control. Leaf extracts were also tested for antioxidant, hypoglycaemic and antidiabetic activities in mice (Al-Ghamdi and Shahat, 2017). Butanolic extracts showed potential hypoglycaemic activity while methanol, ethyl acetate and butanolic extracts had high DPPH free radical scavenging ability equivalent to 89, 96 and 80.3% of the activity of the standard control drug glibenclamide, respectively. Almeer et al. (2018) reported that leaf extracts ameliorated liver damage in mice caused by the schistosomiasis causing parasite Schistosome mansoni. The leaf extracts had anti-apoptotic, anti-fibrotic and antioxidant effects. A significant decline in the number of worms and eggs was also noted up to 8 weeks post-infection.

Environmental Services

Z. spina-christi is often planted for soil erosion control and dune stabilization due to its deep taproots and spreading lateral roots (Orwa et al., 2009; Sudhersan et al., 2016). The tree is planted around towns and villages for shade as it makes useful windbreaks and shelterbelts. It is known to improve soil fertility by increasing available phosphorous (Saied et al. 2008).