Ziziphus /ˈzɪzɨfəs/ is a genus of about 40 species of spiny shrubs and small trees in the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae, distributed in the warm-temperate and subtropical regions throughout the world. The leaves are alternate, entire, with three prominent basal veins, and 2–7 cm (0.79–2.8 in) long; some species are deciduous, others evergreen. The flowers are small, inconspicuous yellow-green. The fruit is an edible drupe, yellow-brown, red, or black, globose or oblong, 1–5 cm (0.39–2.0 in) long, often very sweet and...
Trees, shrubs or suffrutices; stipular spines usually paired. Leaves alternate, petiolate; lamina minutely serrate, 3-5-veined from the base. Cymes axillary or rarely terminal. Flowers bisexual. Sepals 5. Petals 0 or 5. Disk flat, covering the receptacle, 5-10-lobed or rarely entire. Ovary 2(-4)-locular. Fruit a drupe, usually 2-seeded.