Zizyphus.] xxv. rhamne^e. 87 



varieties erect or spreading, tomentose, rarely glabrous. Two-year-old 

 branches slightly flexuose, either dull brown, or covered with grey epider- 

 mis. Branches and branchlets armed with short stipular spines, generally 

 twin, one straight, the other bent, or both equal, or one wanting, or en- 

 tirely unarmed. Leaves sessile, short-petiolate, or on petioles J the length 

 of leaf, oblong-ovate, or nearly orbicular, obtuse or acute, 1-3 in. long, en- 

 tire or serrulate, often mucronate, occasionally with a few large irregular 

 teeth near the apex, with 3 main basal nerves, and more or less prominent 

 lateral nerves. Leaves generally bright tawny- or nearly white-tomentose 

 beneath, dark green and glabrous above, or more or less glabrous on both 

 sides. Flowers greenish yellow, somewhat fetid, on short axillary sub- 

 sessile, or short -pedunculate cymes ; pedicels longer than peduncles. 

 Calyx-lobes keeled to the middle ; petals unguiculate, with an oblong 

 concave or hood-shaped lamina ; anther-cells parallel ; disc fleshy, 10-lobed, 

 10-sulcate ; styles 2, thick, conical, connate to middle. Drupe varying 

 in size, generally about J or f in. long, on a stalk about half its 

 length, globose, oblong, or ovoid, dark brown, orange or red when ripe ; 

 kernel irregularly furrowed, mostly 2-celled, with a hard, thick, bony 

 shell. 



This sp. varies exceedingly, in the shape and size of the fruit, the 

 shape and tomentum of the leaves, and general habit. A remarkable 

 variety, commonly cultivated in the Panjab, from Peshawar to Multan, 

 has been described by Edgeworth (Journ. Linn. Society, vi. 201) as Z. 

 Jujuba, var. Hysudrica. It is characterised by obtuse, oblong or ovate, 

 sometimes orbicular leaves, on long petioles \ length of leaf, glabrous or 

 slightly tomentose beneath, the branchlets not drooping, but erect or 

 spreading. Dr Stewart refers this variety to Z. Lotus, Lam., but is of 

 opinion that the Zizyphi of North India want more investigation on the 

 spot. Z. Lotus, however, is a shrub nearly allied to Z. nummularia. Z. 

 Spina Christi, Willd. Boissier Fl. Orient, ii. 13 which Edgeworth states 

 in the same place, is found in gardens in the Panjab, is a large tree of 

 Western Asia, northern and tropical Africa, with white branches, ovate, 

 almost glabrous leaves, petioles \-\ length of blade ; cymes large, compact, 

 sessile, with numerous flowers, and a ring of white hairs (not in all speci- 

 mens) round the base of the style ; fruit-stalks often nearly 1 in. long. 

 I do not venture to refer any of the specimens which I have examined 

 from the Panjab either to Z. Lotus or to Z. Spina Christi, and I think 

 it preferable at present to class all Ber trees of North and Central India 

 under Z. Jujuba. There is no difference in the inflorescence and structure 

 of the flower; and as regards shape and tomentum of the leaves, there are 

 intermediate forms. 



Z. Jujuba is wild in some places of the Siwalik forests east of the Ganges (J. 

 L. Stewart), and in South India (Beddome). Cultivated and self-sown, it is 

 common in Afghanistan, Sindh, the Panjab, ascending in the outer Himalaya 

 to 3000, and at times to 4500 ft., and throughout the rest of India and Burma. 

 Further researches are required to define the localities where the tree is actually 

 wild, forming part of the original forest. It is common in forests of Central 

 and South India ; but wherever I have seen it, it has been on sites of deserted 



