Ziziphus nummularia

Family: Rhamnaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It has many branches. The branches are flexible and have a velvety covering. They have grey spines in unequal pairs. The leaves are 1-2 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are rounded and hairy above and velvety underneath. The flowers are 3-4 mm across. The fruit is rounded and fleshy. It is 5-10 mm long and dark reddish-brown when ripe. It has 2 cells and 2 seeds. The fruit are round and reddish-brown.

Where it is found

A Mediterranean to tropical plant. It grows on sandy plains and sand dunes. It grow in semi-arid areas. In the Himalayas in India it grows up to 1,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, Bahrain, Central Asia, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Laos, Lebanon, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Middle East, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Uganda, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The fully ripe small fruit are gathered and dried and ground then sieved. The powder is eaten with sugar or millet. The kernels of the seeds are fried and eaten. The fresh and dried ripe fruit are eaten raw.

Fruit are sold in markets. The ripe fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

It can be grown as a hedge.

In NW Pakistan fruit are harvested in July.

Its other names

Local names

Adbaubordi, Anane, Bada bera, Badber, Baire, Bal, Bayar, Bhukamtaka, Birar, Bor, Bordi, Borti, Chani, Chanibor, Chanyabor, Chotti ber, Gangar, Karkanra, Jahri ber, Jangali bayar, Jangalikoli, Janglar, Jangra, Jangli bairi, Jhadiaber, Jhahrberi, Jhangugli ber, Jhar beri, Jhar-beru, Junglaber, Karkanr, Karkana, Karkunda, Kathy beer, Khetraubordi, Koker ber, Kokni-ber, Korgodi, Malaber, Mallah, Neelareegu, Pala, Palia, Rubbayd, Sukhshamaphala

Synonyms

Ziziphus rotundifolia Lam.; Rhamnus nummularia Burm.f.;