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Useful Temperate Plants

Ziziphus lotus

(L.) Lam.

Rhamnaceae

+ Synonyms

Rhamnus lotus L.

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Ziziphus lotus is an intricately branched, spiny, deciduous shrub, sometimes becoming more tree-like; it usually grows up to 3 metres tall[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.

Range

Mediterranean regions of Europe, Asia and Africa, extending east to the Arabian Peninsula and Socatra, south to Mali and Mauritania

Habitat

Dry lands and steppe

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height3.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Ziziphus lotus is native to the Mediterranean region, with its hot, dry summers and cool, moist to wet winters. It can tolerate moderate frosts, but only if it has previously experienced a hot, dry season. It does not succeed in cold temperate regions or in mild, maritime areas with cool summers.
Requires a sunny position. Succeeds in most soils so long as they are well-drained.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
]. The pulp is soft, mucilaginous, sweet, and acidulous. A dry, fleshy pulp[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
]. They can be dried for consumption out of season[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
]. They are also used for making preserves, or can be dried and then made into a flour for making bread etc[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
]. The yellow-orange to red, subglobose fruit is around 10 - 15mm in diameter, containing one or two seeds.

The seeds are ground to make amlou, a Moroccan chunky paste usually made with argan oil, almonds or peanuts, and sometimes honey or sugar[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
].

Medicinal

Different parts of the plant (the fruits, leaves and root) have been employed in North African traditional medicine for treating a range of ailments, including diabetes, digestive, respiratory and cardiac diseases, or skin problems[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
].

The leaf powder is applied topically for treating abscesses and wounds[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
]

A decoction of the fruit is used in the treatment of diabetes, digestive and respiratory problems[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant plays a major role in fixing soil in arid and semi arid regions where soil erosion is a major issue[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
].
The plant is sometimes grown as a hedge, where its prickly stems can act as a barrier[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
].
The flowers are attractive to bees[
1187
Title
Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants - Ethnobotany and Food Composition Tables
Publication
 
Author
María de Cortes Sánchez-Mata; Javier Tardío (Editors)
Publisher
Springer; New York
Year
2016
ISBN
978-1-4939-3327-3
Description
 
].

Other Uses

The prickly branches are used to make stock-proof barriers.

The wood is used for fuel.

Propagation

Seed - best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed requires 3 months warm then 3 months cold stratification[
113
Title
The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
Publication
 
Author
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
Publisher
Athens Ga. Varsity Press
Year
1987
ISBN
0942375009
Description
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
]. Germination should take place in the first spring, though it might take another 12 months. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant out in early summer.
Root cuttings in a greenhouse in the winter[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Best results are achieved if a temperature of 5 - 10°c can be maintained[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, late autumn to January in a frame[
238
Title
Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
Publication
 
Author
Bown. D.
Publisher
Dorling Kindersley, London.
Year
1995
ISBN
0-7513-020-31
Description
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Division of suckers in the dormant season[
174
Title
Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Publication
 
Author
Kariyone. T.
Publisher
Nihon Rinshosha; Osaka
Year
1973
ISBN
 
Description
A good Japanese herbal.
]. They can be planted out direct into their permanent positions if required.
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-11-08. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Ziziphus+lotus>

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