Paliurus spina-christi

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Paliurus spina-christi
Paliurus fg01.jpg
Jerusalem thorn (Paliurus spina-christi)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Rosales
Family: Rhamnaceae
Genus: Paliurus
Species:
P. spina-christi
Binomial name
Paliurus spina-christi
Synonyms
  • Paliurus aculeatusLam.
  • Paliurus australisGaertn.
  • Rhamnus paliurusL.
  • Ziziphus spina-christi(Mill.) Georgi

Paliurus spina-christi, commonly known as Jerusalem thorn, garland thorn, Christ's thorn, or crown of thorns, is a species of Paliurus native to the northern Mediterranean region, Southwest Asia and Central Asia, from Spain and southern France east to Afghanistan and Tajikistan. [1] [2]

Contents

Description

It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 3–4 m tall. The shoots are zig-zagged, with a leaf and two stipular spines (one straight, one curved) on the outside of each kink. The leaves are oval, 2–5 cm long and 1–4 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The fruit is a dry woody nutlet centred in a circular wing 2–3.5 cm in diameter. [3]

Etymology

As suggested by the Latin name, the spiny branches of this shrub were thought to be used to make the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head before his crucifixion. [3] Ziziphus spina-christi , the Christ's thorn jujube, is also identified as being used for the crown of thorns.

Uses

It is viewed as an ornamental curiosity, grown for its odd-looking discus-like fruit, and is cultivated in some areas outside its native range, including western Europe north to Great Britain. [3]

It is locally naturalised in northwestern Africa, northern India, Hungary, and in the United States in Texas. [1] [4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Paliurus spina-christi Mill". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
  2. ↑ Casavecchia, Simona; Biscotti, Nello; Pesaresi, Simone; Biondi, Edoardo (2015-07-01). "The Paliurus spina-christi dominated vegetation in Europe" . Biologia. 70 (7): 879–892. Bibcode:2015Biolg..70..879C. doi:10.1515/biolog-2015-0100. ISSN   1336-9563. S2CID   90939997.
  3. 1 2 3 Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins. pp. 867–868. ISBN   0-00-220013-9.
  4. ↑ O'Kennon, Robert J. (1991). "Paliurus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae) New for North America in Texas". SIDA, Contributions to Botany. 14 (4): 606–609. ISSN   0036-1488. JSTOR   41961083.
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