Chinese jujube

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Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba)

The Chinese Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), also known as red date or Chinese date, is a species of Ziziphus in the buckthorn family.

Pronunciation

Chinese Jujube: /ˈdʒuːdʒuːb/

Etymology

The term "jujube" originates from the French word jujube, which in turn comes from the Latin zyzyphum, derived from the Greek ζίζυφον (zízyphon). The word "Chinese" is added to distinguish it from other species in the same genus.

Description

The Chinese Jujube is a small deciduous tree or shrub reaching a height of 5–12 metres, usually with thorny branches. The leaves are shiny-green, ovate-acute, 2–7 centimetres long and 1–3 centimetres wide, with three conspicuous veins at the base, and a finely toothed margin. The flowers are small, 5 millimetres wide, with five inconspicuous yellowish-green petals.

Usage

The fruit is an edible oval drupe 1.5–3 centimetres deep; when immature it is smooth-green, with the consistency and taste of an apple, maturing brown to purplish-black and eventually wrinkled, looking like a small date. There is a single hard stone similar to an olive stone.

Medicinal Use

In traditional Chinese medicine, jujubes are believed to alleviate stress and were used to treat insomnia. They are also said to strengthen the stomach and intestines, helping to maintain overall health.

Related Terms

External links

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