| Ziziphus lotus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rhamnaceae |
| Genus: | Ziziphus |
| Species: | Z. lotus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. |
|
Ziziphus lotus is a deciduous shrub in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, including the Sahara in Morocco.
Ziziphus lotus can reach a height of 2–5 metres (6.6–16 ft), with shiny green leaves about 5 cm long. The edible fruit is a globose dark yellow drupe 1-1.5 cm diameter called a nabk. Common names in Arabic are sidr , rubeida ("after its crouch-shaped treetop"), nbeg in Tunisia and annab in Lebanon.[1]
It is closely related to Ziziphus zizyphus (Jujube), and is often regarded as the Lotus tree of Greek mythology.[2]