Paliurus spina-christi
| Paliurus spina-christi | |
|---|---|
| |
| Jerusalem thorn (Paliurus spina-christi) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| 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 Mill. | |
| Synonyms | |
| Paliurus aculeatus Lam. Paliurus australis Gaertn. Rhamnus paliurus L. 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]
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
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 "Paliurus spina-christi Mill". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2026-01-29.
- Back to citation 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.
- Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Back to citation occurrence 3.2 Rushforth, K. (1999). Trees of Britain and Europe. Collins. pp. 867–868. ISBN 0-00-220013-9.
- Back to citation 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.
External links
- Flora Europaea: Paliurus spina-christi
- "Paliurus spina-christi". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
- Flora Vitiensis Nova. Volume 3. Albert C. Smith. VI. 694 pp. Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden. Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. 1985
- Media related to Paliurus spina-christi at Wikimedia Commons