Ziziphus abyssinica Hochst. ex A.Rich.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/146200241/146200243

Conservation

LC - least concern

Rhamnaceae, R. B. Drummond. Flora Zambesiaca 2:2. 1966

Morphology General Habit

Shrub or small tree up to 13 m. tall; bark greyish, rough; branchlets tomentose or glabrescent.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-lamina 5–11 × 3–8 cm., ovate-oblong to elliptic, apex rounded to acute, margin serrulate, base cordate or rounded, very asymmetric, basal nerves 3–5 with only the mid-nerve extending to the apex, prominent below and deeply impressed above, upper surface sparingly pubescent when young, rapidly becoming glabrous except for the main nerves, lower surface persistently grey- or rusty-tomentose; petiole 3–12 mm. long, tomentose; stipules spinescent, one straight and one hooked at each node, or both hooked.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes rusty-tomentose, few- to many-flowered, subsessile or pedunculate; peduncle up to 1 cm. long; pedicels 0·5–4(9) mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 1·5 mm. long, deltate, rusty-tomentose outside.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals unguiculate, with concave circular lamina 1 mm. in diam.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens with filaments up to 2 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk glabrous, 2 mm. in diam., obscurely 5–10-lobed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 2-locular; style short, hardly projecting beyond the disk, obscurely 2-lobed.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit crimson when ripe, up to 3 cm. in diam., 2-seeded.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds brown, 8 × 7 × 2 mm., compressed.

Rhamnaceae, Marshall C. Johnston (University of Texas Herbarium). Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1972

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs or small trees (2–)3–6(–13) m. tall, armed; trunk to 25 cm. thick; bark grey, very deeply furrowed or fissured; slash-wood deep red; sapwood reddish brown.

Morphology Branches

Branchlets pubescent, zig-zag.

Morphology Leaves

Leaf-blades ovate to broadly ovate, (3–)5–8(–13) cm. long, (2–)3–5(–9) cm. broad, at base rounded and very asymmetric, obtuse to acute or even acuminate, 3-nerved from the base, above when young glabrous or finely pubescent, eventually glabrous and with somewhat impressed venation, beneath often tomentose to nearly glabrous and with prominulent veins; petioles (3–)5–8(–12) mm. long, tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Cymes 1–2 cm. long and broad, (6–)10–25-flowered; peduncles 2–6(–10) mm. long, tomentose; pedicels 0.5–3 mm. long in flower, 3–6(–9) mm. long in fruit, tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals 1.5–2 mm. long, dorsally tomentose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Petals 1–1.5 mm. long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 2-celled.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Drupe 2–3 cm. thick, reddish when mature.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Stone 2-seeded.

Figures

Fig. 8/4, p. 25, & 9, p. 28.

Habitat

Scattered-tree grassland; 400–2200 m.

Distribution

Senegal to Ethiopia and S. to Angola, Rhodesia and Mozambique K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 T1 T2 T4 T5 T7 T8 U1 U3

Rhamnaceae, Hutchinson and Dalziel. Flora of West Tropical Africa 1:2. 1958

Morphology General Habit

A shrub, sometimes scandent, to 12 ft. high

Morphology General Bark

Purple-brown bark

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flower yellow-green

Morphology General Indumentum

Branchlets and underside of leaves with fawn indumentum

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruits deep purple-brown.