Common Name: Jackel Jujube

General Information

Ziziphus oenopolia is a thorny, evergreen shrub with straggling branches, often scrambling into other vegetation; it can grow around 5 metres tall[]. Plants can become a noxious weed, spreading to form almost impenetrable masses of prickly stems[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. The fruits are sometims sold in local markets[]. The plant is sometimes grown as a hedge.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - southern China, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Australia.

Habitat

Margins of subtropical forests; at elevations up to 1,600 metres[]. Forests and thickets; at elevations from 500 - 1,100 metres[]. Light secondary forests, thickets, hedges and savannahs, usually in lowland areas[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	4.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Ziziphus oenopolia grows well in fairly dry and hot climates[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. Both ripe and unripe fruits are eaten[]. They can be dried for off-season consumption[]. The shiny, black, globose or obovoid-globose fruit is around 5 - 7mm long and 5 - 6mm wide, containing 1 - 2 seeds[].

Medicinal

The roots serve as a remedy against hyperacidity and Ascaris infection[, ].
The juice of the roots is applied to fresh cuts and wounds[].
A decoction of the root bark is used to heal fresh wounds[].

The bark contains tannins and is astringent[]. Used in the treatment of stomach aches[].
A paste of the inner bark is applied as a poultice to obstinate wounds[, ].

The fruit is stomachic[]. A decoction is used as a treatment for indigestion[]. The fruit is an ingredient of a stomachache pill[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is very prickly, and is grown as a hedge to provide a barrier to keep out livestock and other grazing animals[]. Care needs to be taken to keep it in check, however, since it can spread rapidly to form almost impenetrable masses of prickly stems[].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[, ]. Total tannin content is only around 12%[].

The seeds are used to make rosaries[]

The branches are used to make fences[].

The stems are used for fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - remove the flesh from around the seed then soak the seed in cold water for 6 hours[]. Cover the seed in seedling trays with a thin layer of river sand and keep moist. Seeds usually germinate in 2 - 3 weeks with a minimum of 75% germination[]. Seedlings transplant easily into black nursery soil but they have long taproots and care should be taken not to damage them[].
Root suckers[].

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