Zizyphus

(ziz'e-fus.) (Bot.) The Jujube or Lotus gen. of Rhamnaceæ, chiefly characterized by having a fleshy berry-like fruit, containing a one-, two-, or three celled stone, with a single flattened seed in each. The species are mostly stiff shrubs or sometimes small trees, with more or le spiny branches, their alternate three nerved leaves being furnished with one or two thorny stipules. The fruits of several species of this genus have an agreeable flavor. Those of Z. vulgar is are commonly eaten, both in a fresh and dried state, in the countries bordering on the Mediterranean, and afford the Jujubes of the shops; they are rather acid when fresh, but the dried fruits are more agreeably tasting, and are given to allay cough. The lozenges sold as Jujubes are commonly but erroneously said to be flavored with them. Z. Jujuba, an Indian species, yields an excellent de ert-fruit, and is largely cultivated by the Chinese. [s. 978]