Ziziphus abyssinica

Ziziphus abyssinica Hochst. ex A.Rich.

Common names

Wait a bit thorn, large jujube (English); kalanangwa, kangwa, kalobwe, kankole-nkole (Bemba); kankande (Bemba/Kunda/Nyanja); mlashawantu, mpenjere (Nyanja); kankand, muchecheni (Tumbuka).

General description and distinguishing characteristics

A deciduous shrub or a small tree up to 9 m tall with a dense or spreading crown. Bark pale greyish brown with black streaks. Young branchlets arranged in a zig-zag pattern with one or two hooked thorns at each node. Leaves simple, alternate, up to 9.5 x 5 cm, ovate, ovate-oblong or elliptic with an assymetrical base and toothed margin, dark green and usually shiny and glabrous above; grey or rusty coloured hairs below. Veins of the leaf characteristically arranged from the leaf base, and on the upper surface of the leaf, veins are conspicuously depressed. Petiole up to 7 mm long. Flowers small, yellowish, produced in tight axillary clusters or racemes (December-February). Fruit edible, spherical, up to 3 cm in diameter, shiny red-brown when mature, and often persisting on the tree after the leaves have fallen (fruits produced May-August).

Ziziphus abyssinica can be distinguished from Z. mucronata by its markedly depressed veins on the upper leaf surface.

Range and habitat

Ziziphus abyssinica is widespread in dry areas and occurs throughout tropical Africa. In the Valley, it is found in Valley riverine fringe woodland and thicket. Also in Mopane woodland on sand.