Ziziphus mauritiana var. mauritiana

Ziziphus mauritiana var. mauritiana is a member of the Rhamnaceae family, known in English as Indian jujube, Indian cherry, or Indian plum, and in Sinhala as Masan or Dabara. It is recorded as native to Sri Lanka, with the fruit noted as its edible part.

What does Ziziphus mauritiana var. mauritiana look like?

This is a large armed shrub or tree, growing 5 to 10 metres tall and occasionally reaching 12 metres. Young branches carry a rusty, felt-like (tomentose) covering, and stipular spines occur either singly or in pairs along the stems.

The leaves measure 2.0 to 9.0 cm long and 1.5 to 5.0 cm wide, rounded at the base. Flowers are small, greenish-yellow, 4 to 6 mm across, with greenish-yellow petals, and are borne in sessile axillary cymes or fascicles of 10 to 12 flowers. The fruit is a globose drupe, 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, fleshy, and turning orange or red when ripe.

Is Ziziphus mauritiana var. mauritiana native to Sri Lanka?

The species is recorded as native to Sri Lanka. Members of the genus Ziziphus are typically found across the warmer, drier regions of Asia and Africa, consistent with this plant's thorny, drought-tolerant growth habit.

What is it called in Sinhala?

In Sinhala the species is known as Masan or Dabara. Its English common names, Indian jujube, Indian cherry and Indian plum, reflect the edible, cherry-like fruit the tree produces.

Can the fruit be eaten?

Yes. The fruit is the recorded edible part of this plant, consistent with the common names Indian jujube and Indian plum.