Ber and other Jujubes monograph.pdf - Crops for the Future

Some wild species with wide distributions, such as Z. oenoplia Mill., have
become weedy in places such as India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar or Malaysia.
According to the literature, a few additional wild species cluster in Malaysia
(Ridley, 1922) and also in Indonesia (Martin et al., 1987). However wild
species from countries such as India, Myanmar and Malaysia or Myanmar
eastwards through IndoChina have not been studied in a comparative way and
it is likely there is a degree of synonymy to be clarified.
Three other species need mention since they are sometimes used as rootstocks.
Z. xylopyra Willd. (syn. Z. rotundifolia Roth., Z. cuneata Wall.) is an erect,
small tree frequently unarmed and producing a woody, inedible fruit. It is a
species of South India and Sri Lanka. Z. rugosa Lam. is a straggly bush tending
to have solitary spines and edible fruit, found in the Central Hills and eastern
parts of India. Z. oenoplia Mill. is a scrambling shrub with spines and small
black fruits often used for tanning and found in S. India, Sri Lanka and
Myanmar.
1.6.2 Africa
The other wild species in the Old World centre on Africa. Those covering very
wide areas are Z. abyssinica Hochst. ex A. Rich. in scattered tree grassland
400-2200 m from Senegal to Ethiopia and south to Zimbabwe and
Mozambique; Z. mucronata Willd. grows in open woodland from 0-200 m
above sea level from Senegal to Arabia and south to S. Africa and Madagascar;
and Z. spina-christi in disturbed areas from 0-1300 m and is indigenous in
semi-desert wadis from 600-1000 m above sea level in the Horn of Africa and
North Africa. Elsewhere in East Africa it was probably introduced and has
become naturalised along roadsides in many parts of Africa and through seed
propagation has often reverted from introduced cultivars to wild types.
1.6.3 New World
The few indigenous species are not discussed since they are of minor relevance
to the species dealt with in this monograph.
1.7 Vernacular names for jujubes
Vernacular names frequently refer only to a jujube fruit; in other cases different
cultigens are identified. Table 1.1 provides names used in different regions,
countries and languages, with reference to Indian and Chinese jujubes.
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