2. Ziziphus rugosa Lam., Encycl. Meth. 3:319. 1789. DC., Prodr. 2:20.1825; Lawson in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 1:636. 1875; Nairne, Fl. Pl. W. Ind. 60. 1894; Cooke, Fl. Bomb. Presd. 1:258. 1902; R.R. Stewart, Ann. Cat. Vase. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 470. 1972; T.P. Ramamoorthy in Saldanha & Nicolson, Fl. Has. Dist. 354. 1976.
M. QAISER AND S. NAZIMUDDIN
A small tree or stragling shrub, armed with stipular spines, solitary or paired with a broad base, young branches fulvous-tomentose. Leaves 5-12.5x4-6 cm, broadly elliptic, shortly acuminate, denticulate, base oblique, rugose, petiole 0.8-1.5 cm long densely tomentose. Inflorescence of pedunculate cymes, densely pubescent, peduncle c.5 mm long. pedicel, c. 4 mm long. Calyx puberulous inside 1.5-2 mm long, with ovate acute lobes. Petals absent. Disc 5-lobed, styles 2, connate below the middle. Fruit c. 5-8 mm in diameter, globose or pyriform, white when ripe.
Fl. Per.: December-January.
Type: Described from Eastern India.
Distribution: Ceylon, Burma, India, (Assam), Sikkim and Pakistan (Sind; Hyderabad, vide Cooke l.c.).
The fruit is said to be palatable and eaten by local inhabitants (Dalzell & Gibson), but according to Cooke and Brandis it is insipid.
