What does wild jujube look like? An introduction to the morphological characteristics of wild jujube

Wild jujube is also known as "ji" (thorny jujube). It originated in North China, and is also distributed in the provinces of central and southern China. It mostly grows wild. It is often a shrub, and some are small trees. The tree vigor is relatively strong. The morphology of its branches, leaves, and flowers is similar to that of the common jujube, but the internodes of the branches are shorter and the stipular spines are well developed; in addition to every node of the vegetative branches bearing stipular spines, the stipules of the fruiting branches also become slender pointed stipular spines. The leaves are small and densely borne; the fruit is small, mostly round or oval, with a thick, smooth skin, purple-red or purple-brown, a thin inner layer, and a mostly very sour taste; the pit is round or oval, with a relatively smooth surface, containing 1 to 2 seeds, and the plump seed kernels can be used as traditional Chinese medicine. Its adaptability is stronger than that of the common jujube, and its flowering period is very long, so it can serve as a nectar source plant.