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What are the differences between wild jujube and hawthorn? A quick guide to telling them apart

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Leaf differences: wild jujube leaves are alternate, elliptical or ovate-lanceolate; hawthorn leaves are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, with doubly serrated margins. Flower differences: wild jujube flowers are yellow-green, clustered in the leaf axils; hawthorn has corymbose inflorescences with white flowers. Fruit differences: wild jujube fruit is nearly spherical or oblong, reddish-brown; hawthorn fruit is nearly spherical or pear-shaped, dark red.

I. Leaf differences

Wild jujube leaves are alternate, with elliptical or ovate-lanceolate blades about 1.5 to 3.5 cm long and about 0.6 to 1.2 cm wide, with finely serrated margins.

Hawthorn leaf blades are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, occasionally rhombic-ovate, about 5 to 10 cm long and about 4 to 7.5 cm wide; the leaf tip is short and gradually tapers to a point, and the margins bear sparse, irregular, sharply doubly serrated teeth.

II. Flower differences

Wild jujube flowers are yellow-green, usually clustered 2 to 3 together in the leaf axils.

Hawthorn has corymbose inflorescences 4 to 6 cm in diameter; the flowers are about 1.5 cm in diameter, with petals obovate or nearly round, 7 to 8 mm long and 5 to 6 mm wide, and white in color.

III. Fruit differences

The wild jujube drupe is small, nearly spherical or shortly oblong, reddish-brown when ripe, nearly spherical or oblong, 0.7 to 1.2 cm long, and sour in taste.

Hawthorn fruit is nearly spherical or pear-shaped, 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter, dark red, with light-colored spots.

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