Tropical Plant "Jua"
Ziziphus joazeiro

Characteristics - The Ziziphus joazeiro is a fruit tree occasionally cultivated in the northeast of Brazil, as a shade tree, and it is also found in its wild form, in the arid, sandy "caatinga" areas that occasionally flood, as well as, in the Rio Sao Francisco Valley up to northern Minas Gerais. It is an evergreen tree, thorny, 5-15 m tall, with a short trunk and a low globose crown. Leaves are rigid-membranaceous, glabrous (except over the nerves), 5-10 cm long, marked by three nerves that start from the base, the petiole is less than 1cm. Small flowers, gathered in axillary cymes, form in November and December. The fruits are drupes, oblong and asperous, with a relatively thin, carnose pulp, a slightly, sweet flavor, rich in Vitamin C, with a hard seed; they mature in June and July.

Uses - The fruits are consumed only in their natural state and enjoyed locally.

Propagation - Propagated by seeds.