Ziziphus mauritiana Lam.

 

Family: Rhamnaceae

Synonym: Sarcomphalus mauritianus (Lam.) Raf. 

Vernacular name: Badari, Badaram, Cherumali, Elentha, Jujuba, Ilantha, Kolam

Habit: Tree

Habitat: Dry deciduous and scrub forests

Distribution:  Old World Tropics

Flowering and Fruiting: December-April

Key identification features: The tree reaches a height of up to 10m with dark grey bark and features deep vertical cracks. The leaves are simple, alternate, and arranged in a distichous pattern. The lamina varies in shape, from ovate to elliptic-ovate. The greenish-yellow bisexual flowers form dense cymose axillary fascicles containing 15-20 flowers. The fruit.

Uses: The powdered sour item is used to mix with other curries. Pickles are also prepared with this fruit