Kingdom Plantae Family Rhamnaceae Scientific name Paliurus spina-christi Rank Species | Order Rosales Genus Paliurus Higher classification Paliurus | |
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Similar Paliurus, Rhamnaceae, Ziziphus spina‑christi, Jujube, Carpinus orientalis | ||
Meadow brown butterfly maniola telmesia on paliurus spina christi inflorescence
Paliurus spina-christi, commonly known as Jerusalem thorn, garland thorn, Christ's thorn, or crown of thorns, is a species of Paliurus native to the Mediterranean region and southwest and central Asia, from Morocco and Spain east to Iran and Tajikistan.
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 3–4 m tall. The shoots are zig-zagged, with a leaf and two stipular spines (one straight, one curved) on the outside of each kink. The leaves are oval, 2–5 cm long and 1–4 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The fruit is a dry woody nutlet centred in a circular wing 2–3.5 cm diameter.
The name reflects an old legend that the spiny branches were used to make the crown of thorns placed on Christ's head before his crucifixion. Ziziphus spina-christi, the Christ's thorn jujube, is also identified as being used for the crown of thorns.
It is viewed as an ornamental curiosity and is cultivated in some areas, spreading its range, including Fiji.