✵The article documents the herb jujube, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant taxa: (1) Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder and (2) Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two taxa; the characteristics of the herb jujube; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Fructus Jujubae (Jujube, Chinese Date)
Pinyin Name: Dà Zǎo
English Name: Jujube or Chinese Date
Latin Name:Fructus Jujubae Property and Flavor: Warm in nature; sweet in taste
Brief Introduction:Fructus Jujubae is the dried, ripe fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. It is used to replenish the middle Qi, nourish the blood, calm the mind (induce tranquilization), and moderate the effects of other herbs. It is commonly known as Fructus Jujubae, jujube, Chinese date, or Dà Zǎo.
Botanical Source: Official herbal works define jujube (Dà Zǎo) as the ripe fruit of (1) Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder; other authoritative herbal texts also recognize a closely related taxon: (2) Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder. Both belong to the genus Ziziphus Mill., family Rhamnaceae (buckthorn family), order Rosales. These two commonly used taxa are described below:
(1) Ziziphus jujuba Mill.
Botanical Description:Ziziphus jujuba Mill. is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the Rhamnaceae family and Ziziphus genus. It is also known as Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder and commonly referred to as Zǎo or Zǎo Shù (jujube tree). It grows up to 10 meters tall. Branches include long branches, short branches, and new shoots. Long branches are smooth and glabrous; young branches are slender and slightly zigzagged, colored purplish-red or taupe (dusty gray), and bear two stipular thorns—the longer thorn is up to 3 cm, stout and straight; the shorter thorn is recurved, 4–6 mm long. Short branches are short and stout, oblong, arising from older branches. Current-year branchlets are green, pendulous, and occur singly or in clusters of 2–7 on short branches. Leaves are simple, alternate, and chartaceous (papery); petioles measure 1–6 mm (up to 1 cm on long branches); leaf blades are oval to ovate-elliptic, 3–7 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with a blunt or rounded apex bearing a small mucro, a slightly oblique or orbicular base, and minutely serrated margins. The upper surface is dark green and glabrous; the lower surface is pale green and either glabrous or sparsely pubescent along the veins. Venation is ternate, arising from the base.
Flowers are yellowish-green, hermaphroditic, and usually occur in axillary cymes of 2–8; the calyx is 5-lobed with ovate-triangular lobes; there are 5 obovate petals with clawed bases; 5 stamens opposite the petals and inserted on the margin of the thick, succulent, circular, 5-lobed floral disc; the ovary is bilocular, fused with the floral disc; the style is bifid.
Fruits are drupes—oblong, elongated-oval, or rectangular-circular—2–3.5 cm long and 1.5–2 cm in diameter. They turn red at maturity, then turn reddish-violet; the mesocarp is fleshy, thick, and sweet; the endocarp (stone) is sharply pointed at both ends. Seeds are oblate-elliptic, ~1 cm long. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting from August to September.
Ecological Environment: Ziziphus jujuba Mill. grows in mountainous regions, hills, and plains at elevations below 1,700 m above sea level. It is widely cultivated throughout China and has many cultivars. Native to China, it is now grown across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Growth Characteristics: Ziziphus jujuba Mill. prefers dry, cool, and cold climates; it is photophilic, cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and tolerant of saline–alkaline soils. It withstands temperatures as low as −31.3 °C (−24.3 °F) and as high as 39.3 °C (102.7 °F). It thrives on sunny field, dry hillsides, mountain slopes, wastelands, plains, and roadsides. Sandy soil or sandy loam is optimal for cultivation; low-lying or waterlogged land should be avoided.
Characteristics of the Herb: The fruit is elliptic or globose, 2–3.5 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. The surface is dark red (dull red), slightly glossy, and bears irregular wrinkles. The base is concave and bears a short carpopodium (fruit stalk). The epicarp (exocarp) is thin; the mesocarp is tan (brownish-yellow) or hazel (pale brown), fleshy, soft, rich in saccharides, and slightly oily. The endocarp (stone) is fusiform (spindle-shaped), sharply pointed at both ends; the overall texture of the fruit is firm yet pliable. The herb has a mild fragrance and a sweet taste.
Medicinal Efficacy: Tonifies the Spleen and Stomach and replenishes Qi; harmonizes the Spleen and Stomach; replenishes Qi and generates body fluids; nourishes Qi and blood; nourishes the blood and calms the mind; regulates Ying-Qi and Wei-Qi; moderates the properties of other herbs; and mitigates toxicity in herbal formulas. It is indicated for Spleen deficiency with poor appetite; Spleen- and Stomach-Qi deficiency; spleen deficiency and loose stools; fatigue with loose stools; poor appetite and loose stools; Qi- and blood deficiency; deficiency of Qi, blood, and body fluids; Ying-Wei disharmony; lassitude and generalized weakness; palpitations; palpitations with insomnia; and emotional instability in women (e.g., hysteria-like symptoms).
Administration of Fructus Jujubae (Dà Zǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Fructus Jujubae (Dà Zǎo)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 6–15 grams; (2) Internally: Water decoction, 3–6 qián (≈9–18 grams); or mashed and formulated into pills. External use: wash with aqueous decoction; or char the herb while preserving its core properties, then pulverize into a fine powder for topical application. (3) Internally: Water decoction, 9–15 grams.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Fructus Jujubae is generally contraindicated in conditions such as dental disorders, parasitic infestations, infantile malnutrition (dān), jaundice, excess dampness, phlegm retention, food stagnation, and edema. It should be used with caution—or avoided—in the above-mentioned conditions.
(2) Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder
Botanical Description:Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder is a member of the Rhamnaceae family (buckthorn family) and Ziziphus genus. It is recognized as a variety of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. and is commonly known as Wǔ Cì Zǎo (“spineless jujube”). Its primary distinction from the typical variety is the absence of thorns on both long and young branches. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting, from August to October.
Ecological Environment: Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder grows at elevations below 1,600 m above sea level and is extensively cultivated.
✵The article documents the herb jujube, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant taxa: (1) Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder and (2) Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two taxa; the characteristics of the herb jujube; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dà Zǎo
Botanical Description: Ziziphus jujuba Mill. is a deciduous shrub or small tree of the Rhamnaceae family and Ziziphus genus. It is also known as Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder and commonly referred to as Zǎo or Zǎo Shù (jujube tree). It grows up to 10 meters tall. Branches include long branches, short branches, and new shoots. Long branches are smooth and glabrous; young branches are slender and slightly zigzagged, colored purplish-red or taupe (dusty gray), and bear two stipular thorns—the longer thorn is up to 3 cm, stout and straight; the shorter thorn is recurved, 4–6 mm long. Short branches are short and stout, oblong, arising from older branches. Current-year branchlets are green, pendulous, and occur singly or in clusters of 2–7 on short branches. Leaves are simple, alternate, and chartaceous (papery); petioles measure 1–6 mm (up to 1 cm on long branches); leaf blades are oval to ovate-elliptic, 3–7 cm long and 2–4 cm wide, with a blunt or rounded apex bearing a small mucro, a slightly oblique or orbicular base, and minutely serrated margins. The upper surface is dark green and glabrous; the lower surface is pale green and either glabrous or sparsely pubescent along the veins. Venation is ternate, arising from the base.
Ecological Environment: Ziziphus jujuba Mill. grows in mountainous regions, hills, and plains at elevations below 1,700 m above sea level. It is widely cultivated throughout China and has many cultivars. Native to China, it is now grown across Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
Growth Characteristics: Ziziphus jujuba Mill. prefers dry, cool, and cold climates; it is photophilic, cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, and tolerant of saline–alkaline soils. It withstands temperatures as low as −31.3 °C (−24.3 °F) and as high as 39.3 °C (102.7 °F). It thrives on sunny field, dry hillsides, mountain slopes, wastelands, plains, and roadsides. Sandy soil or sandy loam is optimal for cultivation; low-lying or waterlogged land should be avoided.
Characteristics of the Herb: The fruit is elliptic or globose, 2–3.5 cm long and 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. The surface is dark red (dull red), slightly glossy, and bears irregular wrinkles. The base is concave and bears a short carpopodium (fruit stalk). The epicarp (exocarp) is thin; the mesocarp is tan (brownish-yellow) or hazel (pale brown), fleshy, soft, rich in saccharides, and slightly oily. The endocarp (stone) is fusiform (spindle-shaped), sharply pointed at both ends; the overall texture of the fruit is firm yet pliable. The herb has a mild fragrance and a sweet taste.
Botanical Description: Ziziphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder is a member of the Rhamnaceae family (buckthorn family) and Ziziphus genus. It is recognized as a variety of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. and is commonly known as Wǔ Cì Zǎo (“spineless jujube”). Its primary distinction from the typical variety is the absence of thorns on both long and young branches. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting, from August to October.
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