The Description.

The Jujube tree is not much lesser than Ziziphus candida, having a wreathed trunk or body, and a rough bark full of rifts or crannies, and stiff branches, beset with strong and hard prickles; from whence grow out many long twigs, or little stalks, half a foot or more in length, in show like Rushes, limber, and easily bowing themselves, and very slender like the twigs of Spartum: about which come forth leaves one above another, which are somewhat long, not very great, but hard and tough like to the leaves of Peruinca or Periwinkle; & among these leaves come forth pale and mossy little flowers: after which succeed long red well-tasted sweet berries as big as olives (of a mean quantity) or little prunes, or small plums, wherein there are hard round stones, or in which a small kernel is contained.

The Place.

There be now at this day Jujube trees growing in very many places of Italy, which in times past were newly brought thither out of Syria, and that about Pliny his time, as he himself hath written in his 17th book, 10th chapter.

The Time.

It flowereth in April, at which time the seeds or stones are to be let or sown for increase.

The Names

This tree is called in Greek Zizyphos and Ziziphos, with iota in the second syllable: in Latin likewise, Zizyphus; and of Petrus Crescentius, Zezulus: in English, Jujube tree.

The fruit or plums are named in Greek Zizypha or Zizipha: Galen calleth them Serica, as Avicenna plainly showeth in his 369th chapter, in treating of the Jujube, in which he set down those things that are mentioned concerning Serica in Galen's books Of the Faculties of Nourishments: in Latin likewise Zizypha and Serica: in shops, Iuiubæ: in English, Jujubes.

The Temperature.

Jujubes are temperate in heat and moisture.

The Virtues.

A. The fruit of the Jujube tree eaten is of hard digestion, and nourisheth very little; but being taken in syrups, electuaries, and such like confections, it appeaseth and mollifieth the roughness of the throat, the breast and lungs, and is good against the cough, but exceeding good for the reins of the back, and kidneys and bladder.