BER TREE
Family – Rhamnaceae
Scientific name –
Ziziphus mauntiana
Common names –
1) Jujube in English.
2) Ber in Hindi.
3) Bor in Marathi.
Growing areas –
1) Origin of this tree is in India and it’s
neighbouring countries.
2) These trees shows relation to the other ber
trees in many countries the difference is very small.
3) This tree is closely related with the
Jujube tree in Africa.
4) This is a tree that grows wild, and in
gardens but best in dry areas.
General information –
1) It produces many seeds which grow easily it
is not a favourite in gardens.
2) It is small to medium sized, thorny tree.
3) It is fast growing and deciduous.
4) It always has many branches.
5) The bark is very rough and cracked, it dark
brown or black in colour.
6) The young stems are pale green and soft
brown hair.
Leaves, flowers, fruits and uses of the Ber
Tree :
Leaves of the Ber Tree –
1) The under-sides of the leaves is appear to
be almost white because of the white hairs covering.
2) The three main veins of the leaf are
clearly marked.
3) When the leaf is in the bud stage they are
folded up along the veins into four sections.
Flowers of the Ber Tree –
1) The main flowering season is September to
December, but flowers can also appear in other times.
2) The flowers are five petalled and greenish
yellow in colour.
3) They grow in small groups on tiny stems.
Fruit of the Ber Tree –
1) The fruits are fleshy, and differ in shape
and size.
2) Some fruits are small and round, others
oval and larger.
3) They contain one or two seeds in wrinkled,
pointed, hard case.
4) The cultivated jujubes have much larger
berries than those which grow wild.
Uses of the Ber Tree –
1) The berries are eaten as fruit.
2) The thorny branchlets are used for making
fences.
3) The wood is made into agricultural tools.
4) The wood is also used as fuels.
