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Concept
Paliurus spina-christi
Summary
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, Southwest Asia 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.
As suggested by the Latin name, the spiny branches of this shrub were supposedly used to make the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' 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 outside its native range, including Fiji.
File:Paliurus spina-christi MHNT.BOT.2004.0.467.jpg|Frutis and seeds
File:Paliurus spina-christi, Christ's Thorn shrub bearing fruits which are woody nutlets centered in a circular wing among the ruins of Side.jpg|''Paliurus spina-christi'', Christ's thorn shrub bearing fruits which are woody nutlets centred in a circular wing among the ruins of [[Side, Turkey]].
Official source
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