Top

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Published in:

Open Access 01-12-2005 | Research

The ethnobotany of Christ's Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) in Israel

Authors: Amots Dafni, Shay Levy, Efraim Lev

Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | Issue 1/2005

Abstract

This article surveys the ethnobotany of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Desf. in the Middle East from various aspects: historical, religious, philological, literary, linguistic, as well as pharmacological, among Muslims, Jews, and Christians. It is suggested that this is the only tree species considered "holy" by Muslims (all the individuals of the species are sanctified by religion) in addition to its status as "sacred tree " (particular trees which are venerated due to historical or magical events related to them, regardless of their botanical identity) in the Middle East. It has also a special status as "blessed tree" among the Druze.

Zohary M: Flora Palaestina. 1972, Jerusalem: The Israel Academy of Science and Humanities, II: 307-308.

Manniche L: An Ancient Egyptian Herbal. 1989, London: British Museum Press, 157, 158-

Theophrastus : Inquiry into plants. Edited by: Hort A, Loeb Classical Library. 1916, London and Cambridge (Massachusetts): Harvard University Press, IV (iii): 3-

Pliny : Natural History. Edited by: Rackham H, Loeb Classical Library. 1945, London and Cambridge (Massachusetts): Harvard University Press, XIII (xxxiii): 111-

Löw I: Die Flora der Juden. 1922, Vienna-Leipzig: Kohut Foundation, III: 134-136.

Zohary M: Plants of the Bible. 1982, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 154, 155-

Moldenke HN, Moldelke AL: Plants of the Bible. 1952, New York: Ronald Press, 248, 249-

Farooqi A: Plants of the Qur'an. 1997, Lucknow (India): Sidrah Publishers, 65-74.

Lev E: Reconstructed materia medica of the Medieval and Ottoman al-Sham. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2000, 80: 167-179. 10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00029-6.CrossRef

10.

Lev E: Medicinal Substances of the Medieval Levant. 2002, Tel Aviv: Eretz, (Hebrew)

11.

Palevitch D, Yaniv Z, Dafni A, Friedman J: Ethnobotanical Survey of the Flora of Israel as a Source for Drugs. 1985, Jerusalem: Ministry of Science (Hebrew), 159-

12.

Lev E, Amar Z: Ethnopharmacological survey of traditional drugs sold in the Kingdom of Jordan. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2002, 82: 131-145. 10.1016/S0378-8741(02)00182-4.PubMedCrossRef

13.

Amar Z: Agricultural Production in the Land of Israel in the Middle Ages: An Agro-historical Study of Its Transformation. PhD thesis. 1996, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Land of Israel Studies (Hebrew), 287, 288-289.

14.

Ben Maimon Moshe (Maimonides): Un Glossaire de Matiere Medicale Compose par Maimonide. Memoires Presentes a l'Institut d'Egypte. Edited by: Meyerhof M. 1940, 41 (269):

15.

Dinsmore JE, Dalman G: Die Pflanzen Palastinas. Zeitschrift des Deutschen Palastina – Vereins. 1911, 34 (395): 1-38. 147–172, 185–241

16.

Issa BA: Dictionnaire des Noms des Plantes. 1930, Le Caire: Imprimrie nationale, 192-8

17.

Crowfoot L, Baldensperger GM: From Cedar to Hyssop. 1932, London: Sheldon Press, 107, 112, 113-

18.

Tristram HB: The Natural History of the Bible. 1867, London: Society for Promotion of Christian Knowledge, 429-

19.

Folkard R: Plant Lore, Legend and Lyrics. 1892, London: Samson Bow, Marston and Co, 46-

20.

Amar Z: Topics on the Settlement, Agriculture and Vegetation Landscape of Palestine during the Middle Ages. MA thesis. 1991, Bar Ilan University, Department of Land of Israel Studies (Hebrew), 136-

21.

Bellorini T, Hoade B, Bagatti B: Visit to the Holy Places of Egypt, Sinai, Palestine and Syria in 1384 by Frescobaldi, Gucci, and Sigoli. 1948, Jerusalem: Franciscan Press, 121-

22.

Estori ha-Parhi (Isaac Ben Moses): Sepher Kaftor va-Ferah. Edited by: Luncz AM. 1897, Jerusalem: Luncz, II: 526-

23.

Kohen al-Attar al-Israili (Abu al-Muna Dawud b. Abi Nasr): Minhaj al-Dukhan wa-dastur al-a'ydan fi a 'mal wa-tarakib al-adwiya lil-insan. 1940, Cairo: Bulaq (Arabic), 247-

24.

Lutfi H: Al-Quds al-Mamlukiyya. 1985, Berlin: Klaus Schwarz Verlag, 292-

25.

Al-Qazwini : 'Ajab-al-Makhluqat. 1981, Beirut: Dar al-Sharq al-'Arabi (Arabic), 235-

26.

Bar-Droma H: The Negev. 1935, Jerusalem (Hebrew), 464-

27.

Al-Muqaddas : Ahsan al-Taqasim fi Marifat al-Aqalim. Edited by: De Goeje L. 1906, Leiden: Bibliotheca Geographorum Aarabicum (Arabic), 181, 161, 204-

28.

Ibn Sīda : Kitāb al-Muxşşaş. 1902, Cairo: Būlāq (Arabic), XI: 195-

29.

Bailey C, Danin A: Bedouin plant utilization in Sinai and the Negev. Economic Botany. 1981, 35: 1-95.CrossRef

30.

Uphof JC: Dictionary of Economic Plants. 1968, New York: Cramer, 563-

31.

Dafni A: Edible Plants of the Land of Israel. 1985, Tel Aviv: The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (Hebrew), 116-

32.

Chizik B: Otsar ha-Tsmahim (A Treasury of Plants). 1952, Herzliya (Hebrew), 721-

33.

Georgiades CCH: Flowers of Cyprus. 1987, Nicosia, II: 97-

34.

Grieve M: A Modern Herbal. 1931, New York: Hafner, 451-

35.

Al-Rawi A, Chakravarty HL: Medicinal Plants of Iraq. 1964, Baghdad: Ministry of Agriculture Technology, Bulletin No. 146, 99-

36.

Abu-Rabia A: Traditional Bedouin Medicine. 1999, Tel Aviv: Ministry of Defense (Hebrew), 82, 83, 90-

37.

Ghazanfar AS: Arabian Medicinal Plants. 1994, Boca Raton, Ann Arbor, London, Tokyo: CRC Press, 182-

38.

Miller AG, Strut-Smith S: Plants of Dhofar: The Southern Region of Oman, Traditional, Economic and Medicinal Uses. 1988, Oman: The Office of the Adviser for Conservation of the Environment, Diwan of Royal Court Sultanate of Oman, 242-

39.

Levey S: Medicine, Hygiene and Health among the Sinai Bedouins. 1978, Tel Aviv: The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (Hebrew), 87-

40.

Reiani Y: Medicinal substances of the Yemenite Jews. MSc Thesis. 1963, Hebrew University Jerusalem, School of Pharmacology (Hebrew), 55-

41.

Ibn Sina, Kitāb al-Qanun fi 'l-Tibb. 1877, Baghdad, Beirut: Al-Munthanna Library (Arabic), 277, 278-

42.

Naury J: Contribución a etude de la pharmacaine tradionnelle (drogues vegetals). These. Edited by: Jouve. 1954, Univ Paris

43.

Ben-Ya'akov A: The Traditional Medicine of the Babylonian Jews. 1992, Jerusalem: Yerid Hasfarim (Hebrew), 164, 336-

44.

Muntner S: Assaph (Harofe) the Physician, 'Sefer Refuoth'. Korot. 1969, 4: 1967-38. Hebrew

45.

Levey M, al-Khaledy N: The Medical Formulary of al-Samarqandi and the Relation of Early Arabic Simples to Those Found in the Indigenous Medicine of the Near East and India. 1967, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 123, 124-

46.

Amar Z, Buchman Y, (Eds): Sori ha-Guf. Edited by: Nathan ben Yoel Falquera R. 2004, Ramat Gan: Division of the History of Medicine, Departments of Land of Israel Studies and Archaeology, Bar-Ilan University (Hebrew), 136-

47.

Lev E, Amar A: Ethnopharmacological survey of traditional drugs sold in Israel at the end of the 20^th Century. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2000, 72: 191-205. 10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00230-0.PubMedCrossRef

48.

Lev E: Medicinal Substances in Jerusalem from Early Times to the Present Day. 2003, Oxford: Archeopress, 124-

49.

Ben Maimon Moshe (Maimonides): Poisons and Their Antidotes. Edited by: Muntner S. 1942, Jerusalem: Rubin Mass (Hebrew), 125-

50.

Abulafatih HA: Medicinal plants in Southwestern Saudi Arabia. Economic Botany. 1987, 41: 354-360.CrossRef

51.

Rodwell JM: Koran. 1937, London: J.M. Dent, Trans

52.

Donaldson BA: The Wild Rue. 1973, New York: Arno Press, 141, 243, 244-

53.

Zwemer SM: The Influence of Animism on Islam. 1920, Macmillan, London, 69, 213-

54.

Baldensperger PJ: Peasant Folk-lore of Palestine. Palestine Exploration Fund, Quarterly Statement. 1893, 203-219.

55.

Hanauer JE: Folk-lore of the Holy Land: Moslem, Christian and Jews. 1935, The London: Sheldon Press, 216-

56.

Goldziher I: Muslim Studies. Edited by: Stern SM. 1971, London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 317, 318-

57.

Barges JJ: Vie du célèbre marabout Cidi Abou Médien. 1884, 44-Paris (cited by Goldziher 1971:370)

58.

Reat R: The tree symbol in Islam. Studies in Comparative Religion. 1975, 64-182.

59.

Canaan T: Plant lore in Palestine superstition. Journal of Palestine and Oriental Studies. 1928, 8: 129-168.

60.

Drower ES: The Mandaens of Iraq and Iran: Their Cults, Customs, Magic, Legends and Folklore. 1962, Leiden: Brill, 348-

61.

Ovid : Metamorphosis. Edited by: Melville AD. 1986, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 8: 738-878.

62.

Porteous A: Forest Folklore, Mythology and Romance. 1928, London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 63-

63.

Frazer JG: The Golden Bough: The Roots of Religion and Folklore. 1981, New York: Avenel Books, 61, 62-

64.

Hasluck FW: Christianity and Islam under the Sultans. Edited by: Hasluck MM. 1973, New York: Octagon Books, 80, 166, 172, 175, 176-178, 198, 206, 262.

65.

Ben-Zvi S, Abu Rabia A, Kressel GM: The Charm of Graves: Mourning Rituals and Tomb Worshiping among the Negev Bedouin. 1998, Tel Aviv: Ministry of Defense Press (Hebrew), 89, 90-

66.

Westermarck E: Ritual and Belief in Morocco. 1968, University Press Books, New Hyde Park, New York, 78-

67.

Hornblower GD: A Sacred Grove in Egypt. Man. 1930, 30: 17-19.CrossRef

68.

Legey F: The Folklore of Morocco. 1935, London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd, 80-

69.

Frazer JG: Magic and Religion. 1944, London: Watts and Co, 18-

70.

Dafni A: Why are rags tied to the sacred trees of the Holy Land?. Economic Botany. 2002, 56: 315-327.CrossRef

71.

Rodwell JM: Koran. 1937, London: J.M. Dent, 70-Trans

72.

'Aref S: Graves of Muslim Saints in Galilee and Northern Israel. Religion, Rituals and Graves of Muslim Saints in the Land of Israel. Ariel. Edited by: Shiller E. 1996, Jerusalem (Hebrew), 117–118: 99-106.

73.

Fergusson J: Tree and Serpent Worship. 1971, Delhi, Varanasi: Indological Book House, 21-

74.

Walhouse MJ: Rag-bushes and kindred observances. Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 1880, 9: 97-106.CrossRef

75.

Bechmann R: Tree and Man: The Forest in the Middle Ages. 1990, New York: Paragon House, 279-

76.

Ilan Z: Tombs of the Righteous in the Land of Israel. 1997, Jerusalem: Canna (Hebrew), 99-

77.

Texier CFM: Voyage de L'asie Mineure. 1825, II: 198-Paris: Firmin Didot Freres (cited by Hasluck 1973:198)

78.

De Cleene M, Lejeun MC: Compendium of Symbolic and Ritual Plants in Europe. 2003, Ghent: Man and Culture

79.

Blackman AM: Some Egyptian and Nubian notes. Man. 1910, 10: 25-29. 56–57CrossRef

80.

Quantz JD: Dendro-psychosis. American Journal of Psychology. 1989, 9: 447-506.

81.

Yassin A, Akgul OGH, Ugur MS, Solak MH: The Monument Trees of Manisa (Turkish). 1989, 128-

82.

Thankappan-Nair P: Tree symbols worship among the Nairs of Kerala. Tree Worship in India A New Survey of a Pattern of Folk-Religion. Edited by: Gupta SN. 1965, Calcutta: Indian Publications, 97, 93-103.

83.

Majupuria TC, Johshi DP: Religious and Useful Plants of Nepal and India. 1997, India: Gupta Lashkar, 183-

84.

Gupta SM: Plant Myth and Traditions in India. 2001, Calcutta: Munshiram Manoharlal, xxi-

85.

Leland CG: Gypsy Sorcery and Fortune Telling. 1891, London: T. Fisher Unwin, 147-

86.

Simmons FJ: Plants of Life, Plants of Death. 1988, Madison: University of Wisconsin Press, 41-100, 293.

87.

Canaan T: Mohammedan Saints and Sanctuaries in Palestine. Journal of the Palestine Oriental Society. 1927, 7: 1-331.

88.

Fabri F: Palestine Pilgrims Text Society. 1887, London: A.M.S Press, 9-10, 493.

89.

Eliade M: Patterns in Comparative Religion. 1958, London: Sheed and Ward, 266-268.

90.

Frese PR, Gray SJM: Trees. The Encyclopaedia of Religion. Edited by: Eliade M. 1995, Macmillan Library Reference USA. New York: Simon, Schuster and Macmillan, 15: 26-33.

91.

Robertson-Smith W: Lectures on the Religion of the Semites. 1889, Edinburgh: Adam and Charles, 185-

92.

Nöldeke T: Geschichte der Preser und Araber zur Zeit der Sasaniden- Aus der Arabischen Chronik des Tabari, Übersetz ausfurlichen Ergänzungen Erläuterungen und Ergänzungen. 1973, Leiden: Brill, 181-(First published 1879)

93.

Grimm J: Teutonic Mythology. Edited by: Stalybrass JS. 1966, New York: Dover Publications, Inc, II: 651-(Original German edition)

94.

Munro-Chadwick H: The Oak and the Thunder God. Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland. 1900, 30: 22-44.CrossRef

Title: The ethnobotany of Christ's Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) in Israel
Authors: Amots Dafni
Shay Levy
Efraim Lev
Publication date: 01-12-2005
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine / Issue 1/2005
Electronic ISSN: 1746-4269
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-1-8

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The ethnobotany of Christ's Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) in Israel

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2005

Agricultural, domestic and handicraft folk uses of plants in the Tyrrhenian sector of Basilicata (Italy)

Knowledge and use of medicinal plants by local specialists in an region of Atlantic Forest in the state of Pernambuco (Northeastern Brazil)

Welcome to Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Why study the use of animal products in traditional medicines?

Ethnopharmacological survey of different uses of seven medicinal plants from Mali, (West Africa) in the regions Doila, Kolokani and Siby

Role of traditional healers in psychosocial support in caring for the orphans: A case of Dar-es Salaam City, Tanzania