Ziziphus zeyheriana

Ziziphus zeyheriana, the dwarf buffalo thorn or in Afrikaans dwerg-blinkblaar-wag-‘n-bietjie (dwarf shiny leaf wait a while) is a spiny shrub that grows to 50 cm in height. It branches much from the base, while only sparsely higher up on its erect stems. The stems emerge above-ground at different points, forming a spreading colony from an extensive underground rhizomatous rootstock.

The spring flowers resemble those of Z. mucronata, arising from short axillary cymes. The fruits are also similar to Z. mucronata fruit, but more ovoid and initially pale green to whitish as seen here. The fruit becomes about 8 mm long. The photo was taken in January near Pretoria.

The species distribution is in the Free State and widespread north of the Vaal River, also in Botswana, Zimbabwe and further. The habitat is summer rainfall grassland. The species is not considered threatened in its habitat early in the twenty first century (Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; www.zimbabweflora.co.zw; www.redlist.sanbi.org).