Ziziphus mucronata subsp. mucronata colourful spines

A thin and very pale upper stem of Ziziphus mucronata subsp. mucronata bears dark red spines among the leaves here. The spines are based on tiny oval platforms on the pale stem, next to the alternate leaves at the nodes.

The straight spine becomes 1 cm to 2 cm long, the curved or hooked one 5 cm to 7 cm.

The slight zigzags of the young stems from node to node are visible. The leaves in picture curve in along their lateral margins (Coates Palgrave, 2002; Grant and Thomas, 2001).