Wild Ber
Zizyphus
jujuba
Synonyms: Zizyphus sativa, Zizyphus
vulgaris
Family:
Rhamnaceae
Indian
names: ber (Himachal Pradesh); pitni, ber, kandika, kandiari, singli,
ban ber (Hindi); bari, konkamber, phitni (Kashmir); ranbor, uneb
(Maharashtra); amlai, singli, simli, barari (Punjab).
Wild ber
is a plant of very common occurrence. It grows wild in forests and also
on wastelands throughout the mid-hills up to elevations of 1,400
metres. The small acidic fruits are liked by children as well as by
adults.
Morphology
A
small spreading tree, with drooping branches; height, 5 to 8 metres;
trunk girth, 85 cm; bark, rough, gray or dull black, irregularly
cracked, covered with a thick layer of green moss in the case of older
trees and, thus, looking green; branches, bearing at each node two
spines, which are modified stipules; one spine is curved and the other
is straight.
Leaves, ovate, petiolate (petiole, 5 mm long),
having very fine serration, 3.8 cm long, 2.9 cm broad, dark green and
shining from above, white tomentose from beneath; venation, palmate
convergent.
Flowers, bisexual, hermaphrodite, cyclic, yellowish
green; inflorescence, an axillary cyme, bearing flowers in a crowded
manner; calyx, polysepalous, with 5 sepals, actinomorphic, greenish
yellow, 2 mm long; corolla, polypetalous, with 5 petals, actinomorphic,
white, 1.5 to 2 cm long; androecium, polyandrous, with 5 stamens,
white, 1.5 to 2 cm long; gynoecium with two carpels, which are fused at
the base, 1 to 2 mm long.
Fruits, oblong, 1.3 cm in diameter, 1.45 g in weight, 1.05 ml in
volume, colour marsh orange 013/1; pulp, Indian yellow 6/3.
Seeds, wrinkled, stony, 419 mg in weight; volume, 410 microlitres; 1
seed per fruit.
The flowering
and fruiting season
The
flowering season was observed to range from the first week of June to
the first week of July at Sanwara and in the adjoining areas.
Similarly, the fruiting season was observed to be from the first week
to the last week of December.
Yield
The average yield of this species was recorded to be 9.5 kg per tree.
Chemical
composition of the fruit
The
fruits contain 68.0 per cent moisture. Their pulp contains, 3.92 per
cent acidity, 8.68 per cent total sugars, 6.73 per cent reducing
sugars, 1.85 per cent non-reducing sugars, 1.72 per cent pectin, and
1.32 per cent tannins. The vitamin C content of this fruit is 2.56 mg
per 100 g of pulp.
The total mineral content of the fruit pulp,
as represented by its ash, is 1.38 per cent. The protein content of the
pulp is 2.56 per cent. Some of the mineral elements in the fruit pulp,
viz. phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron are 0.069,
0.583, 0.083, 0.065 and 0.006 per cent respectively.
Medicinal
properties
The
fruits have emollient and expectorant properties. They are
also
considered to be cooling and an anodyne and a tonic. They are employed
as an antidote to aconite poisoning and are recommended in nausea and
vomiting. They are also prescribed in abdominal pain during pregnancy.
They are used externally in poultices and are applied to wounds (Anon.,
1976).
The leaves are laxative and
prescribed in scabies and throat troubles (Anon., 1976).
Dessert
quality
The small round fruits are acidic and poor in quality. They are,
however, eaten by poor people, especially during scarcity.
Utilization
These
fruits are eaten by villagers. The wood of this plant is very hard and
durable and is used in making agricultural implements. The leaves of
this plant are used as a fodder for sheep and goats.
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