M. Thulin (1999) Rhamnaceae Flora of Somalia 2: 150-156
Plants shrubs or trees up to 15 m tall, usually spiny, rarely not so; bark grey, fissured. Leaves petiolate; petioles 3-12 mm long; blades ovate to elliptic or suborbicular, 2-8 cm long, 1-5 cm wide, bases symmetrical or almost so, margins serrulate, tips aubacute to more or less rounded, lower surfaces tomentose. Inflorescences usually many-flowered cymes. Flowers tomentose, white to yellowish green; sepals 1.5-2 mm long; petals about 1.5 mm long. Drupes 10-20 mm in diameter, red.
Ziziphus mauritiana grows in bushland and woodland, often along rivers and wadis, at 20-1320 m. It is known from regions N1, C2, S1 and S3 of the Flora of Somalia as well as in other dry part of Africa and Asia and has been introduced into the Americas. Its range has been increased and expanded by humans.
Habit: shrubs or trees to 15 m tall, usually spiny, often with zig-zag branches; bark grey and fissured.
Leaves: ovate to ovate-elliptic, 2-8 cm long, lower surfaces tomentose (differing in this from Ziziphus spina-christi).
Inflorescnces usually many-flowered and axillary.
Flowers up to about 2 mm long, tomentose, white to yellowish green.
Fruits: red globose drupes 1-2 cm in diameter.
Ziziphus mauritiana grows in bushland and woodland, often along rivers and wadis, at 20-1320 m. It is known from regions N1, C2, S1 and S3 of the Flora of Somalia as well as in other dry part of Africa and Asia and has been introduced into the Americas.