Paliurus spina-christi, commonly known as Jerusalem thorn, garland thorn, Christ's thorn, or crown of thorns, is a species of Paliurus native to the Mediterranean region, Southwest Asia and Central Asia, from Morocco and Spain east to Iran and Tajikistan.^[1][2]

Quick Facts Paliurus spina-christi, Scientific classification ...

Paliurus spina-christi
Jerusalem thorn (Paliurus spina-christi)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Rosales
Family:	Rhamnaceae
Genus:	Paliurus
Species:	P. spina-christi
Binomial name
Paliurus spina-christi Mill.
Synonyms
Paliurus aculeatus Lam. Paliurus australis Gaertn. Rhamnus paliurus L. Ziziphus spina-christi (Mill.) Georgi

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It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 3–4 m tall. The shoots are zig-zagged, with a leaf and two stipular spines (one straight, one curved) on the outside of each kink. The leaves are oval, 2–5 cm long and 1–4 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The fruit is a dry woody nutlet centred in a circular wing 2–3.5 cm diameter.

As suggested by the Latin name, the spiny branches of this shrub were thought to be used to make the crown of thorns placed on Jesus' head before his crucifixion. Ziziphus spina-christi, the Christ's thorn jujube, is also identified as being used for the crown of thorns.

It is viewed as an ornamental curiosity and is cultivated in some areas outside its native range, including Fiji.

• Frutis and seeds
• Paliurus spina-christi, Christ's thorn shrub bearing fruits which are woody nutlets centred in a circular wing among the ruins of Side, Turkey.