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 northern Mediterranean region, Southwest Asia and Central Asia, from Spain and southern France east to Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
It is a deciduous shrub or small tree growing to 3âÂÂ4 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, 2âÂÂ5 cm long and 1âÂÂ4 cm broad, glossy green, with an entire margin. The fruit is a dry woody nutlet centred in a circular wing 2âÂÂ3.5 cm in 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, grown for its odd-looking discus-like fruit, and is cultivated in some areas outside its native range, including western Europe north to Great Britain.
It is locally naturalised in northwestern Africa, northern India, Hungary, and in the United States in Texas.