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Ber
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Ber
ative Photo: Thingnam Girija
Common name: Indian jujube, Indian plum • Hindi: Ber बेर • Kannada: ಬೋರೆ Bore, ಬಾರೆ Baare, ಎರ Era, ಎಲಚಿ, ಎಳಚಿ Elachi, ಎಲಂಚೆ Elanche • Sanskrit: Badri बद्री • Tamil: எளந்தை Elandhai • Manipuri: ꯕꯣꯔꯣꯏ Boroi • Mizo: Bo-rai • Nepali: अगुजे बयर Aguje Bayar, बयर Bayar
Botanical name: Ziziphus mauritiana      Family: Rhamnaceae (Ber family)

Ber is a small or medium sized subtropical tree, popular for its small berry like fruit. It grows wild in forests and also on wastelands throughout the mid-hills up to elevations of 1,400 metres. The small fruits are liked by children as well as by adults. 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. 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. The flowers are yellowish and born in clusters along the leaf axils and this is shortly followed by the rounded fruit which can be anywhere from three-quarters of an inch to an inch-and-a-half in size. Trees are easily propagated by seeds, however, seedlings take two to three years to start fruit production.

Identification credit: Tabish Photographed in Jodhpur, Rajasthan & Delhi

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