Scrub Ziziphus / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Scrub Ziziphus (Ziziphus celata)

The star-shaped, yellow flowers of Ziziphus celata. Photo Credit: Steve Shirah
  • Global Rank: G1 - Critically Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Rhamnaceae
  • State: FL
  • Nature Serve ID: 130164
  • Lifeform: Shrub
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/08/1989
Description:

Florida ziziphus (Ziziphus celata) is one of the rarest and most imperiled plants in Florida. It is so rare that the taxonomists who named it thought they were describing an extinct species. And given its limited geographic distribution, small populations, lack of genetic diversity and reluctance to reproduce sexually, the taxonomists fear could still prove true. Florida ziziphus was named and described in 1984 from a specimen that had languished in an herbarium drawer for 36 years. No live plant was known to the taxonomists who described it (Judd and Hall 1984). But, beginning in 1987 (Delaney et al. 1989), six small populations of Florida ziziphus were discovered along a 35 mile stretch of the Lake Wales Ridge in Central Florida. Its natural habitat was probably longleaf pine/wiregrass sandhill, but today four of the six known populations are in pastures, where they have been subjected to mowing, periodic (unsuccessful) attempts at eradication, and trampling by cattle. A member of the buckthorn family (the Rhamnaceae), Florida ziziphus is a single or multi-stemmed woody shrub, 3 to 6 ft. in height. It has spiny, zigzag branches with small (less than 1 in. long) alternate leaves, shiny on their upper surface. The leaves are deciduous, falling in December before flowering begins in early January. Flowers are tiny--four fit neatly on the face of a dime--and are perfect, containing both anthers and a pistil surrounded by a nectar ring. Mature plants bloom profusely, with flowers numbering in the tens of thousands. The fragrant flowers attract legions of insects, including flower flies, bees, wasps and butterflies. Some floral visitors are quite noisy and on sunny mornings plants can be heard as well as smelled from several yards away. The fruit is a drupe about 1/2 in. in length that turns yellow as it ripens in late May. Most populations of Florida ziziphus consist of more or less distinct clumps of apparently disparate plants which, once examined genetically, turn out to be a single genetic individual (a clone). These clones are not only self-incompatibleincapable of producing offspringbut many clones are also cross-incompatible. Thus most populations do not reproduce sexually. Sterile populations can persist through vegetative growth, with new stems arising from an expanding root system, but long term viability requires the restoration of sexually-reproductive populations (Weekley et al. 1999).

Where is Scrub Ziziphus (Ziziphus celata) located in the wild?

Habitat:

This species is thought to occur naturally on the periphery of turkey oak sandhills or yellow sand oak-hickory scrub communities. (USFWS 1999) However, most known species are persisting in pastures.

Distribution:

Lake Wales Ridge in Polk and Highlands Counties, Florida

States & Provinces:

Scrub Ziziphus can be found in Florida

Which CPC Partners conserve Scrub Ziziphus (Ziziphus celata)?

  • Bok Tower Gardens

    Sponsored
    Sponsors Add

    Silver Sponsor

    Bok Tower Gardens

    Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17

  • Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 08/09/17
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    Tina Stanley
    • 05/11/2023
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    According to a March 2023 extract of the Florida Plant Rescue Database, Bok Tower Gardens holds accessions of Ziziphus celata.

    Tina Stanley
    • 07/28/2022
      • Seed Collection

    Nearly all of the seeds of Florida Ziziphus (Ziziphus celata) are produced in the National Collection at Bok Tower Gardens.  The small, few natural populations are clonal or consist of the same mating type, and Florida Ziziphus is an obligate outcrosser.  Most of the genotypes grow together in the National Collection, and open pollination ensure an abundance of seeds produced each May.  Seeds from the 2021 harvest from the National Collection were submitted as the ‘fresh’ collection, to be compared to seeds collected from the National Collection in 2009 and stored at -20°C.  Although seed collection itself does not see any challenges, the process of drying the seeds often has challenges.  The drupes have a fleshy pulp that are attractive to pests, from rats to the pink scavenger moth, and over the years several methods to air dry the seeds while excluding pests have been tried.   Recently, cages with fine screening were built for drying Ziziphus seeds.  These cages seem to be excluding well all but the tiniest beetle, whose identity is still unknown.  Because of improved pest-exclusion methods, recently collected seeds should retain greater viability because their embryo has not been damaged, though the degree of pest damage to seeds collected in the past is not known.

    Center for Plant Conservation
    • 11/26/2021
      • Reintroduction

    The known populations of federally endangered Ziziphus celata are in xeric yellow sand habitats along the eastern side of Lake Wales Ridge, FL. Since 2002, the Archbold Biological Station has carried out two major introductions comprising 430 potted transplants and 4728 seeds. Each introduction was an experiment. We compared establishment and vital rates of transplants vs. on-site seedlings emerged from seeds we had sown. In June 2002, we introduced 144 2-3 yr old potted plants and 1728 seeds to Carter Creek. Equal numbers were introduced into each of 36 5 m radius plots with one of 3 experimental treatments: burn-only, saw & burn, and control. At Tiger Creek in June 2005, we transplanted 286 1-2 yr old potted plants and 3000 seeds. In both sites, transplants outperformed seeds; cumulative transplant survival was 76.4% and 72.4% at Carter after 4.5 yrs & Tiger Creek after 2 yrs. Surviving seedlings were 3 or (0.17%) and 47 (1.57%) at Carter & Tiger Creek. Transplant survival was higher at Carter Creek, while seedgermination and seedling survival were higher at Tiger Creek.

    Center for Plant Conservation
    • 08/20/2021
      • Orthodox Seed Banking

    In 2021, CPC contracted Bok Tower Gardens to recollect seed from a population currently held in long term orthodox seed storage as part of an IMLS-funded seed longevity experiment. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation will evaluate how germination tested viability and RNA Integrity of seed lots decline over time in storage.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Genetic Research

    The sexually mature population of Florida ziziphus comprises 11 genotypes (Weekley et al. in press, Godt et al. 1997). It is self-incompatible and many genotypes are also cross-incompatible (Weekley and Race 2001, Weekley et al. in press). Cross-incompatibility in Florida ziziphus is believed to be due to the sharing of self-incompatibility (SI) alleles. Based on current evidence, Florida ziziphus may consist of as few as three SI mating types. Further research is currently being conducted on cross-compatibility of previously untested crosses. Genotyping of 300+ seedlings is underway in preparation for an experimental introduction on a protected site within the historic range of the species.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Living Collection

    An in vitro propagation protocol for this species has been developed at CREW (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden) and research is ongoing to improve the protocol. Plants have been produced and sent to the ex situ collection at Bok Tower Gardens. A shoot tip cryopreservation protocol has also been developed.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Propagation Research

    An in vitro propagation protocol for this species has been developed at CREW (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden) and research is ongoing to improve the protocol. Plants have been produced and sent to the ex situ collection at Bok Tower Gardens. A shoot tip cryopreservation protocol has also been developed.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Cryo

    Several genetic lines are maintained as tissue culture lines and as cryopreserved shoot tips at CREW.

    • 10/17/2020
      • Tissue Culture

    Several genetic lines are maintained as tissue culture lines and as cryopreserved shoot tips at CREW.

    Valerie Pence
    • 01/08/2018

    An in vitro propagation protocol for this species has been developed at CREW (Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden) and research is ongoing to improve the protocol.  Plants have been produced and sent to the ex situ collection at Bok Tower Gardens.  A shoot tip cryopreservation protocol has also been developed.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    A Florida endemic known from only 2 small populations in Highlands and Polk counties. The region which this species inhabits is under extreme development pressure and both of the known sites are unprotected.

    Carl W. Weekley
    • 01/01/2010

    Habitat destruction Fire suppression Conversion of sandhill habitat for agricultural purposes

    Carl W. Weekley
    • 01/01/2010

    Six sites/populations: three populations each comprise a single genotype; two sites have two or three genotypes (Weekley et al. in press, Godt et al. 1997); the number of genotypes on the newly discovered sixth site is not yet known. At least four populations are self-sterile.

    Carl W. Weekley
    • 01/01/2010

    The sexually mature population of Florida ziziphus comprises 11 genotypes (Weekley et al. in press, Godt et al. 1997). It is self-incompatible and many genotypes are also cross-incompatible (Weekley and Race 2001, Weekley et al. in press). Cross-incompatibility in Florida ziziphus is believed to be due to the sharing of self-incompatibility (SI) alleles. Based on current evidence, Florida ziziphus may consist of as few as three SI mating types. Further research is currently being conducted on cross-compatibility of previously untested crosses. Genotyping of 300+ seedlings is underway in preparation for an experimental introduction on a protected site within the historic range of the species.

    Carl W. Weekley
    • 01/01/2010

    Two sites for Florida ziziphus are now protected--but these two sites (which are contiguous) comprise only two cross-incompatible genotypes. However, all known populations are currently monitored annually and site maintenance is conducted to control exotics.

    Carl W. Weekley
    • 01/01/2010

    Research on the reproductive biology, genetics, germination requirements and seed ecology of Florida ziziphus is ongoing.

    Carl W. Weekley
    • 01/01/2010

    The ex situ population at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, includes most of the known genetic diversity of the species. Additional material for the ex situ population will be collected in January 2002.

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Ziziphus celata
    Authority Judd & D.W. Hall
    Family Rhamnaceae
    CPC Number 4458
    ITIS 196008
    USDA ZICE
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names ancient ziziphus | Florida ziziphus | Florida jujube
    Associated Scientific Names Ziziphus celata
    Distribution Lake Wales Ridge in Polk and Highlands Counties, Florida
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Florida S1
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    The star-shaped, yellow flowers of Ziziphus celata. Photo Credit: Steve Shirah

    A view of a leafy, thorny branch of this species, with yellow fruit on it. Photo Credit: Steve Shirah

    Nearly all of the seeds of Florida Ziziphus (Ziziphus celata) are produced in the National Collection at Bok Tower Gardens.  The small, few natural populations are clonal or consist of the same mating type, and Florida Ziziphus is an obligate outcrosser.  Most of the genotypes grow together in the National Collection, and open pollination ensure an abundance of seeds produced each May. Photo Credit: Bok Tower Gardens

    An introduced population of Ziziphus celata, the seedlings were caged to reduce herbivory. Also shown Stacey Smith, who worked on the introductions as part of the plant Ecology lab at Archbold Biological Station. Photo credit: Christy Edwards. Photo Credit: Christy Edwards

    One of the introduced individuals of Ziziphus celata. The seedling was caged to reduce herbivory. Photo credit: Christy Edwards. Photo Credit: Christy Edwards
    Videos
    If you want to make an omelette: using cutting tests to estimate viability in Ziziphus celata (Rhamnaceae)
    Evaluating Translocation Successes and Challenges: Case Studies of Federally Listed Plant Species of the Lake Wales Ridge, Florida
    Update on the National Collection at Bok Tower Gardens
    Endophyte Associates of Florida Ziziphus
    Newsletters
    Read More
    Reintroduction
    Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
    Archbold Biological Station Florida Reinforcement 1998
    Archbold Biological Station Florida Reintroduction 2002
    Archbold Biological Station Florida Reinforcement 2003
    Archbold Biological Station Florida Reintroduction 2005
    Archbold Biological Station Florida Reintroduction 2010
    Archbold Biological Station Florida Reintroduction 2012
    Bok Tower Gardens Florida Reintroduction 2021

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