Taxonomic history
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Rhamnus lotus in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 194 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
Today: The current name for this species is Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam.
original Latin diagnosis
Rhamnus aculeis geminatis: altero recurvo, foliis ovato-oblongis.
English translation
Rhamnus with prickles in pairs, the second [of two] recurved; with leaf blades ovate-oblong.
| Rhamnus | Rhamnus |
| with prickles | aculeis - ablative plural of second declension masculine noun aculeus, -i |
| solitary | geminatis - ablative plural masculine of group A adjective geminatus, -a, -um; modifies aculeis |
| with the other [of two] | altero - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective alterus, -a, -um; agrees in number and gender with aculeis |
| recurved; | recurvo - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective recurvus, -a, -um; modifies altero |
| with leaf blaes | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| ovate-oblong. | ovato-oblongis - (combining form of group A adjective ovatus, -a, -um) + oblongis (ablative plural neuter of group A adjective oblongus, -a, -um); modifies foliis |