What is "jerusalem thorn"

Jerusalem \Je*ru"sa*lem\ (j[-e]*r[udd]"s[.a]*l[e^]m), n. [Gr. 'Ieroysalh`m, fr. Heb. Y[e^]r[=u]sh[=a]laim.] The chief city of Palestine, intimately associated with the glory of the Jewish nation, and the life and death of Jesus Christ. Jerusalem artichoke [Perh. a corrupt. of It. girasole i.e., sunflower, or turnsole. See Gyre, Solar.] (Bot.)

1. An American plant, a perennial species of sunflower ( Helianthus tuberosus), whose tubers are sometimes used as food.

2. One of the tubers themselves.

   Jerusalem cherry (Bot.), the popular name of either of two species of Solanum ( Solanum Pseudo-capsicum and Solanum capsicastrum), cultivated as ornamental house plants. They bear bright red berries of about the size of cherries.

   Jerusalem oak (Bot.), an aromatic goosefoot ( Chenopodium Botrys), common about houses and along roadsides.

   Jerusalem sage (Bot.), a perennial herb of the Mint family ( Phlomis tuberosa).

   Jerusalem thorn (Bot.), a spiny, leguminous tree ( Parkinsonia aculeata), widely dispersed in warm countries, and used for hedges.

   The New Jerusalem, Heaven; the Celestial City.

Jerusalem thorn is a common name for several plants and may refer to:

Shrubs:

• Paliurus spina-christi, native to Eastern Hemisphere
• Parkinsonia aculeata, native to Western Hemisphere

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