LYCIUM EUROPAEUM

Family and Genus:- See- SOLANACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- None

Meaning:- Lycium (Gr) Ancient Greek name for a thorn tree from Lycia.

Europaeum (L) European, from Europe.

General description:- Deciduous shrub,

Stems:-

1) 1-2 m tall. branches long, slender, pale grey, densely short-pubescent when

young, with straight, rigid spines.

Leaves:-

1) Alternate, or often in fascicles, usually 3-12 x 2-4 mm. oblanceolate, rather thin.

1-veined

Flowers:-

1) Solitary or in clusters of 2(-3).

2) Calyx, 2-3 mm, shallowly 5-dentate or 2-lipped.

3) Corolla, 10-14 mm, narrowly infundibuliform, cream to pale pinkish or lilic;

a) lobes, 3-4 mm. spreading, ovate.

4) Stamens, usually inserted near the top of the corolla tube, usually 2 included

and 3 exerted,

a) filaments, glabrous, somewhat unequal.

Fruit:-

1) Berry, subglobose usually reddish.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, 3-10 mm wide.

2) Filaments, glabrous.

3) Fruit, reddish.

4) Calyx, 2-3 mm.

5) Corolla, 10-14 mm

6) Stamens, included.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Coastal thickets, hedges, roadside scrub, vineyards, ruderal habitats. 0-

500 m.

Distribution:- Almost throughout Greece, mainly in coastal areas Widespread in

the Mediterranean region, native distribution uncertain. Previously unrecorded from

Crete

Flowering time:- Apr-July, sometimes later.

Photos by:- Marinos Gogolos