LYCIUM SCHWEINFURTHII

Family and Genus:- See- SOLANACEAE

Common Names:- None

Homotypic Synonyms:- Lycium europaeum, Lycium intricatum

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

Schweinfurthii (L) For Dr George Angust Schweinfurth (1836-1925)

collector in central Africa.

General description:- Deciduous shrub, 1-4m tall; branches rigid, very spiny, the

spines stout.

Stems:-

1) Intricately branched, very thomy and summer-deciduous.

2) Spines, stout and rigid.

Leaves:-

1) 10-50mm, somewhat fleshy, long, linear- to oblong-lanceolate, densely stellate-

hairy above.

2) Petioles, without false stipules.

Flowers:-

1) 15-20mm long, narrow, infundibuliform.

2) Calyx, 1.5-2 mm, ciliate.

3) Corolla lobes, less than 1/4 as long as the tube.

4) Stamens, not protruding, usually mauve.

Fruit:-

1) Berry, usually black.

Key features:-

1) Petioles, without false stipules.

2) Leaves, linear to oblong-lanceolate, densely stellate-hairy above.

Click here for a glossary of terms used

Habitat:- Rocky and sandy coastal habitats. 0-100 m. often on small islands.

Distribution:- Sicily, Kasos Karpathos and the Aegean and parts of N Affica

eastwards, including Cyprus. Limited distribution on Crete, mainly C and E coastal

areas.

Flowering time:- Apr-June, occasionally at other times.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton