Lycium boerhaviifolium
Credits
Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles
Recommended citation
'Lycium boerhaviifolium' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.
Synonyms
- Grabowskia boerhaavifolia (L.f.) Schltdl.
Editorial Note
Bean treated this species under the genus Grabowskia, since sunk into Lycium.
A deciduous shrub 6 to 10 ft high, of loose, spreading habit; young branches glabrous, armed with sharp spines which are 1⁄4 in. long the first year, but grow longer. Leaves alternate, grey, fleshy, roundish, widely ovate or obovate, 1 to 11⁄2 in. long, 3⁄4 to 11⁄4 in. wide, wavy at the margin, tapering at the base, glabrous; stalk 1⁄4 in. or less long. Flowers 2⁄5 in. long and wide, produced in May, sometimes singly on a short stalk in the leaf-axils, sometimes in terminal or axillary racemes 1 in. long; corolla pale blue, tubular at the base, spreading to five reflexed lobes; calyx 1⁄6 in. long, bell-shaped, with five angular teeth.
Native of Brazil and Peru; introduced in 1807, but rarely seen. Near London it requires the protection of a south wall. The foliage resembles that of Atriplex halimus, and the flowers are like those of Lycium chinense. It has little more than botanical interest.