Lycium pilifolium C.H.Wright

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Type

Type from South Africa (Northern Cape Prov.).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 3–5 mm long, pilose

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk prominent, brownish-yellow Disk prominent, brownish-yellow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary (1)1. 5–2 mm in diameter, globose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 10–15 mm long, exserted

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2.5 × 2 mm, suborbicular to reniform Seeds 2.5 × 2 mm, suborbicular to reniform.

Ecology

Calcareous pan. In southern Africa recorded from scrub-savanna and karroid veld; common on sandy-calcareous soils.

Distribution

Also known from the southern parts of Namibia and South Africa (western Free State, Northern Cape and North-West Provinces). Botswana. BOT SW

Morphology General Habit

Rigid, much branched shrub usually 0.3–0.5 m high (elsewhere to 1.5 m). Rigid, much branched shrub usually 0.3–0.5 m high (elsewhere to 1. 5 m)

Morphology Stem

Young stems densely pilose with short and long glandular hairs, glabrescent; spines on young stems numerous, subulate, 10–15 mm long, divaricate, on the older ones peg-like and pungent, leafless, 10–20 mm long; bark yellowish-white on young stems, greyish-brown to purplish-brown on older ones. Young stems densely pilose with short and long glandular hairs, glabrescent; spines on young stems numerous, subulate, 10–15 mm long, divaricate, on the older ones peg-like and pungent, leafless, 10–20 mm long; bark yellowish-white on young stems, greyish-brown to purplish-brown on older ones

Morphology Leaves

Leaves fascicled in clusters of 2–8, subsessile or with a petiole up to 2 mm long; lamina semi-succulent, 3–10(18) × 1–4 mm, obovate or narrowly obovate, apex obtuse to acute, minutely hirsute with long and short glandular hairs. Leaves fascicled in clusters of 2–8, subsessile or with a petiole up to 2 mm long; lamina semi-succulent, 3–10(18) × 1–4 mm, obovate or narrowly obovate, apex obtuse to acute, minutely hirsute with long and short glandular hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, 5-merous; pedicels 3–5 mm long, pilose. Flowers hermaphrodite, 5-merous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 6–7 mm long, campanulate, with vesture as on leaves outside; tube 3–3.5 mm wide; lobes equal to slightly unequal, 3–3.5 mm long, oblong-triangular, obtuse, suberect to slightly reflexed. Calyx 6–7 mm long, campanulate, with vesture as on leaves outside; tube 3–3.5 mm wide; lobes equal to slightly unequal, 3–3.5 mm long, oblong-triangular, obtuse, suberect to slightly reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla creamy-white with violet venation and violet lobes, shallowly trumpet-shaped, glabrous outside; tube 7–10 mm long, as long as or slightly longer than the calyx, sparsely pilose on the inside on the lower half; limb 6–10 mm across; lobes 3–4 mm long, semi-elliptic to semi-ovate or semi-orbicular, reflexed, ciliolate. Corolla creamy-white with violet venation and violet lobes, shallowly trumpet-shaped, glabrous outside; tube 7–10 mm long, as long as or slightly longer than the calyx, sparsely pilose on the inside on the lower half; limb 6–10 mm across; lobes 3–4 mm long, semi-elliptic to semi-ovate or semi-orbicular, reflexed, ciliolate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens subequal with 3 slightly longer than the other 2, attached at or just below the middle of corolla tube, exserted; filaments 8–12 mm long, densely pilose just above the base. Stamens subequal with 3 slightly longer than the other 2, attached at or just below the middle of corolla tube, exserted; filaments 8–12 mm long, densely pilose just above the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary (1)1.5–2 mm in diameter, globose; style 10–15 mm long, exserted.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit 6–10 mm in diameter, globose, yellow to red. Fruit 6–10 mm in diameter, globose, yellow to red