Lycium bosciifolium Schinz

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

Morphology General Habit

Erect, profusely branched shrub 0.9–3 m high Erect, profusely branched shrub 0.9–3 m high.

Morphology Stem

Stems curved to somewhat pendulous, glabrous; spines smooth, slender, 5–10(40) mm long; bark pale grey or creamy-white on young stems to dark brown on the older ones Stems curved to somewhat pendulous, glabrous; spines smooth, slender, 5–10(40) mm long; bark pale grey or creamy-white on young stems to dark brown on the older ones.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves in clusters of 3–9, subsessile or with a petiole up to (4)5(8) mm long; lamina blue-green to yellowish-green, semi-succulent, 10–30(50) × 3–8(11) mm, narrowly obovate to oblong-elliptic or narrowly lanceolate, apex rounded to acute, with microscopic, short glandular hairs Leaves in clusters of 3–9, subsessile or with a petiole up to (4)5(8) mm long; lamina blue-green to yellowish-green, semi-succulent, 10–30(50) × 3–8(11) mm, narrowly obovate to oblong-elliptic or narrowly lanceolate, apex rounded to acute, with microscopic, short glandular hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, 5-merous, erect to slightly pendulous. Flowers hermaphrodite, 5-merous, erect to slightly pendulous; pedicels 4–6(11) mm long, with vesture as on leaves.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 4–6(11) mm long, with vesture as on leaves

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–5 mm long, with vesture as on pedicels; tube tubular-campanulate, 1. 5–2.5 mm wide; lobes subequal or unequal, 0.8–5 mm long, triangular, acute, erect Calyx 3–5 mm long, with vesture as on pedicels; tube tubular-campanulate, 1.5–2.5 mm wide; lobes subequal or unequal, 0.8–5 mm long, triangular, acute, erect.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla dirty-white to cream with violet lobes and venation and a purple patch at the base of the lobes, (10)11–15(24) mm long, glabrous outside; tube narrowly tubular-infundibuliform, occasionally slightly curved, pilose on the inside from the base to above filament insertion; limb 6–7(9) mm across; lobes 1. 5–2(3) mm long, semi-elliptic, spreading, ciliolate Corolla dirty-white to cream with violet lobes and venation and a purple patch at the base of the lobes, (10)11–15(24) mm long, glabrous outside; tube narrowly tubular-infundibuliform, occasionally slightly curved, pilose on the inside from the base to above filament insertion; limb 6–7(9) mm across; lobes 1.5–2(3) mm long, semi-elliptic, spreading, ciliolate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 1. 5–2 mm long, conical, apiculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 13–17(22) mm long, exserted

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit red or orange-red, sometimes black, (5)6(10) × 3–5 mm, oblong-ellipsoid to ovoid, apiculate Fruit red or orange-red, sometimes black, (5)6(10) × 3–5 mm, oblong-ellipsoid to ovoid, apiculate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2 × 1. 5 mm, reniform Seeds 2 × 1.5 mm, reniform.

Ecology

Acacia and sometimes other wooded grassland, riverbanks, dry riverbeds and floodplains, Kalahari Sand dunes and limestone outcrops; up to 1067 m.

Note

The sterile specimen, Symes 67/M/23 (SRGH), from Zimbabwe S: Beitbridge Distr., Maramani C.L. (T.T.L.), Acacia-mopane veld, is probably this species. The specimen with flowers and fruits, H.C. Day s.n. (BM), from KwaZulu-Natal to N Zambesi, is this species.

Distribution

Botswana. Zimbabwe BOT N, BOT SW, ZIM W Also known from arid regions of southern Angola, Namibia and north-western South Africa (including the Richtersveld).

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens unequal, attached from a third above the base to the middle of the corolla tube, all exserted; filaments 12–14 mm long, pilose at the base. Stamens unequal, attached from a third above the base to the middle of the corolla tube, all exserted; filaments 12–14 mm long, pilose at the base

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk inconspicuous, green. Disk inconspicuous, green

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 1.5–2 mm long, conical, apiculate; style 13–17(22) mm long, exserted.