SOLANACEAE

NIGHTSHADE FAMILY

Michael Nee

Annual to shrub
Leaves generally simple, generally alternate, generally petioled; stipules 0; blade entire to deeply lobed
Inflorescence various
Flower bisexual; calyx lobes generally 5; corolla ± radial, cylindric to rotate, lobes generally 5; stamens 5, alternate corolla lobes; ovary superior, generally 2-chambered, style 1
Fruit: berry or capsule, 2–5-chambered
Genera in family: 75 genera, 3000 species: worldwide, especially ± tropical; many alien weeds in CA; many cultivated for food, drugs, or ornamental (potato, tomato, peppers, tobacco, petunia); many TOXIC.

LYCIUM

BOX THORN

Shrub 1–4 m, generally with leafy thorns, glabrous, hairy, or glandular
Leaves alternate or clustered, entire, small, fleshy
Inflorescence: clusters; flowers 1–several
Flower: calyx cylindric to bell-shaped, lobes 2–5; corolla funnel-shaped or rotate, whitish, greenish, or purplish, lobes 4–5; stamens attached at different levels in corolla
Fruit: berry, 2-chambered, dry to fleshy
Seeds 2–many
Species in genus: ± 100 species: warm, dry areas worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: Lycia, ancient country of Asia Minor)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1932 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 19:179–374]

Native

L. torreyi A. Gray

Plant nearly glabrous (except leaf clusters hair-tufted); twigs slender, ± climbing
Leaf 1–5 cm, ± oblanceolate
Flower: calyx 2.5–4.5 mm, lobes 5, 1–1.5 mm; corolla 8–15 mm, narrowly funnel-shaped, greenish lavender or whitish, lobes 3–4 mm, lanceolate to ovate; stamens slightly exserted, attached at middle of tube
Fruit 6–10 mm, red or orange, juicy
Seeds 8–30
Ecology: Washes, streambanks
Elevation: < 700 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: to Utah, Texas, n Mexico
Flowering time: Mar–May
Horticultural information: TRY.