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. brevipes Benth.

Plant generally glandular-puberulent; branches spreading
Leaf 5–15 mm, ± obovate
Flower: calyx 2–6 mm, bell-shaped, lobes 2–4(6); corolla funnel-shaped, tube 6–10 mm, lavender to whitish, lobes 3–5 mm, ovate; stamens exserted, attached ± at middle of tube
Fruit ± 10 mm, red
Seeds many
Ecology: Coastal bluffs, slopes
Elevation: < 600 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Channel Islands, w Sonoran Desert
Distribution outside California: nw Mexico
Horticultural information: SUN, DRN: 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 &IRR: 12, 13; also STBL.