Lycium ferocissimum, the African boxthorn or boxthorn, is a shrub in the nightshade family (Solanaceae) indigenous to South Africa.
Distribution
The species is native to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces in South Africa, where it tends to occur in sands along the southern coast. It has also been recorded in the Free State, but these may represent introductions. It has been widely introduced in South Africa and elsewhere in Africa, as far north as Morocco.[1] It has been recorded in Sardinia,[2] Italy. This shrub is found in other Mediterranean countries such as Tunisia and Spain.[3] There is one record in France from 2020.[4]
It has become naturalised in Australia and New Zealand.[5] It is listed in Australia's Weed of National Significance list and is a declared noxious weed in the United States.[5][6]
Description
African boxthorn is a large shrub which grows up to 5 metres (16 ft) high and is covered in spines. The spines are of randomly varying lengths along the branch and, unlike most other species of Lycium (except for Lycium amoenum), they take the form of stout "peg-thorns".
The leaves are oval in shape and are 10–40 millimetres (0.39–1.57 in) long and 4–10 millimetres (0.16–0.39 in) in width. The broadly obovate or elliptical shape of the leaves can serve to distinguish this species from many other similar species of Lycium, which tend to have narrower leaves.
The solitary flowers emerge from the leaf axils. The corolla is funnel-shaped with large, reflexed, pale purple lobes (petals). The calyx is tubular and encloses most of the corolla (a character shared with Lycium pumilum). This latter character, the calyx that is at least two thirds of the length of the corolla, serves to distinguish this species from many of its relatives.[1]
The species was first formally described in 1854 by British botanist John Miers in the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. His description was based on plant material collected from Uitenhage in South Africa.[7]
Habitat and ecology
This species grows on dry, stony and/or sandy terrain,[8] such as sand dunes, cliffs, banks and roadsides.[8][9] Its seeds are dispersed by small mammals and birds, which eat the red berries of this plant.[8]
Lycium ferocissimum in Cyprus
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Lycium ferocissimum fruit in Cyprus -
Lycium ferocissimum Cyprus fruit inside view -
Lycium ferocissimum flower in Cyprus
References
- ^ a b Venter, A.M. (2000). Taxonomy of the Genus Lycium L. (Solanaceae) in Africa. Thesis (Ph.D. (Botany and Genetics))--University of the Free State. https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/handle/11660/1960?show=full
- ^ "Lycium ferocissimum Miers". Acta Plantarum. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Lycium ferocissimum, flora di Sardegna". www.sardegnaflora.it. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ Guillaume, FRIED (21 February 2020). "Premier signalement de Lycium ferocissimum Miers (Solanaceae) à l'état naturalisé en France (Aude)". CDR-EEE (in French). Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ a b "Lycium ferocissimum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
- ^ "Noxious Weed List for Australian States and Territories" (PDF). Australian Weeds Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2008.
- ^ "Lycium ferocissimum". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- ^ a b c "Lycium ferocissimum | PlantZAfrica". pza.sanbi.org. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
- ^ "Lycium ferocissimum". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 25 February 2025.