Lycium torreyi

Summary

Lycium torreyi is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family known by the common name Torrey wolfberry. It is native to northern Mexico and the southwestern United States from California to Texas.[1]

Lycium torreyi

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium
Species:
L. torreyi
Binomial name
Lycium torreyi

This plant is a spreading shrub reaching 3 metres (9.8 ft) in maximum height. It may be spiny or spineless. It may form thickets. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 5 centimetres (2.0 in) long. The funnel-shaped flowers are greenish lavender to whitish and measure up to 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long. They are borne in fascicles in the leaf axils. The fruit is a juicy red or orange berry up to 1 centimetre (0.39 in) wide.[1][2]

This plant occurs in the Chihuahuan Desert, where it is characteristic of the mesquite-fourwing saltbush plant community. Other plants in the habitat may include creosotebush, tarbush, agave, and alkali sacaton.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c Matthews, Robin F. 1994. Lycium torreyi. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
  2. ^ Lycium torreyi. Jepson Manual Treatment.

External links edit

  • The Nature Conservancy

• Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center Plant Database