Lycium californicum Nutt.   Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)   Native   Lycium   California Box Thorn

                                       April Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Dense intricately branched shrub 1-2 m. tall, the branches glabrous with very spinose tips; lvs. glabrous, fleshy, subterete, 3-10 mm. long, linear to oblanceolate, subsessile; fls. 1-2 in the axils, on pedicels 1-5 mm. long; calyx campanulate, ca. 2.5 mm. long, 2-4 (-5) lobed, the lobes minute, broadly triangular; corolla white with a purplish tinge, the tube 2-3 mm. long, the lobes ca. as long, rotate to slightly reflexed; fils. pubescent below; fr. ovoid, reddish, firm, 2-seeded, 3-6 mm. long.

Habitat:  Dry bluffs and slopes, near the coast; Coastal Sage Scrub; Los Angeles Co. to L. Calif.; Channel Ids. and Santa Catalina and San Clemente Ids.  March-July.

Name:  Lycia, ancient country in Asia Minor.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 831.  Californicum, indicates that the first specimens of this plant were from Calif.  (Dale 13).

General:  Moderately common in the study area.  The heaviest populations are in the Santa Ana Heights area and on the bluffs along the westerly side of the bay.   Photographed on the Castaway's Bluffs.  (my comments).      All western species of this genus produce edible berries, but some are better tasting and juicier than others.  The berries are in general insipid and slightly bitter.  They may be eaten raw or cooked into a sauce.  The berries last well when dried and ground into meal.  (Kirk 238).       About 100 spp., from +/- arid regions in all continents.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 831).

Text Ref:  Abrams, Vol. III 663; Hickman, Ed. 1071; Munz, Calif. Flora 591; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 832; Roberts 39.

Photo Ref:  Mar-April 83 # 2,3.

Identity: by R. De Ruff, confirmed by F. Roberts.

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 283

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 7/10/03.

                                           April Photo