Lycium ferocissimum

African Boxthorn

A member of the family Solanaceae.

A terrestrial shrub or tree to a maximum of 4 metres tall (often much less). Flowers are white to lilac, on a solitary stem or clustered in the leaf axil throughout the year. Fruit, which is a globose to ovoid, red to orange berry, ripen throughout the year. The plant is most likely to be dispersed by birds.

The ovate to obovate to elliptic leaves are simple, have an alternate, clustered presentation on the stem, and are green above and below. New growth is green to greenish. Leaf margins are entire. The plants are spiny or prickly.

Habitats: May be found in the following habitats: dry rainforests, dry sclerophyll forests, grassy forests, woodlands, grassy woodlands, grasslands (including pasture), riparian areas, disturbed areas,

No particular geology is favoured, with no particular soils preferred.

Distribution: For the region considered by this work, it is recorded within the following botanical regions: North Coast, Northern Tablelands and the Northwest Slopes.

Notes: Declared noxious throughout NSW.

Means of Spread:
The plants will spread using organs such as seeds. Generally, the plants will grow at a fast rate.


The species is not indigenous to the region considered in this work. The genus text page for Lycium will be presented in the Genus Window if you select Lycium in this paragraph.
This species may be found in the 3rd volume, on page 350 of the Flora of NSW.
* - Low altitudes are below 300m, high altitudes are mainly above 900m. Medium altitudes are the band between. Sub-tidal is below the low tide level, and littoral is between the high and low tide marks.

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