Lycium
Boxthorns
A genus of terrestrial shrubs. The simple leaves are alternate and clustered.
The flowers are in axillary, solitary or in a small cluster, and the fruit is an ovoid, red succulent berry.
The distribution includes America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands with an estimated 100 species. A single species is indigenous to Australia. Most of the species of this genus in Australia are non-indigenous.
Other names (synonyms) by which this genus is known include Cantalea, Evoista, Jasminoides, Oplukion, Panzeria and Teremis. In most cases these names were sourced from the Kew Gardens, London genera database.
Genera with which this genus may be confused by most people could include Microcitrus, Eremocitrus, Scolopia, Citriobatus, Hymenanthera and Bursaria. This list has been made fairly broad to allow as many options as possible.
The genus is in the Solanaceae. There is further information about this genus available in the Flora of NSW (Harden). This genus may be found in the 3rd volume, on page 350.
The following species in this genus are presented in this volume. A link selected here will show the text for that species in the Species Window.
*L. barbarum,
*L. ferocissimum.