Lycium shawii Roem. & Schult.

Solanaceae, Jennifer M Edmonds. Oliganthes, Melongena & Monodolichopus, Maria S. Vorontsova & Sandra Knapp. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Type

Type: North Africa, Shaw, Travels in Barbary: 49, fig. 349! (1738), lecto. designated by Venter (2000)

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs or subshrubs to 3(–4) m high, occasionally small trees to 4.5 m.

Morphology Stem

Stems erect, spreading or scrambling, often arching, densely branched, grey, brown or reddish, with glabrous (rarely pubescent) spines 3–14 mm long on short branches or brachyblasts, usually glabrescent, young stems occasionally with short simple eglandular- or occasionally glandular-headed hairs interspersed with stalked glands

Morphology Leaves

Leaves stipulate, usually fasciculate in clusters of up to 14 around spine on brachyblasts, sometimes solitary and alternate, membranaceous, coriaceous or succulent, green, grey or greyish-blue, elliptic, ovate, obovate, oblanceolate or spatulate, 0.5–1.8(–8) × 0.3–0.8(–3) cm, bases cuneate and often decurrent, margins entire, apices obtuse, surfaces glabrescent, sometimes short hairs on veins and margins, with stalked glands on laminas; petioles absent to 1 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences of solitary or paired flowers among fascicled leaves, epedunculate; pedicels densely pilose, occasionally glabrescent, erect in flower when 2–5(–12) mm long, erect or splayed in fruit when 4–12 mm long. Flowers sometimes sweetly scented

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx tubular, occasionally cupulate, 2–4(–6) × 1–2.5 mm centrally but always at least twice as long as broad, glabrescent, rarely moderately pilose externally, with 5 unequal lobes 0.3–1.5(–2) × 0.5–2 mm, acute, with ciliate fringes, slightly enlarged in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla white, cream, yellow, pale pink, purple, blue, purplish-white or bluish often fading to white or cream, sometimes tube darker, salverform to infundibular, (7–)9–13 mm, widening to 2–3(–4) mm broad beneath lobes, glabrescent externally, pilose below internally; lobes spreading or recurved, often with purplish or dark central veins extending down the tube, obovate to spatulate, 1.5–3.5(–5) × 1–3 mm, obtuse, glabrescent but sometimes with pilose fringe, giving overall flower diameter of 4–9 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens usually 5, unequal, the longer anther or anther pair exserted and the shorter two or three included; filaments free for 1–7(–10) mm; anthers yellow becoming brown, (0.7–)1–1.5 × 0.5–1.3 mm, occasionally one anther abortive when ± 0.3 × 0.2 mm. Ovary smooth, ovoid to conical, 1–2(–3) × 0.6–1.5(–2) mm, glabrous; disc inconspicuous, 0.8–1.3 mm diameter; style (6.5–)8–11 mm long; stigma 0.5–1.3 mm diameter

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit a smooth red or orange, occasionally yellow, ovoid to globose, glossy berry, (3–)4–6(–8) × 3–5(–6) mm, glabrous, enclosed basally by adherent and slightly enlarged calyx which splits irregularly often appearing bilabiate as berry matures

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 9–24 per berry, yellowish to brown, discoidal, reniform or angular and irregular, (1.2–)1.8–2.5 × 1–2 mm

Figures

Fig 10, p 51

Ecology

Rocky outcrops, montane scrub, riverine thickets, Acacia-Balanites-grassland, AcaciaCommiphora bushland, Brachystegia-Isoberlinia woodland, termite mounds, lava plains, stony, alluvial, sandy or volcanic soils (when often associated with Acacia, Grewia and Cordia), and in fallow or degraded land; 15–2000 m

Conservation

Widespread; least concern (LC)

Note

Lycium species are often referred to as Box-thorns or Matrimony vines. Lycium shawii is extensively utilised throughout Africa; the leaves are used as a tobacco ( K 1) and as a green vegetable ( K 3), leaf extracts are used medicinally for stomache ache ( K 1), root extracts as a cure for coughs, skin rashes or urinary infections ( K 2), and ground dried berries to enhance female fertility ( K 1). Ruffo, Birnie & Tengnäs (in Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania (2002)) described the use of leaves from plants identified as “ L. europaeum” as a vegetable and to treat stomach-ache and constipation; the boiled roots to treat coughs and mouth sores and the plants for hedging, fodder and ornamental purposes throughout Tanzania. These plants undoubtedly belong to L. shawii, and are also heavily browsed by goats, sheep, camels and giraffe. The species is notoriously morphologically variable, in part reflecting its extremely widespread distribution. In eastern Africa heavily grazed plants of this species become stunted bushes with smaller leaves and flowers, while in Kenya and Tanzania its leaves can be up 8 × 3 cm ( cf. Kibue, 89 ( K 6), Polhill 118 ( K 3) & Milne-Redhead & Taylor 11061 ( T 7)), though the characteristic small leaves are often found on the same plant. A number of varieties of this species have been described, largely from Arabian and Middle Eastern localities; these are described or dealt with by Venter (2000) who also gives a number of additional synonyms – these names have not been encountered on FTEA material. The protologues of the eight species described from east Africa by Dammer (1912–15) and Lanza (1939) leave little doubt that they are all synonyms of L. shawii, though the Berlin holotypes have been destroyed.  Many East African specimens have been identified as L. europaeum L., but according to Venter this species is confined to North Africa and the Mediterranean. One of the major features distinguishing these two species is the shape of the flowering calyx, with that of L. shawii being narrowly tubular and at least two to three times longer than broad, while that of L. europaeum is campanulate to broadly tubular with the length equalling the breadth. However, although many intermediates have been found on E African herbarium material, since Venter studied this genus in great detail throughout Africa, her conclusions have been followed here. It is probable that Lycium austrinum Miers included in T.T.C.L. also belongs to L. shawii. However, the account described its stems as being unarmed or rarely armed with short-spined stems; its leaves as lanceolate and the flowers borne in clusters of 2–5; it is possible that the plants identified as this species which was also described as being widespread but not common in Kolo and Kondoa might be distinct and correctly identified.

Distribution

Flora districts: U1 K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K7 T2 T3 T5 T7 T8 Range: From Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea and Ethiopia southwards to Botswana, Namibia and NE South Africa Range: Also widespread from Mediterranean Europe and Arabia to W India

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Morphology General Habit

Erect, spreading, sometimes scandent, intricately branched, very spiny shrub 1–2.5(3) m high, infrequently a small tree up to 4.5 m, glabrous Erect, spreading, sometimes scandent, intricately branched, very spiny shrub 1–2.5(3) m high, infrequently a small tree up to 4.5 m, glabrous.

Morphology Stem

Stems slightly angular, robust; long branches slightly curving, sometimes pendulous; spines 5–10(15) mm long, leafless except when occurring on very old stems; bark greyish-white to dark ash-grey, seldom dark brown to purplish-brown; brachyblasts greyish-white Stems slightly angular, robust; long branches slightly curving, sometimes pendulous; spines 5–10(15) mm long, leafless except when occurring on very old stems; bark greyish-white to dark ash-grey, seldom dark brown to purplish-brown; brachyblasts greyish-white.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves fascicled in clusters of 2–6, with a waxy excrescence around their insertion; petiole 2–5 mm long; lamina bright green and glossy adaxially, slightly paler abaxially, herbaceous to semi-succulent, (7)20–35(54) × (4)8–10(15) mm, obovate to elliptic or lanceolate, apex acute to rounded, glabrous or with microscopic, short glandular hairs Leaves fascicled in clusters of 2–6, with a waxy excrescence around their insertion; petiole 2–5 mm long; lamina bright green and glossy adaxially, slightly paler abaxially, herbaceous to semi-succulent, (7)20–35(54) × (4)8–10(15) mm, obovate to elliptic or lanceolate, apex acute to rounded, glabrous or with microscopic, short glandular hairs.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers hermaphrodite, 5-merous, pendulous. Flowers hermaphrodite, 5-merous, pendulous; pedicels (1)6–8 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels (1)6–8 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–5 mm long, glabrous; tube narrowly tubular, 1. 5–2 mm wide; lobes equal, 0.4–0.6 mm long, triangular, slightly acute, erect Calyx 3–5 mm long, glabrous; tube narrowly tubular, 1.5–2 mm wide; lobes equal, 0.4–0.6 mm long, triangular, slightly acute, erect.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla creamy-white to pale mauve with purple venation, (10)12–16 mm long, glabrous outside; tube narrowly tubular, sometimes slightly curved, glabrous to sparsely pilose on the inside just below filament insertions; limb 7–11 mm across, creamy-white to pale mauve; lobes (1. 5)3–4 mm long, semi-ovate-oblong, spreading, sparsely ciliate Corolla creamy-white to pale mauve with purple venation, (10)12–16 mm long, glabrous outside; tube narrowly tubular, sometimes slightly curved, glabrous to sparsely pilose on the inside just below filament insertions; limb 7–11 mm across, creamy-white to pale mauve; lobes (1.5)3–4 mm long, semi-ovate-oblong, spreading, sparsely ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens unequal, attached above the middle of the corolla tube, 3 included and 2 slightly exserted; filaments (3)4–7(9) mm long, glabrous Stamens unequal, attached above the middle of the corolla tube, 3 included and 2 slightly exserted; filaments (3)4–7(9) mm long, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk inconspicuous, pale brownish-yellow Disk inconspicuous, pale brownish-yellow.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 1. 5–2 × 1. 5 mm, globose.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style 10–12 mm long and just shorter than the longest stamen

Ecology

Dry to relatively moist areas such as hilly country to the edge of floodplains, riverbanks and dambos, Acacia, mopane and mixed woodland and wooded grassland, extending into miombo mainly on termitaria, cultivated areas and along roadsides; soils varying from clayey, loamy to halophytic; 910–1463 m.

Distribution

Widely distributed in Mediterranean Europe (southern Italy, Sicily and Crete) and eastwards throughout the Middle East and Arabia to west India; also the most widespread species in Africa, occurring from Egypt and Ethiopia southwards throughout East Afric BOT N, ZAM C, ZAM S, ZIM W, ZIM C, ZIM E, ZIM S, MAL N Malawi Zambia Botswana.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 1.5–2 × 1.5 mm, globose; style 10–12 mm long and just shorter than the longest stamen.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit red, 3–5 mm in diameter, globose to slightly obovoid, apparently edible. Fruit red, 3–5 mm in diameter, globose to slightly obovoid, apparently edible

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds 2 × 1.5 mm, ovate in outline. Seeds 2 × 1. 5 mm, ovate in outline.

Extinction risk predictions for the world's flowering plants to support their conservation (2024). Bachman, S.P., Brown, M.J.M., Leão, T.C.C., Lughadha, E.N., Walker, B.E. https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/nph.19592

Conservation

Predicted extinction risk: not threatened. Confidence: confident

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19239590/123677526

Conservation

LC - least concern