Lycium afrum

Lycium afrum, the kraal honey thorn (Afrikaans: kraalkriedoring) is a shrub in the potato family (Solanaceae), indigenous to the Western Cape Province, South Africa.[1]

Kraal honey thorn
L. afrum, the kraal honey thorn
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium
Species:
L. afrum
Binomial name
Lycium afrum
L. afrum, flowers and leaves
L. afrum, branch

Distribution

The species is native to the far western limits of the Western Cape Province in South Africa. It occurs from Clanwilliam in the north, southwards to the Caledon area, and westwards into the Cape Peninsula.[2]

It has appeared in Australia and is regarded with some concern as possibly invasive. Australian government factsheets remark that in Australia it is an uncommon hedge plant, sparingly naturalised in a few areas in Victoria.[3]

Description

Lycium afrum is a moderate-sized shrub that may grow as high as 3 metres (9.8 ft) and is formidably armed with straight, woody thorns.

Its leaves are leathery and tufted on short shoots.

It bears tubular purple flowers 12–20 millimetres (0.47–0.79 in) long, with flared petals about one quarter the length of the tube.[4]

The fruit is a subspherical berry, very dark red when ripe, eaten by birds.

It is not clear how safe it is to eat the fruit, though berries of some species of Lycium certainly are eaten with impunity by humans and animals.[5]


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References
  1. http://redlist.sanbi.org/species.php?species=2846-2
  2. Venter, A.M. (2000). Taxonomy of the Genus Lycium L. (Solanaceae) in Africa. Thesis (Ph.D. (Botany and Genetics))--University of the Free State. https://scholar.ufs.ac.za/handle/11660/1960?show=full
  3. "*Lycium afrum". eFloraSA. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  4. Manning, John (2008). Field Guide to Fynbos. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. ISBN 9781770072657.
  5. Watt, John Mitchell; Breyer-Brandwijk, Maria Gerdina: The Medicinal and Poisonous Plants of Southern and Eastern Africa 2nd ed Pub. E & S Livingstone 1962


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