Lycium afrum

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

Kraal honey thorn
L. afrum, the kraal honey thorn
Scientific 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

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.[2]

The fruit is a subspherical berry, 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.[3]

References
  1. "*Lycium afrum". eFloraSA. Government of South Australia. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  2. Manning, John (2008). Field Guide to Fynbos. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. ISBN 9781770072657.
  3. 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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