Lycium shawii Roem. & Schult.

Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (3)

Photo: Jean-Pierre Félu
Near junction of Percy Avenue and Donegal Road, Bulawayo

Detailed records: Display species records QDS maps by: Google Maps Point records by Google Maps

Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:	Lycium albiflorum Dammer Lycium europaeum L. Lycium persicum auct.
Common names:
Frequency:
Status:	Native
Description:	Erect spreading shrub to 3 m, rarely a small tree to 4.5 m. Long branches curving, sometimes pendulous. Spines 5-10 mm long. Leaves in clusters of 2-6; petiole 2-5 mm; lamina green, glossy above, paler beneath, sometimes semi-succulent, 2-3.5 × 0.8-1 cm, obovate to elliptic or lanceolate, glabrous or with microscopic glandular hairs. Flowers bisexual, 5-merous. Calyx 3-5 mm, glabrous. Corolla creamy-white to pale mauve; tube narrow, 12-16 mm long; lobes 3-4 mm long, sparsely ciliate. Stamens unequal, 3 included and 3 exserted; filaments glabrous. Fruit 3-5 mm in diameter, red, spherical to slightly obovoid.
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:
Habitat:	In a wide variety of habitats ranging from woodland to grassland, in relatively dry or moist habitats, sometimes on termitaria and in disturbed places.
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Widespread in Africa from Egypt to Ethiopia, East Africa and southwards to NE South Africa; also in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Arabia and western India.
Zimbabwe distribution:	W,C,E,S
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Monday 9 February 2015
Literature:	Burrows, J.E., Burrows, S.M., Lötter, M.C. & Schmidt, E. (2018). Trees and Shrubs Mozambique Publishing Print Matters (Pty), Cape Town. Page 863. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 37. Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 24. Drummond, R.B. (1975). A list of trees, shrubs and woody climbers indigenous or naturalised in Rhodesia. Kirkia 10(1) Page 272. As Lycium europaeum Gonçalves, A.E. (2005). Solanaceae Flora Zambesiaca 8(4) Pages 40 - 42. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 79. Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 106. Steedman, E.C. (1933). Some Trees, Shrubs and Lianes of Southern Rhodesia. Page 74. As Lycium persicum (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Lycium shawii:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Lycium shawii
Flora of Caprivi: Lycium shawii
Flora of Malawi: Lycium shawii
Flora of Mozambique: Lycium shawii
Flora of Zambia: Lycium shawii

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Lycium shawii
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Lycium shawii
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Lycium shawii
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Lycium shawii
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Lycium shawii
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Lycium shawii
JSTOR Plant Science: Lycium shawii
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Lycium shawii
Plants of the World Online: Lycium shawii
Tropicos: Lycium shawii
Wikipedia: Lycium shawii