Wolfberry
Berlandier's Desert-Thorn
Lycium berlandieri
Berlandier's Wolfberry, Lycium berlandieri, observed blooming at South Mountain, Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA on 13 August 2010.
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FLOWERS: Small tubular flowers are flared open and are very pale to
essentially white. The calyx is free of sticky hairs. Flowering in summer after
start of monsoon rains.
FRUIT: Bright orange-red berries with flavor of tomatoes containing a
several hardened seeds.
LEAVES: Linear to narrowly elyptic leaves are smooth to slightly
roughened.
SHRUB: A medium to large shrub with rigid branches and not-so-sharp
thorns.
RANGE: Southwestern quadrant of the Sonoran Desert and ranging eastward
to West Texas and northern Mexico.
ARMED: The thorns are at the twig tips and not particularly sharp on
most specimens.