6. Lycium pallidum Miers, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 2. 14: 131. 1854.
Pale wolfberry
Shrubs usually erect, sometimes prostrate, 1–2.5 m; bark yellowish, gray to reddish, or black; stems glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Leaves: blade spatulate to oblanceolate, 10–50 × 3–25 mm, glaucous, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences 2–3-flowered fascicles or solitary flowers. Pedicels 4–16 mm. Flowers 5-merous; calyx cupulate to campanulate, 2.5–8 mm, lobe lengths 1–2 times tube; corolla greenish white to lavender, often with purple veins, funnelform, (8–)12–25 mm, lobes 3–5 mm; stamens exserted. Berries red, ovoid, 10 mm, glaucous, fleshy, apex sometimes hard. Seeds 4–50. 2n = 24.
Lycium pallidum is known from throughout Arizona and New Mexico, southeastern California, southern Colorado, south-central Nevada (Nye County), western Oklahoma (Cimarron County), western Texas, southern Utah, and northeastern Mexico. Although the fruits of L. pallidum are fleshy, they occasionally have a hardened apex. The range of L. pallidum overlaps with those of several other Lycium species; however, its large, glaucous leaves and long, funnelform flowers are very distinctive.
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora): sw United States, Mexico.
