Arizona desert-thorn

Shrubs erect, 1–4 m; bark dark gray to brown; stems densely glandular-pubescent. Leaves: blade spatulate, 5–25 × 3–10 mm, surfaces densely glandular-pubescent. Inflorescences 2–3-flowered fascicles or solitary flowers. Pedicels 3–6 mm. Flowers bisexual or pistillate, 5-merous; calyx tubular-campanulate, 2.5–6 mm, lobe lengths 0.25–0.5 times tube; corolla greenish white to lavender, funnelform, 7–14 mm, lobes 1–2 mm; stamens exserted 2–3+ mm in bisexual flowers. Berries red, ovoid, 6–8 mm, fleshy. Seeds 20–35. 2n = 48.

Flowering Jan–Apr. Desert washes, bajadas (Sonoran Desert); 300–1400 m; Ariz.; Mexico (Baja California, Sinaloa, Sonora).

Populations of Lycium exsertum are morphologically gynodioecious (functionally dioecious), and plants are sexually dimorphic for flower size. Lycium exsertum can be differentiated from L. fremontii by its light purple pendent flowers, often considerably exserted stamens or stigma, and a more upland habitat.