枸杞屬

Lycium chinense Credit: HAST

Shrubs, often armed, pubescence of simple hairs. Leaves often microphyllous, alternate or in clusters, often borne on short-shoots (brachyblasts), simple, entire, sometimes succulent; petiole often obsolete. Inflorescences solitary or clusters of flowers at the nodes or on short-shoots; peduncle wanting. Flowers perfect, 4-5-merous; calyx irregularly 2-5-lobed; corolla campanulate to tubular, (4- or) 5-unequal-lobed; stamens inserted high in the corolla tube, included or exserted; anthers oblong-elliptic, dehiscing longitudinally; ovary 2-locular; ovules 1 to many; style slender. Berries juicy, mostly red, partly enveloped by the calyx; seeds compressed.

Approximately 75species, most growing in temperate regions of North and South America, Africa and Asia. Several species are found in dry climates and saline soils. One species in Taiwan.

Lower Taxon

• Lycium chinense Mill.