Lycium americanum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 1-4 m tall. It can have spines 5 mm long. The leaves are spoon shaped and 1-6 cm long by 0.5-3 cm wide. The flowers occur singly and have 5 parts. The fruit is oval and 5-13 mm long by 4-10 mm wide. The seeds are kidney shaped and 1-2 mm long by 1-1.5 mm wide.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Anguilla, Argentina, Paraguay, South America (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Sojwatak, Sohowa

Synonyms

Lycium americanum var. chrysocarpum Urb. & Ekman; Lycium carolinianum f. jacquiniana Terrac.; Lycium confusum FRIES; Lycium floribundum var. pruinosum Terrac.; Lycium pruinosum Griseb.; Lycium salsum Ruiz. & Pav.; Lycium spathulifolium Britton; Lycium subglabrum (Moldenke) Moldenke; Lycium subtridentatum Dammer; Lycium tweedianum var. chrysocarpum C. Hitchcock; Lycium tweedianum var. pruinosum (Griseb.) Hassl.;