Lycium cinereum

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

A small shrub. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows up to 2 m high. The stems are spiny and the leaves are succulent. The leaves are narrow and in clusters. The flowers are white or blue. They are tube shaped and 5-10 mm long. They can occur singly or in clusters. The fruit are red berries.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical plant. It grows in hot arid areas with a marked dry season. It grows in salty soils. It grows in seasonally flooded grassland. It grows between 5-1,780 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Southern Africa

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. They are also used for coffee.

The fruit are eaten especially by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, fruit - coffee

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Boksdoring

Synonyms

Lycium caespitosum Dinter & Dammer; Lycium roridum Miers; Lycium seineri Dammer; Lycium woodii Dammer; Lycium engleri Dammer; Lycium prunus-spinosa Dunal;