''Lycium ferocissimum'', the African boxthorn or boxthorn, is a
shrub in the nightshade
family
Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...
(
Solanaceae
The Solanaceae , or nightshades, are a family of flowering plants that ranges from annual and perennial herbs to vines, lianas, epiphytes, shrubs, and trees, and includes a number of agricultural crops, medicinal plants, spices, weeds, and o ...
). The species is native to the
Western Cape
The Western Cape is a province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , and the third most populous, with an estimated 7 million inhabitants in 2020 ...
,
Eastern Cape, and
Free State provinces in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...
and has become naturalised in
Australia and
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...
.
[ It is listed in Australia's Weed of National Significance list and is a declared noxious weed in the ]United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...
.
Description
African boxthorn is a large shrub which grows up to high and is covered in spines.
The leaves are oval in shape and are long and in width.
The solitary flowers emerge from the leaf axils and are purplish.
The species was first formally described in 1854 by British botanist John Miers in the ''Annals and Magazine of Natural History
The ''Journal of Natural History'' is a scientific journal published by Taylor & Francis focusing on entomology and zoology. The journal was established in 1841 under the name ''Annals and Magazine of Natural History'' (''Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist.'') an ...
''. His description was based on plant material collected from Uitenhage
Uitenhage ( ; ), officially renamed Kariega, is a South African town in the Eastern Cape Province. It is well known for the Volkswagen factory located there, which is the biggest car factory on the African continent. Along with the city of Port El ...
in South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring count ...
.
''Lycium ferocissimum'' in Cyprus
File:Lycium ferocissimum in Cyprus.jpg, ''Lycium ferocissimum'' fruit in Cyprus
File:Lycium ferocissimum Cyprus fruit inside view.jpg , ''Lycium ferocissimum'' Cyprus fruit inside view
File:Lycium ferocissimum in Cyprus Flower.jpg , ''Lycium ferocissimum'' flower in Cyprus
References
ferocissimum
Endemic flora of South Africa
Flora of the Cape Provinces
Fynbos
Albany thickets
{{Solanales-stub