Lycium exsertum
Lycium torreyi
Arizona desert-thorn
squaw desert-thorn, squawthorn, Torrey wolfberry, Torrey's box thorn, Torrey's wolfberry
blade spatulate, 5–25 × 3–10 mm, surfaces densely glandular-pubescent.
blade spatulate to obovate, 10–50 × 1.5–15 mm, ± fleshy, surfaces glabrous.
2–3-flowered fascicles or solitary flowers.
2–8-flowered fascicles or solitary flowers.
3–6 mm.
5–20 mm.
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.
(4–)5-merous;
calyx cupulate to tubular, 2.5–6 mm, lobe lengths 0.25-0.5 times tube;
corolla white to greenish lavender, narrowly tubular, 5–15 mm, lobes spreading, 1–4 mm, margins densely ciliate-lanate;
stamens slightly exserted.
red, ovoid, 6–8 mm, fleshy.
orange to red, ovoid, 6–12 mm, fleshy.
20–35.
8–30.
= 48.
= 24.
Lycium exsertum
Lycium torreyi
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.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
In the flora area, Lycium torreyi occurs in Arizona, southeastern California, eastern Nevada (Clark and Lincoln counties), western New Mexico, western Texas, and southern Utah. It can be distinguished from L. andersonii by its densely ciliate-lanate corolla lobes, and the mouth of the corolla is not quite as narrow. Further, L. torreyi usually occurs by streams or canals, with branches more cascading than upright. C. L. Hitchcock (1932) reported the fruits to be juicy and sweet.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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