Shrubs erect, 1–3 m; bark tan, gray, or brown; stems densely glandular-pubescent. Leaves: blade bright green, spatulate, 8–35 × 2–15 mm, fleshy, surfaces densely glandular-pubescent. Inflorescences 2–3-flowered fas­cicles or solitary flowers. Pedicels 4–25 mm. Flowers bisexual or pistillate, 5-merous; calyx tubular, 2–10 mm, lobes to 1–2 mm, glandular-puberulent; corolla deep lavender to purple, tubular to funnelform, 8–20 mm, lobes 2–8 mm; stamens included to slightly exserted. Berries red, ovoid, 5–9 mm, fleshy. Seeds 40–60. 2n = 96, 120.

Phenology: Flowering Jan–Apr.
Habitat: Sandy washes, saline flats (Sonoran Desert).
Elevation: 100–1300 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Sonora).

Discussion

Lycium fremontii occurs in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, southern California, and northwestern Mexico. Populations of L. fremontii are morphologically gyno­dioecious (functionally dioecious), and plants are sexually dimorphic for flower size. Pistillate plants are often covered with orange-red berries in March and April. Plants are robust; in southern Arizona they often thrive at the edges of agricultural fields, where there is water run-off. This species co-occurs with L. andersonii, L. berlandieri, and L. californicum. However, the com­bination of larger bright green leaves, deep lavender flowers, floral dimorphism, and considerable glandular pubescence differentiates this species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.