Lycium pallidum
Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 2, 14: 131. 1854.
Shrubs usually erect, sometimes prostrate, 1–2.5 m; bark yellowish, gray to reddish, or black; stems glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Leaves: blade spatulate to oblanceolate, 10–50 × 3–25 mm, glaucous, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences 2–3-flowered fascicles or solitary flowers. Pedicels 4–16 mm. Flowers 5-merous; calyx cupulate to campanulate, 2.5–8 mm, lobe lengths 1–2 times tube; corolla greenish white to lavender, often with purple veins, funnelform, (8–)12–25 mm, lobes 3–5 mm; stamens exserted. Berries red, ovoid, 10 mm, glaucous, fleshy, apex sometimes hard. Seeds 4–50. 2n = 24.
Distribution
sw United States, Mexico.
Discussion
Lycium pallidum is known from throughout Arizona and New Mexico, southeastern California, southern Colorado, south-central Nevada (Nye County), western Oklahoma (Cimarron County), western Texas, southern Utah, and northeastern Mexico. Although the fruits of L. pallidum are fleshy, they occasionally have a hardened apex. The range of L. pallidum overlaps with those of several other Lycium species; however, its large, glaucous leaves and long, funnelform flowers are very distinctive.
Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Key
1 | Seeds 20–50; corollas 12–25 mm. | Lycium pallidum var. pallidum |
1 | Seeds 4–8; corollas (8–)12–20 mm. | Lycium pallidum var. oligospermum |