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Shrubs prostrate to erect, 0.1–2 m; bark yellowish to gray; stems glabrous. Leaves: blade spheric to spatulate, 2–25 × 1–3 mm, fleshy to succulent, surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences 2–3-flowered fascicles or soli­tary flowers. Pedicels 1–5 mm. Flowers bisexual or pis­tillate, 4-merous; calyx campanulate, 2–4-lobed, 2–3 mm, lobe lengths 0.3 times tube; corolla white to pale purple, campanulate, 2–6 mm, lobe lengths to 1 times tube; stamens exserted (bisexual flowers) or included, with nonfunctional anthers (pistillate flow­ers). Berries orange to red, ovoid, 2–6 mm, thinly fleshy. Seeds 2, each enclosed by a hard layer. 2n = 24, 36, 48.

Phenology: Flowering Jan–Mar(–Sep).
Habitat: Saline flats, coastal flats and bluffs (Mediterranean floristic province, Sonoran Desert, and restricted locations in the Chihuahuan Desert).
Elevation: 0–500 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Coahuila, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Zacatecas).

Discussion

Within the flora area, Lycium californicum occurs in southern Arizona and southwestern California. Popula­tions of L. californicum vary in both ploidy (diploid to tetraploid) and sexual system (hermaphroditic to gender dimorphic). Gender dimorphic populations are mor­phologically gynodioecious (functionally dioecious), and plants are sexually dimorphic for flower size, with smaller pistillate flowers.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.