Lycium chilense

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lycium salsum var. chilense

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is placed in the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Lycium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across various regions of Western and Southern South America. In the western portion of the continent, its presence is noted within Bolivia. Moving into Southern South America, it can be found in the northeast, south, and northwest regions of Argentina. Additionally, the species is located within the central part of Chile. Together, these areas define the specific geographical range of Lycium chilense.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lycium chilense is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse topographical gradients across its natural habitat. This species exhibits an extensive altitudinal distribution, allowing it to inhabit a wide variety of ecological niches. It can be found at sea level, with an elevational range starting at 0 m AMSL, and it extends upward into high-altitude environments, reaching a maximum elevation of 4500 m AMSL. This vast vertical range suggests a high tolerance for varying climatic conditions, ranging from coastal influences to the extreme physiological stresses of alpine or sub-alpine zones. Such an expansive distribution enables the plant to occupy diverse landscapes, facilitating its presence in multiple ecosystem types across varying temperature and pressure gradients.

Elevational range max:

4500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Lycium chilense is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth habits and ecological positioning, the plant exhibits diverse life form classifications, manifesting as both a phanerophyte, where its woody stems extend above the ground level, and as a nanophanerophyte, which describes its tendency to maintain low-growing, small-scale woody structures.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lycium chilense is characterized by its classification as a woody shrub, exhibiting a robust and self-supporting structure. It functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic tendencies, and is strictly a terrestrial species, showing no aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies. Unlike climbing vines or lianas, this plant is self-supporting in its growth habit and does not function as an epiphyte, maintaining a purely terrestrial life cycle. The plant's architecture is defined by its woody stems, which support its shrub-like growth form within its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lycium chilense is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework adapted to its native environmental conditions, most notably through its utilization of a C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, its carbon fixation process occurs primarily within the mesophyll cells, where the enzyme RuBisCO catalyzes the initial carboxylation of CO2 to form a three-carbon molecule, 3-phosphoglycerate. This metabolic route dictates the plant's gas exchange patterns and water-use efficiency, as it relies on the opening of stomata to facilitate CO2 uptake, which inherently subjects the plant to varying rates of transpiration. The physiological efficiency of this C3 mechanism in Lycium chilense is closely linked to its ability to manage photorespiration and maintain metabolic homeostasis under the specific light intensities and temperature fluctuations of its habitat.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lycium chilense has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cholest-5-en-3-beta-ol, Sterols, betaine, choline.

Cholest-5-en-3-beta-ol

1. Dr. Duke

Sterols

1. Dr. Duke

betaine

1. Dr. Duke

choline

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Lycium chilense has 33 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Abortifacient, Antialzheimeran, Antichoreic, Anticirrhotic, Anticystinuric.

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Antialzheimeran

1. Dr. Duke

Antichoreic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticirrhotic

1. Dr. Duke

Anticystinuric

1. Dr. Duke

Antidementia

1. Dr. Duke

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antidyskinetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antigastritic

1. Dr. Duke

Antihomocysteine

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations