Lycium dasystemum

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lycium dasystemum var. rubricaulium

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 organized under the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Lycium, as part of the species Lycium dasystemum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Lycium dasystemum, is found across several distinct regions within Central Asia. Its natural habitat includes the vast territories of Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan. Additionally, the species is distributed throughout the landscapes of Turkmenistan and Tadzhikistan. It can also be located within the borders of Uzbekistan. Collectively, these five countries represent the primary geographical range for this medicinal species.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lycium dasystemum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often extreme environmental conditions. This species thrives across a wide spectrum of habitats, ranging from arid deserts, sandy terrains, and saline places to more varied landscapes including forests, hills, mountains, and steppes. It is capable of colonizing both stony places and riparian zones near rivers, and can even be found in coastal environments near the sea and within dense shrubberies. This environmental versatility is reflected in its broad altitudinal distribution; the plant occupies an elevational range starting from as low as 600 m AMSL, reaching a mean elevation of approximately 1950 m AMSL, and extending up to a maximum of 2800 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

600 m AMSL

Habitat :

desert, forest, hills, mountains, rivers, saline places, sand, sea, shrubberies, steppe, stony places

Life history

The life history of Lycium dasystemum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived woody shrub, it follows a developmental trajectory that moves beyond the single-season existence of annuals or the two-year cycle of biennials, instead establishing a stable, enduring presence in its native habitat. This perennial nature enables the plant to invest in robust structural growth and complex root systems, which facilitate survival through varying environmental conditions and support repeated reproductive cycles over many years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lycium dasystemum is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily presenting as a shrub. This plant reaches a maximum height of approximately 1.5 m, with a mean height typically observed around 1.5 m. In terms of its structural habit, it functions as a self-supporting clamberer, maintaining its stature through its own woody framework.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height mean:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of the foliage in Lycium dasystemum are defined by a distinct range of morphological dimensions that reflect its vegetative structure. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a mean leaf length of 2.75 cm. Individual leaves can range from a minimum length of 1.5 cm to a maximum length of 4 cm. Complementing these longitudinal variations, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.5 cm and a maximum of 1.5 cm, contributing to the plant's specific surface area and photosynthetic capacity.

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width max:

1.5 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lycium dasystemum is characterized by a distinct seasonal flowering period and the development of consistent fruit structures. The flowering process typically commences in April and continues through the warmer months until reaching its conclusion in August, though the specific timing may remain variable depending on environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit remarkable morphological uniformity; the fruit length is highly stable, with a minimum, mean, and maximum measurement all recorded at 0.7 cm. This consistency in fruit size suggests a highly regulated developmental process during the reproductive cycle.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Lycium dasystemum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Phenols.

Phenols

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica