Black Goji Berry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Black Goji Berry
• Black Wolfberry
• Russian Box Thorn
• goji nero

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Lycium turcomannicum
• Lycium vulgare var. ruthenicum
• Lycium tataricum
• Lycium foliosum
• Lycium ruthenicum var. brevifolium

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and is classified under the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Solanales, it is further categorized into the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is identified under the genus Lycium as the species Lycium ruthenicum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across both Middle Europe and Central Asia. In Middle Europe, its presence is specifically documented within the borders of Germany. Moving eastward, the species is widely distributed throughout the vast landscapes of Central Asia. Its range includes significant populations found in Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, and Turkmenistan. Finally, the distribution extends further into the mountainous regions of Tadzhikistan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Lycium ruthenicum is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to a diverse array of environmental conditions and varied landscapes. It thrives across a wide elevational gradient, ranging from as low as 300 m AMSL to altitudes reaching a maximum of 2700 m AMSL. This plant demonstrates significant ecological plasticity, inhabiting a broad spectrum of habitats including deserts, mountains, oases, and shrubberies, as well as more specialized environments such as saline places and shores. Furthermore, it is frequently found in anthropogenic and moisture-rich settings, appearing in crop fields and alongside irrigation channels, and can even be integrated into forest ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

300 m AMSL

Habitat :

crop fields, desert, forest, irrigation channals, mountains, oasis, saline places, shores, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Lycium ruthenicum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. Throughout its development, the plant exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage in response to seasonal changes or environmental stressors.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Lycium ruthenicum is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. It is a terrestrial plant that functions independently, as it is neither a parasite nor an epiphyte. In terms of its structural habit, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a vine or liana. The height of the species exhibits significant variability, with individual plants ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 2.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.35 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Lycium ruthenicum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation and metabolic efficiency. Its foliar morphology features ovate-shaped leaves with entire margins, lacking both thorns and spines. The dimensions of the leaves vary significantly, with a minimum length of 0.5 cm and a maximum length reaching up to 3 cm, resulting in a mean leaf length of 1.75 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width ranges from a minimum of 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm, contributing to the plant's overall structural and physiological profile.

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.75 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf margin :

entire

Leaf spines :

no

Leaf thorns :

no

Leaf width max:

0.7 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Lycium ruthenicum is characterized by its bisexual sexual reproductive system. The flowering period typically begins in April and extends through July, though the timing can be variable. Following pollination, the plant produces fruits that exhibit significant morphological variation; the fruit dimensions range from a minimum of 0.4 cm in both length and width to a maximum of 0.9 cm in both length and width, with average dimensions settling at approximately 0.65 cm for both length and width. The seeds produced during this process are highly consistent in mass, with a mean, minimum, and maximum value all recorded at 0.00101 g.

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.9 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit width max:

0.9 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.65 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

0.00101 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Lycium ruthenicum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit.

Fruit

1. European journal of mass spectrometry (Chichester, England)
2. Journal of plant physiology
3. Plant diversity

Chemicals

Lycium ruthenicum has 20 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, polyphenols, ANTHOCYANIN, Flavonoids, Proanthocyanidins.

Anthocyanins

1. Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland)
2. European journal of mass spectrometry (Chichester, England)
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Genes
5. Mitochondrial DNA. Part B, Resources

polyphenols

1. Biotechnology for biofuels
2. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Biotechnology for biofuels
2. Genes

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Proanthocyanidins

1. Bioprocess and biosystems engineering
2. Genes

24-Methyldesmosterol

1. Journal of food science

24-Methylenecholesterol

1. Journal of food science

6-BA

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

CAMPESTEROL

1. Journal of food science

Cyanidin

1. Journal of plant physiology

Activities

Lycium ruthenicum has 1 reported activities identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant.

Antioxidant

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Lycium ruthenicum has 8 reported medicinal uses identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's disease, antioxidant, insomnia, neuroinflammation.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations