Tribe Lycieae | Subfamily Solanoideae Genus Lycium Rank Species | |
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Similar Nitraria retusa, Juncus rigidus, Cornulaca monacantha | ||
Lycium shawii, desert thorn or Arabian boxthorn is a species of thorny shrub adapted to desert environments. The thin leaved, rigid bush grows up to three meters high with lots of branches and alternating spines that vary in size and grow along the branches and on their tips. The leaves narrow towards their base. It produces small pink or purple flowers from September until April and pea sized seedy berries that are edible. Habitats include gravel plains and foothills up to 4,000 feet as well wadis. Plant associates growing nearby often include Acacia tortilis and Prosopis cineraria.
Uses
The stems leaves and berries are used in traditional medicine. In Yemen, the pounded leaves of this shrub have been used as a cure for eye ailments. Livestock eat new growth on the plant. The berries are edible.
