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Lycium ferocissimum (Lycium afrum)

Description

“Pet poisonous” – Toxic parts: leaves, shoots Lycium afrum is a moderate-sized shrub that may grow as high as 3 metres (9.8 ft) and is formidably armed with straight, woody thorns. Its leaves are leathery and tufted on short shoots. It bears tubular purple flowers 12–20 millimetres (0.47–0.79 in) long, with flared petals about one quarter the length of the tube. The fruit is a subspherical berry, red when ripe, eaten by birds. It is not clear how safe it is to eat the fruit, though berries of some species of Lycium certainly are eaten with impunity by humans and animals.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum:

        • Class: Magnoliopsida

          • Order: Solanales

            • Family: Solanaceae

              • Genus: Lycium