Solanaceae FAMILY

Lycium chinense

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

Some caution should be exercised with this species, particularly with regard to its edible leaves, since it belongs to a family that often contains toxins. However, use of the leaves is well documented and fairly widespread in some areas.

Botanical Description

Lycium chinense is an erect or sprawling, much-branched shrub usually growing 50 - 100cm tall, occasionally to 200cm[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is a famous tonic in Traditional Chinese Medicine and has become very popular in many other countries. It also supplies an edible fruit and leaves. The plant is harvested from the wild and also often cultivated for food and medicine, as well as being grown as a hedge, for soil stabilization and as an ornamental[ 418 Title Ecocrop Publication Author Website http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeE. Asia - eastern China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea.

HabitatThickets and river banks in lowland C. and S. Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. ]. Slopes, wastelands, saline places, roadsides, near houses in China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].