Lycium chinense
Chinese Boxthorn
a perennial woody deciduous member of the Lycium genus in the family Solanaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Solanaceae
- Genus
- Lycium
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- deciduous
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 2.5 m
- Spread
- 2 m
- Fertility
- Bees
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Bees
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
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.
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw, cooked in soups etc or dried for later use[4][6][8]. Sweet with an aniseed-like flavour[8]. The fruit is an oblong berry about 15mm long by 8mm wid[13]. Only the fully ripe fruits should be eaten[K]. Leaves and young shoots - raw or cooked[16][4][6]. A peppermint-like flavour, the leaves are used in salads or used as a potherb[8]. Rich in vitamin A., the leaves also contain about 3.9% protein, 2.25% carbohydrate, 0.7% fat, 1.4% ash[7]. The roasted seed is a coffee substitute[8]. The dried leaves are a tea substitute[8].
- Product or use
- Coffee
- Product or use
- Tea
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Leaves
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Chinese boxthorn is a major Chinese tonic herb with a history of almost 2,000 years of medicinal use[12]. Both the berries and the root are used and traditionally the plant is believed to promote long life[12]. The fruit is one of the most popular tonics used in Chinese herbal medicine[5][11]. A decoction is used to clear the vision, strengthen the kidneys, restore semen and nourish the liver[3]. The fruit protects the liver from damage caused by exposure to toxins[12]. It is also used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, vertigo, nocturnal emissions and aching back and legs[5]. The fruit of many members of this genus is a very rich source of vitamins and minerals, especially in vitamins A, C and E, flavanoids and other bio-active compounds. It is also a fairly good source of essential fatty acids, which is fairly unusual for a fruit. It is being investigated as a food that is capable of reducing the incidence of cancer and also as a means of halting or reversing the growth of cancers[10]. The seed is used as a haemostat for the control of bleeding, with a special action on the kidneys and sex organs[11]. The root bark is antibacterial, antipyretic, hepatic, hypoglycaemic and vasodilator[5]. It stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls involuntary bodily functions such as digestive secretions[12]. The root is used in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and pneumonia in small children[3], chronic febrile disease, night sweats, cough and asthma, tuberculosis, hypertension and diabetes mellitus[5]. The root can be harvested at any time of the year but traditionally it is harvested in the spring and can be dried for later use[12]. The root bark contains betaine. This can increase the rate of growth of farm animals and increase the weight and amount of eggs, it is used in the treatment of achlorhydria, atherosclerosis and hepatic diseases[5]. Haemostatic[4].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Antipyretic
- Product or use
- Cancer
- Product or use
- Haemostatic
- Product or use
- Hepatic
- Product or use
- Hypoglycaemic
- Product or use
- Infertility
- Product or use
- Kidney
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
- Product or use
- Tonic
- Product or use
- Vasodilator
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Can be grown as an informal hedge, succeeding in maritime exposure[9]. Plants have an extensive root system and can be planted to stabilize banks[9].
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - China, Japan. Naturalized in Britain, especially by the sea.
- Habitat
- Thickets and river banks in lowland C. and S. Japan[15].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- high wind, maritime exposure
- Wind
- Yes
- Maritime
- Yes
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow early spring in a greenhouse. Germination is usually good and fairly quick. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant out in late spring or early summer. Pinch out the shoot tips of the young plants in order to encourage bushy growth[17]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel if possible, July/August in individual pots in a frame. Good percentage[17]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, autumn to late winter in a cold frame. High percentage[17][9]. Division of suckers in late winter. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. Layering.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
An easily grown plant, it does not require a rich soil, flowering and fruiting better in a well-drained soil of moderate quality[1][2][9]. Succeeds in impoverished soils[9]. Requires a sunny position[9]. Tolerates maritime exposure[9]. A very hardy plant, tolerating temperatures down to about -23°c[9]. This species is widely cultivated for its edible young shoots in China. There is much confusion between this species and the closely related L. barbarum. Most, if not all, of the plants being grown as L. chinense in Britain are in fact L.barbarum[2][14][9].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
? A Barefoot Doctors Manual. Running Press ISBN 0-914294-92-X
Kariyone. T. Atlas of Medicinal Plants.
Yeung. Him-Che. Handbook of Chinese Herbs and Formulas. Institute of Chinese Medicine, Los Angeles 1985-00-00
Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre
Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre 1977-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00
Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00