Practical
Plants

Lycium pallidum

Pale Wolfberry

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Lycium genus in the family Solanaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Lycium
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
1.8 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.

Although no records of toxicity have been seen for this species, it does belong to a family that contains many poisonous plants. Some caution should be applied, especially towards leaves or unripe fruits, though ripe fruits are almost certainly edible.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw, cooked or dried for later use[[7][8][10][2][6]. The fruit keeps well when dried and ground into a meal[2]. The fruit should be perfectly ripe if it is eaten raw[11]. The Hopi Indians boiled the fruit, drained off the water and ground the fruit into a mush. Clay was then mixed with water until a thick consistency was achieved, this was mixed with the berries and the whole lot eaten[5]. The fruit is about 10mm in diameter[3].

Plant part
Fruit

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.

The ground up root has been placed in a tooth cavity to bring relief from toothache[6]. The bark and the dried berries have been used as a 'life medicine'[6]. 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[4].

Product or use
Cancer
Product or use
Odontalgic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Plants have an extensive root system and can be planted to stabilize banks[3].

Environment

Range
Central and Southern N. America.
Habitat
Dry plains and hills.
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[9]. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel if possible, July/August in individual pots in a frame. Good percentage[9]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, autumn to late winter in a cold frame. High percentage[9][3]. 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.

Does not require a rich soil, flowering and fruiting better in a well-drained soil of moderate quality[1]. Succeeds in impoverished soils[3]. Requires a sunny position[3]. Tolerates maritime exposure[3]. Hardy to about -17°c[3]. Plants do not always fruit well in Britain[1], particularly after a cool summer[3].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  3. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7↩8

  4. Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society 1994-00-00 ISBN 1352-4186

    ↩

  5. Whiting. A. F. Ethnobotany of the Hopi North Arizona Society of Science and Art 1939-00-00

    ↩

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  7. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩

  8. Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202

    ↩

  9. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  10. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩

  11. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

    ↩

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