Lycium fremontii
Desert Thorn

Uses

Toxic parts

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.

DANGER!!!!!!! WARNING!!!!! ATTENTION!!!!

Lycium spp Lycium Fremontii After spending months researching the edibility of these berries and even slow sampling of them one or two RIPE berries at a time and having no side effects over many weeks everything changed for me yesterday. Every website out there says they are safe well I decided to try eating 5 fresh ones. There is no mistaking the identity of these bushes or these berries. After I ate 5 I felt euphoric something that did not occur before when eating two or three and realized why they are considered a medicinal plant, I generally felt quite good. Then 12 hours later (the time it takes DEADLY SOLANINE to absorb through your digestive tract) I began feeling impending DOOM and anxiety, vision blurring, difficulty walking, strange delerium, etc. I tried to tough it out thinking hey I only ate 5 berries....... That tune quickly changed when symptoms began getting SCARY and I rushed to the ER. After hours of feeling dizzy and nauseus and outright horrible I was able to go home. DO NOT EAT THESE BERRIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyone who has wrote anything on these berries does not have sufficient information regarding their toxicity. THEY ARE NOT SAFE!!!!!!!! These are nightshade family and are toxic!!!!!!!!! I have been the guinea pig for everyone to know that these berries are DANGEROUS!!!!!!! They may be medicinal but any medicinal part is useless when you also receiving DEADLY POISON!!!!!!!! I can absolutely see the proper chemists removing the SOLANINE poison and making some safe product out of this plant species but until then DO NOT EAT THESE BERRRIES!!!!!

Edible uses

Notes

Fruit - raw or cooked^[1]^[2]. The berries can be dried and used like raisins^[3]. The dried berries can be boiled, added as a flavouring to soups, or can be ground into a powder and then used with cereal flours^[3]. Only the fully ripe fruits should be eaten[K].

DANGER!!!!!!! WARNING!!!!! ATTENTION!!!! DO NOT EAT!!!! See toxicity notes!!!!!!!!!

Fruit

Unknown use

Material uses

Plants have an extensive root system and can be planted to stabilize banks^[4].

There are no material uses listed for Lycium fremontii.

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

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^[5].

Unknown part

Cancer

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Earth stabiliser

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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^[6].

Cuttings of half-ripe wood, 5 - 10cm with a heel if possible, July/August in individual pots in a frame. Good percentage^[6]. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, autumn to late winter in a cold frame. High percentage^[6]^[4]. Division of suckers in late winter. Very easy, the suckers can be planted out direct into their permanent positions.

Layering.

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Lycium fremontii. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Does not require a rich soil, flowering and fruiting better in a well-drained soil of moderate quality^[7]. Succeeds in impoverished soils^[4]. Requires a sunny position^[4]. Tolerates maritime exposure^[4].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Lycium fremontii. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Lycium fremontii.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

References

? ^1.0^1.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 ()
? ^2.0^2.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()
? ^3.0^3.1^3.2 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 ()
? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ()
? ^5.0^5.1 Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 ()
? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co ()
? Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray ()
? Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press ()

"image:Lycium fremontii az.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

[PFAFimport-61-1] ? ^1.0^1.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 ()

[PFAFimport-161-2] ? ^2.0^2.1 Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. ()

[PFAFimport-257-3] ? ^3.0^3.1^3.2 Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. ISBN 0-88192-453-9 ()

[PFAFimport-200-4] ? ^4.0^4.1^4.2^4.3^4.4^4.5 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ()

[PFAFimport-214-5] ? ^5.0^5.1 Matthews. V. The New Plantsman. Volume 1, 1994. Royal Horticultural Society ISBN 1352-4186 ()

[PFAFimport-78-6] ? ^6.0^6.1^6.2 Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co ()

[PFAFimport-11-7] ? Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray ()

[PFAFimport-71-8] ? Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press ()

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Article is incomplete	False +
Article requires citations	False +
Article requires cleanup	False +
Belongs to family	Solanaceae +
Belongs to genus	Lycium +
Functions as	Earth stabiliser +
Has binomial name	Lycium fremontii +
Has common name	Desert Thorn +
Has drought tolerance	Intolerant +
Has edible part	Fruit +
Has edible use	Unknown use +
Has flowers of type	Hermaphrodite +
Has image	Lycium fremontii az.jpg +
Has lifecycle type	Perennial +
Has mature height	3 +
Has medicinal part	Unknown part +
Has medicinal use	Cancer +
Has primary image	Lycium fremontii az.jpg +
Has search name	lycium fremontii + and desert thorn +
Has shade tolerance	No shade +
Has soil ph preference	Acid +, Neutral +, Alkaline + and Very alkaline +
Has soil texture preference	Sandy +, Loamy + and Clay +
Has soil water retention preference	Well drained +
Has sun preference	Full sun +
Has taxonomic rank	Species +
Has taxonomy name	Lycium fremontii +
Has water requirements	moderate +
Is deciduous or evergreen	Deciduous +
Is herbaceous or woody	Woody +
Is taxonomy type	Species +
PFAF cultivation notes migrated	No +
PFAF edible use notes migrated	No +
PFAF material use notes migrated	No +
PFAF medicinal use notes migrated	No +
PFAF propagation notes migrated	No +
PFAF toxicity notes migrated	No +
Tolerates air pollution	False +
Tolerates maritime exposure	False +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soil	False +
Tolerates wind	False +
Has subobjectThis property is a special property in this wiki.	Lycium fremontii + and Lycium fremontii +