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Grabowskia boerhaavifolia (L.) Schlecht.

Modern name

Grabowskia boerhaviifolia (L.f.) Schltdl.

Synonyms

Lycium boerhaavifolium L.

A deciduous shrub 6 to 10 ft high, of loose, spreading habit; young branches glabrous, armed with sharp spines which are 14 in. long the first year, but grow longer. Leaves alternate, grey, fleshy, roundish, widely ovate or obovate, 1 to 112 in. long, 34 to 114 in. wide, wavy at the margin, tapering at the base, glabrous; stalk 14 in. or less long. Flowers 25 in. long and wide, produced in May, sometimes singly on a short stalk in the leaf-axils, sometimes in terminal or axillary racemes 1 in. long; corolla pale blue, tubular at the base, spreading to five reflexed lobes; calyx 16 in. long, bell-shaped, with five angular teeth.

Native of Brazil and Peru; introduced in 1807, but rarely seen. Near London it requires the protection of a south wall. The foliage resembles that of Atriplex halimus, and the flowers are like those of Lycium chinense. It has little more than botanical interest.


Genus

Grabowskia

Other species in the genus

[No species article available]