Lycium barbarum
Lycium barbarum | |
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Lycium barbarum with ripe berries | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Asterids |
Order: | Solanales |
Family: | Solanaceae |
Genus: | Lycium |
Species: | L. barbarum
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Binomial name | |
Lycium barbarum | |
Synonyms[1] | |
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Lycium barbarum is a
Common names of the plant in English include Chinese wolfberry,[2] barbary matrimony vine,[2] red medlar[6] or matrimony vine.[2] In the United Kingdom it is also known as Duke of Argyll's tea tree after Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll who introduced it in the country in the 1730s.[2]
The shrub is an important commercial crop in northern China, especially in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Its Chinese name is Ningxia gǒuqǐ.
Description
Lycium barbarum is a deciduous woody shrub that typically grows to a height of 1–3 metres (3 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in). It is characterised by its weak arching branches, and the side branches are often reduced to short leafless spines.[3]
Leaves and flowers
L. barbarum leaves form on the shoot either in an alternating arrangement, or in bundles of up to three. Each leaf is green, scarcely fleshy when fresh, usually
The flowers grow in groups of one to three in the leaf
Fruit
The fruit of L. barbarum, the main variety of
Reproduction
The plants are self-pollinating, but may be cross pollinated by insects.[citation needed] The species is dispersed into natural areas by birds and other animals that eat its fruit.[7]
In the Northern Hemisphere, flowering occurs from June through September and berry maturation from August to October, depending on the latitude, altitude, and climate. Where frost does not occur fruiting is continuous and plants do not lose their leaves.[citation needed]
Occurrence and cultivation
China
Lycium barbarum has been cultivated in China, along the fertile aggradational
The berries of L. barbarum are the only therapeutic grade ("superior-grade") kinds of wolfberries used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.[9]
As Ningxia's borders merge with three deserts, L. barbarum is also planted to control erosion and reclaim irrigable soils from desertification.[10]
United Kingdom
Lycium barbarum has been used since the 18th century in the United Kingdom for hedging, especially in coastal districts. Its red berries are attractive to a wide variety of British birds.[11]
The plant continues to grow wild in UK
Importation of mature Lycium barbarum plants into the United Kingdom from most countries outside Europe is illegal, due to the possibility they could be vectors of diseases attacking Solanaceae crops, such as potato or tomato.[13]
Australia
Lycium barbarum introduced to
Chemistry
Phytochemicals present in the fruit, root, and other parts of the plants have been studied in some detail.[14]
The main compounds in the fruit (23% of the dry mass) are
The compounds present in the roots have been less studied, but they include betaine, choline, linoleic acid, and β-sitosterol [79]. Of particular interest are cyclic oligopeptides with 8 aminoacid rings.[14]
The leaves are known to contain the flavonoids quercetin 3-O-
See also
- Goji
- Gouqi jiu
- List of culinary fruits
- List of dried foods
- Sea buckthorn– another medicinal plant that somewhat resembles wolfberry
References
- ^ "The Plant List".
- ^ a b c d e "Lycium barbarum". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ a b c d Government of South Australia (2007), "Lycium barbarum". Online fact sheet on Electronic Flora of South Australia (eFloraSA). Accessed on 2018-05-04.
- ^ a b T. Muer (2000), "Lycium Barabarum". Image on the Floraweb website, from "Bildatlas der Farn- und Blütenpflanzen Deutschlands" by H. Haeupler and T. Muer, 2000. Accessed on 2018-05-04.
- ISBN 978-0-471-59919-7.
- ^ McAdam, Diana (12 October 2007). "Goji berries: The new superfruit". The Telegraph, Telegraph Media Group Limited, London, UK.
- ^ a b Queensland Government (2016), "Lycium barbarum". Online fact sheet on Weeds of Australia website. Accessed on 2018-05-04.
- ^ [1] Xinhua News Agency, Opening ceremonies of Ningxia wolfberry festival, August 3, 2005.
- ^ [2] Staff reporter, China's first provincial-level wolfberry association established, People's Daily Online, August 19, 2001.
- ^ [3] Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Yunyun L. Dry no more. BeijingReview.com.cn, October 11, 2008.
- ^ A Touch Of Argyll In Norfolk Archived 2009-01-08 at the Wayback Machine Julia Page in The Corncrake, Colonsay, Scotland " I was intrigued to discover that the common name of lycium halimifolium is the Duke of Argyll's Tea-tree or Teaplant and was keen to discover how this name came about. I succeeded with the help of my friend Craig ( nice Scottish name ) at Kew Gardens Library and a historical Who's Who. Accessed November 2006
- ^ Government Launches Consultation On Future Of Legal Protection For Hedgerows Archived 2009-07-20 at the Wayback Machine Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 15 January 2003. Retrieved 6 September 2006.
- ^ Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, April, 2008. Prohibited Import of Goji Plants Archived 2008-06-03 at the Wayback Machine. April 30, 2008
- ^