California boxthorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California boxthorn |
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|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Lycium
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| Species: |
californicum
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| Varieties | |
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L. c. var. californicum |
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Lycium californicum is a type of plant that grows as a spreading shrub. It belongs to the nightshade family, which also includes tomatoes and potatoes! People often call this plant the California boxthorn or California desert-thorn.
One type, Lycium californicum var. californicum, grows along the coast of Southern California and northern Baja California. You can also find it on the Channel Islands. Another type, Lycium californicum var. arizonicum, lives in the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona.
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What Does the California Boxthorn Look Like?
This shrub has many thorns and stiff branches that spread out. Its leaves are thick, fleshy, and green, usually about 3–10 millimetres (0.12–0.39 in) long.
The flowers are white and shaped like bells. They often have pretty purple streaks or spots. After the flowers, the plant grows bright red, shiny berries. These berries are small, about 3–6 millimetres (0.12–0.24 in) wide, and contain oblong seeds.
Where Do Different Types of California Boxthorn Grow?
There are two main types, or varieties, of Lycium californicum. Each one prefers to grow in slightly different places.
The California Coastal Boxthorn (L. c. var. californicum)
This type of California boxthorn is found near the coast. It grows in chaparral areas and other plant communities right along the coastline. You can see it from Santa Barbara County down into Baja California, usually below 150 meters (about 490 feet) in elevation.
It grows best where salt marshes and estuaries meet the coastal sage scrub plant community. Sadly, many of these special meeting places have been developed by people. This has caused a decrease in the number of these plants in those areas. It can also be found in the Inland Empire floodplains.
The Arizona Desert Boxthorn (L. c. var. arizonicum)
Another type, Lycium californicum var. arizonicum, grows in different desert areas. You can find it in riparian areas, which are places near rivers or streams. It often grows in arroyos, which are dry creek beds that sometimes fill with water. This variety is common in the Yuma Desert, Tule Desert, and the larger Sonoran Desert across southern Arizona.
