Chinese boxthorn

Chinese boxthorn
Lycium chinense
Solanaceae
Common Names
Chinese boxthorn, Chinese wolfberry, Chinese matrimony vine (En); lyciet de Chine
(Fr); palo de gallina (Sp); 枸杞, 葉用枸杞 (Cn)
Plant Distribution
East, Southeast, and South Asia
Botanical Features
Erect perennial, deciduous; stems thick, 0.5-1(-2) m tall; branches long arching or
prostrate, with thorns; leaves alternate, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, up to 7 cm long, in
tight clusters; leaf blades thick and grayish; flowers usually 2-8 at a node, 1 cm long,
funnel-form, corolla purplish; fruit (berries) scarlet or orange, egg-shaped or oblong,
up to 2 cm long; seeds numerous, yellow, 2.5-3 mm.
Leaves
156
Environmental Factors
Light requirement: full sun; temperature requirement: warm; preferred soil type:
fertile sandy loam; tolerance: shade; sensitivity: flooding.
Flower
157
Production Methods
System: home gardening, monocropping; planting material: cuttings, sometimes
seeds; planting method: transplanting; irrigation: frequent; priority fertilizer: organic
matter, nitrogen; crop management: free standing, side dressing at peak harvest;
planting to 1 st harvest: 50-60 days; harvesting: weekly for leaves, biweekly for fruit;
yield: 2-4 t/ha for leaves.
Mature berries
158
Edible Parts
Young leaves are used fresh in salad, stir-fried with other food items, or in soup;
berries used fresh or cooked with other food items, or dried to make into a beverage.
Health Values
Beta-carotene: extremely high in leaves; vitamin E: high in leaves; riboflavin: low in
fruit; folic acid: medium in leaves; ascorbic acid: medium in leaves; calcium: medium
in leaves and fruit; iron: high in leaves, medium in fruit; protein: 3.0-6.0% in leaves.
The berry improves eyesight and enhances immune system function, and is a rich
source of zeaxanthin.
Seeds
Field production
159