Description
African Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a dense woody shrub up to 4 m high and 3 m wide, without any hairs on any of the parts. Rigid branches end in long spines, up to 15 cm long. Leaves are small (up to 4 cm long by 1 cm wide), fleshy and often clustered in groups. The tubular flowers are about 10 mm in diameter and 10-12 mm long with five lobes, white or pale purplish with deeper purple inside the flower.
The fruit is a red to orange, shining berry on a short down-turned stalk. It is round, 5-10 mm diameter and slightly wider at the end away from the green calyx which envelops the base of the fruit. Seeds are oval or irregular in outline shape, flattened, 2.5 by 1.5 mm, light brown to yellow (Purdie et al. 1982; Navie 2004).
For further information and assistance with identification of African Boxthorn contact the herbarium in your state or territory.
Distribution:
African Boxthorn is found across southern Australia in agricultural and pastoral areas and waste places around towns and cities. It seems tolerant of most soil types and also of some salinity. It is especially abundant in areas of high rainfall. Where its distribution enters drier regions the plants are generally found close to permanent or seasonal water supplies (Haegi 1976).
Habit: Shrub
Key points:
- African Boxthorn (Lycium ferocissimum) is a quickly spreading and spiny species.
- It is a dense spiny plant providing habitat for small native animals as well as feral animals.
- Having established it can rapidly form impenetrable, spiny thickets reducing stock movement and also the land available for pasture. The fruit is a breeding ground for insect pests such as fruit fly, dried fruit beetles and tomato.
- Once established, it is difficult to eradicate. Sustained effort is required and removal of the taproot desirable.
How it spreads:
African Boxthorn reproduces mostly by seeds that are commonly dispersed when the fruit are eaten by birds and other animals (e.g. foxes). Seeds may also be spread by water, machinery and in dumped garden waste or contaminated soil. Suckers are also sometimes produced from root fragments; shoots are rarely produced from stem fragments (Navie 2004).
Where it grows:
African Boxthorn is generally found on waste-land, creek-beds, fence-lines and roadsides in arid sub-humid and semi-arid subtropical regions (Navie 2004).
Flower colour:
White, Purple
Distribution map:
Impacts:
African Boxthorn was included in the list of 71 species that were nominated by state and territory governments for assessment as Weeds of National Significance (WONS). Following an assessment process, African Boxthorn was not included as one of the 20 WONS. However, it remains a weed of potential national signficance.
African Boxthorn can spread quickly if left unchecked. Having established it can rapidly form impenetrable, spiny thickets reducing stock movement and also the land available for pasture. Since birds are often the dispersing agent infestations are commonly found around the base of taller trees. Dense infestations may provide a haven for feral animals such as rabbits and sparrows (Land Protection 2006).
The fruit of African Boxthorn is a breeding ground for insect pests such as fruit fly, dried fruit beetles and tomato fly (Land Protection 2006).
The taproot must be removed for control purposes otherwise it may produce re-growth, or if it is killed, it may still remain a hazard to stock and tyres because of its hardness and persistence (Land Protection 2006).
The impenetrable thickets are often cited as havens for small native birds and animals - they are also sometimes regarded as shelter for livestock (Barker 2007, pers. comm.).
Origin:
African Boxthorn is native to the coastal region of South Africa (Haegi 1976).
History:
African Boxthorn was introduced as a hedge plant for boundary demarcation, or possibly even as a garden plant, in the 1800s. Its wide use for this purpose in rural areas resulted in its extensive occurrence and naturalization (Haegi 1976).
