English: Chinese wolfberry or Matrimony vine.

YASIN J. NASIR

Glabrous, armed or unarmed bushy shrub from 120-180 cm tall. Branches and shoots ± pendant at the tips. Leaves (10-) 15-60 x 5-50 mm, upper ones smaller in size, oblong-ovate to suborbiculate, glabrous, cuneate. Flowers axillary solitary or 2-3, white, tinged purple. Pedicel 8-12 mm long. Calyx cupular or campanulate; lobes 1-2 mm long, unequal, acute or obtuse. Corolla tube 5-6 mm long, infundibuliform, glabrous within; lobes oblong, ± size of the tube, ciliate. Filaments exserted, dense vinous at the base. Berry oblong or elliptic-ovoid. Seeds c. 2.5 broad, reniform, minutely reticulate, brownish-yellow.

Fl. Per.: July September.

Holotype: Described from material cultivated at Chelsea Physic Garden (BM).

Distribution: Native to China. Widely cultivated or introduced elsewhere.

The ‘chinese wolfberry or matrimony vine’ is a hardy shrub, occasionally cultivated in the lower hills for ornamental purposes. The leaves can be used as vegetable. Sometimes found as an escape.