Anderson boxthorn Solanaceae Lycium andersonii A. Gray symbol: LYAN Leaf: Alternate, simple, drought deciduous, 1/4 to 1 inch long, broadly obovate to spatulate, entire margins, finely hairy, blue to gray-green, somewhat thickened (thickness known to vary by variety). Flower: Species is monoecious; narrow tubular, 5 lobed, 1/4 to 3/8 inch long, light purple to nearly white, appearing in late winter to early spring. Fruit: Fleshy orange-red, oval berries (resemble small tomatoes), 3/8 inch long, hang downward, ripen in spring, edible. Twig: Stiff, light brown but turning gray, and spine-tipped, leaves appear on short spurs. Bark: Irregular, interlacing, shallow furrows with shreddy flat ridges. Form: Densely branched, spiny, rounded shrub up to 8 feet tall (most often 3 to 5 feet). Looks like: Baja desert-thorn - Fremont's desert-thorn - bitter condalia - blackbrush Additional Range Information: Lycium andersonii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting Anderson boxthorn. External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson