Lycium agg.made up of L. barbarum - Duke of Argyll's
Teaplant, and L. chinense - Chinese Teaplant
Solanaceae
April to September
It is found all around the coast.
It is also found inland except for parts of the North, the
Southeast and the far Southwest.
See the BSBI distribution map for Teaplant
Both species are neophytes which were introduced in
the late 1690s and have been known in the wild since
the 1840s.
They are grown as hedges, particularly in coastal areas.
They are common on shingle beaches, sea cliffs, waste
land, hedge banks and walls.
They readily germinate from bird-sown seed .
Teaplants are scrambling, deciduous, spiny shrubs,
growing up to 3m.
The 2 species are difficult to tell apart.
Flowers are 1 to 1.5cm across, with 5 joined purple petals
which turn brown with ageing. Below the joints, the petals
are white and heavily veined.
There are 5 stamens with large white anthers, which turn
brown on ageing.
The stigma is green and capitate.
The fruit is an egg-shaped, red berry.
Leaves are lanceolate, greyish green and up to 6m.
Teaplants have a bushy habit with arching and rooting
(suckering) stems.
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Teaplant on sea-cliff, West Bay, Dorset
Front view - white anthers, green stigma
Side view - stamens, divided corolla
Green stigmas, brown ageing stamens
Capitate stigma
Pattern of lower, undivided corolla
Berries
Close-up of orange and green berries
Leaves
Arching, scrambling stems
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