Taxon Report
Lycium torreyi A. GrayTorrey's box-thorn |
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Taxon Summary
Lycium torreyi, commonly known as Torrey's box-thorn, is a perennial shrub in the Solanaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Mojavean desert scrub, and Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from -50 to 1220 meters. Lycium torreyi is ranked 4.2, Plants of Limited Distribution, A Watch List; Moderately threatened in California.Classification
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Scientific Name: |
Lycium torreyi A. Gray |
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Common Name: |
Torrey's box-thorn |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Element Code: | PDSOL0G0K0 |
| USDA Plants Symbol: | LYTO |
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Synonyms/Other Names: |
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Ecology and Life History
| Lifeform: | perennial shrub |
| Blooming Period: (Jan-Feb)Mar-Jun(Sep-Nov) | (Jan-Feb)Mar-Jun(Sep-Nov) |
| Elevation: | -50-1220 (-165-4005) |
| General Habitats: | Mojavean desert scrub, Sonoran desert scrub |
| Microhabitat: | Rocky, Sandy, Streambanks, Washes |
| Microhabitat Details: | desert valleys |
Conservation Status
| CA Rare Plant Rank: | 4.2 |
| Global Rank: | G4G5 |
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State Rank: |
S3 |
| State List: | None |
| Fed List: | None |
| Other Status: | |
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CRPR Changes: |
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Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
| Total Occurrences: | 0 |
| Element Occurrence Ranks: | |
| Excellent (A) | 0 |
| Good (B) | 0 |
| Fair (C) | 0 |
| Poor (D) | 0 |
| None (X) | 0 |
| Unknown (U) | 0 |
| California Endemic: False | |
| California Counties and Islands: Name (Code) | |
| Imperial (IMP), Inyo (INY), Los Angeles (LAX), Riverside (RIV), San Bernardino (SBD), San Diego (SDG), Santa Barbara (SBA) | |
| Quads: Name (Quad Code) | |
| Yuma East (3211465), Araz (3211476), Bard (3211475), Barstow (3411781), Blythe (3311455), Blythe NE (3311465), Borrego Mountain SE (3311611), Borrego Sink (3311623), Cahuilla Mtn. (3311657), Carrizo Mtn. NE (3211681), Cathedral City (3311674), Collins Valley (3311644), Corn Spring (3311563), Cross Roads (3411422), Cuyama (3411985), Daggett (3411678), Gene Wash (3411432), Hodge (3411772), Homewood Canyon (3511784), Iron Ridge (3411655), Kane Spring (3311517), Kramer Hills (3411784), Lake Havasu City South (3411443), Ludlow (3411662), Manix (3411685), Mecca (3311651), Mescal Creek (3411746), Mortmar (3311558), Myoma (3311673), Needles (3411475), New Cuyama (3411986), Palm Springs (3311675), Palm View Peak (3311665), Palmdale (3411851), Palo Verde (3311446), Parker (3411423), Parker NW (3411424), Parker SW (3411414), Picacho Peak (3211486), Ripley (3311456), Ryan (3611636), Victorville (3411753), Vidal (3411415), Vidal Junction (3411425), Whipple Mts. SW (3411434), Whipple Wash (3411433), White Water (3311686), Yucca Valley North (3411624), Yuma West (3211466) | |
Threat List Data from the CNDDB
| Threat List Total: | 0 | |
| EOs with Threat Listed: | Total EOs | % of EOs |
| 0 | 0 % | |
Notes
| Plants in CA outside vicinity of Colorado River are likely misidentifications; needs further study. Many occurrences historical; needs field surveys. Potentially threatened by solar energy development. Often confused with L. andersonii and L. brevipes var. brevipes. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 6:47 (1862) for original description. |
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Threats: |
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Taxonomy: |
Selected References
| CRPR List Addition on 2015-05-05 |
Citation
California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 26 January 2025].