Taxon Report

Lycium exsertum A. Gray

Arizona desert-thorn

Print Report

Taxon Summary

Lycium exsertum, commonly known as Arizona desert-thorn, is a perennial shrub in the Solanaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Sonoran desert scrub, growing at elevations from to meters. Lycium exsertum is ranked 2B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened, or Endangered in California, But More Common Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

Classification


Scientific Name:	Lycium exsertum A. Gray
Common Name:	Arizona desert-thorn
Family:	Solanaceae
Element Code:	PDSOL0G090
USDA Plants Symbol:	LYEX
Synonyms/Other Names:

Ecology and Life History


Lifeform:	perennial shrub
Blooming Period: Jan-Mar	Jan-Mar
Elevation:	- (-)
General Habitats:	Sonoran desert scrub
Microhabitat:	Gravelly, Volcanic
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status


CA Rare Plant Rank:	2B.1
Global Rank:	G4G5
State Rank:	S1
State List:	None
Fed List:	None
Other Status:
CRPR Changes:	added to 2B.1 on 2018-03-14

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB


Total Occurrences:	1
Element Occurrence Ranks:
Excellent (A)	0
Good (B)	0
Fair (C)	0
Poor (D)	0
None (X)	0
Unknown (U)	1

Location


California Endemic: False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
San Bernardino (SBD)
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Whipple Wash (3411433)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB


Threat List Total:	1
EOs with Threat Listed:	Total EOs	% of EOs
	1	100 %
ORV activity	1	100%

Notes



Discovered in CA by James André and Glenn Clifton in 2013. Potentially threatened by vehicles. See Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 20:305 (1885) for original description.
Threats:

Taxonomy:

Selected References

CRPR List Addition on 2018-03-14

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 27 January 2025].