Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

Lycium boerhaviifolium L.f.

Hoja de plata, Grabowskia, desert plum

A shrub with long trailing branches. The grey plate-shaped leathery leaves contrast with the dark brown branches. The small star-shaped flowers are hidden amongst the dense leaves.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Plantae

Phylum
Magnoliophyta

Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)

Order
Solanales

Family
Solanaceae

Genus
Lycium

Species
boerhaviifolium

Taxon category: Accepted

Syn.: Grabowskia boerhaaviaefolia (L. f.) Schltdl. (POWO, 2022);

Origin: Native

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

References

  • Abbott, I. Abbott, L.K. (1973) New distribution records of 65 plant species within the Galapagos Archipelago. Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS), unpublished.
  • Adsersen, H. (1987) Patrones de distribución interna de las plantas vasculares en Galápagos. Memorias. Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg.74-87
  • Adsersen, H. (s.a.) Personal observations Charles Darwin Research Station, unpublished Manuscript.
  • Atkinson, R. Guézou, A. & Jaramillo, P. (2009) Siémbrame en tu jardín - Plantas nativas para jardines en Galápagos. Fundación Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador, 151 pp.
  • Cayot, L. J. (1987) Ecology of Giant Tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus)in the Galápagos Islands. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biology in the Graduate School of Syracuse University.
  • Heleno, R. Blake, S., Jaramillo, P., Traveset, A., Vargas, P. & Nogales, M. (2011) Frugivory and seed dispersal in the Galápagos: what is the state of the art? Integrative Zoology 6: 110-128.
  • Itow, S. (1997) List of Plant Specimens collected in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Bulletin of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Nagasaki University, Natural Science, 38 (1): 53-144.
  • Levin, R. Bernardello, G., Whiting, C., & Miller, J. S. (2011) A new generic circumscription in tribe Lycieae (Solanaceae). TAXON, 60(3), 681–690. doi:10.1002/tax.603005
  • McMullen, C.K. (1999) Flowering plants of the Galapagos. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, 370 pp.
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (2022) Plants of the world online POWO (2022): Plants of the world online. Published on the Internet; Https://powo.science.kew.org/
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Missouri Botanical Garden (eds.) (2013) The Plant List, Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 1st January).
  • Schofield, E.K. (1984) Plants of the Galapagos Islands. Field Guide and Travel Journal. Universe Books, New York, 159 pp.
  • Schönitzer, K. (1975) Galápagos Plants. Privately Published, Quito: 1-43.
  • Svenson, H.K. (1935) Plants of the Astor Expedition, 1930 (Galapagos and Cocos Islands). Am. J. Bot. 22: 208-277.
  • Tropicos.org. (2017) Database of Missouri Botanical Garden. Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden. 06 Oct 2017 <http://www.tropicos.org
  • Wiggins, I.L. Porter, D.M. (1971) Flora of the Galapagos Islands Standford University Press, Stanford.

You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.

This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Lycium boerhaviifolium", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=24668. Accessed 15 August 2026.