Lycium chinense

Wolfberry species are deciduous woody shrubs, growing high, somewhat shorter than L. barbarum. The stems are highly branched. Branches are pale gray, slender, curved or pendulous, with thorns long. Similar species Lycium chinense can be distinguished from the very similar Lycium barbarum by morphological traits of the flowers. The corolla tubes of barbarum are significantly longer than the lobes, and the calyx of chinense usually has more than two lobes whereas barbarum has just two. == Use ==

The fruits may be infused with hot water to make goji tea. The plant has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine for treating various disorders, although there is no high-quality clinical evidence that consuming it has any effect on health or disease. ==Chemistry==

The fruit composition is similar to that of L. barbarum, with polysaccharides, carotenoids and flavonoids as main constituents. Rutin is a prominent flavonoid, while the main carotenoid is zeaxanthin dipalmitate (49% of the carotenoid fraction), with β-carotene, two cerebrosides, and three pyrrole derivatives as other constituents. Dozens of secondary metabolites have been isolated and identified from the roots, root bark, and leaves, including cyclic peptides, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Citric acid is the major nonvolatile organic acid in the leaves followed by oxalic acid. ==Gallery==

Lycium chinense 14.JPG|Habitus Lycium chinense 2.JPG|Leaves and buds Lycium chinense 11.JPG|Leaves and flower Lycium chinense 12.JPG|Leaves and flower Lycium chinense(siamak sabet) (1).jpg|Berries Lycium chinense MHNT.jpg|Dried berries ==See also==