Teaplants
What are they?
The story of how the teaplants got their name is a little woolly at the edges and seems to come in a range of different versions, for these are not plants that would make a decent cup of tea! Members of the nightshade family (Solanaceae), these plants have a variety of names, including Wolfberry and Goji Berry (recent names created to sell the fruits as health foods), as well as matrimony vine and Box Thorn. The teaplant epithet comes from the connection with the third Duke of Argyll, who is said to have first introduced Lycium barbarum into the UK from China, but under the misapprehension that they were tea plants.
Where are they found?
Teaplants are common as hedgerow plants in coastal East Anglia, becoming much more scarce inland.
Identification
The taxonomy and identification of teaplants has been fraught to say the least and name changes and indecision have been frequent over the years. Identification characteristics have been confused and indesicive but it does appear that we have two species at large in East Anglia, which are best separated by a combination of typical leaf shape and details of the dark, veinal markings on the flowers. Characters such as flower shape and size may be useful but are highly variable and should only be used to support rather than confirm an identification. As an aside, it does occur to me that the great variability in the two species and the difficulty in telling them apart may perhaps be due, at least in part, to the possibility of them having extensively hybridised and produced hybrid offspring. The descriptions and photos below show 'classic' individuals and plants showing intermediate characters may have to be left unidentifiable to species. Indeed, the situation seems so confused that the true frequency and distribution of the two species is as yet not fully certain, although my personal observations support the general consensus that L. barbarum is by far the commoner of the two species.
Duke of Argyll's Teaplant Lycium barbarum
Introduced from China as a garden ornamental and widely planted as a hedging plant in coastal areas. Flowers June to September. Leaves variable but typically relatively narrow, like those of Wild Privet and widest around midway along their length. Flowers purple with darker veins, the veins unbranched and running as simple lines from the base.
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Chinese Teaplant Lycium chinense
Introduced from China as a garden ornamental and occasionally planted as a hedging plant in coastal areas. Flowers June to September. Leaves variable but typically relatively broad and widest towards the base. Flowers purple with darker veins, the veins clearly branched, especially towards the base.
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