Wolfberry / Goji

Description:

Oh I know, I was shocked to to find that plant around ... It is pretty unbelievable to find goji berries growing around in the wild among the asparagus and other local plants and at the same time being super extra expensive and just available in a specific shops. I totally have no idea how it came here, is a pretty remote area with few little gardens that are almost never cultivated... well close by there is a parking place...could have been that someone trow its seeds out....or or...maybe their seeds survive in human organism? :D ha ha don't know! Mystery indeed. However, here is more about it. Wolfberry species are deciduous woody perennial plants, growing 1–3 m high. L. chinense is grown in the south of China and tends to be somewhat shorter, while L. barbarum is grown in the north, primarily in the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and tends to be somewhat taller. These species produce a bright orange-red, ellipsoid berry 1–2-cm deep. The number of seeds in each berry varies widely based on cultivar and fruit size, containing anywhere between 10–60 tiny yellow seeds that are compressed with a curved embryo. The berries ripen from July to October in the northern hemisphere.

Habitat:

It is native to southeastern Europe and Asia. Totally sure that isn't something one can see everyday at least not in Rovinj.

Notes:

This berries are edible, I have found and interesting description about its taste as raw: "The raw berries are somewhat of an acquired taste, as the initial sweetness of the fruit is followed by a potent, lingering bitterness.", I'd say that I'd always prefer them dried...weird taste, a bit like dry paprika but not so intense and surely not like anything sweet and fruity like one could expect from its name "berries".