Are Lycium Barbarum and Lycopersicon Esculentum in the same botanical family?

Yes — both belong to Solanaceae.

Can you substitute Lycium Barbarum for Lycopersicon Esculentum?

They share the Solanaceae family, so they can sometimes substitute in recipes — with notable differences in aroma.

Compare · per-herb profile

Lycium Barbarum vs Lycopersicon Esculentum

Lycium barbarum · Lycopersicon esculentum

Lycium Barbarum

Lycium barbarum

T Traditional Use

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium
Primary use: medicinal

Lycium barbarum is a shrub native to China, with present-day range across Asia and southeast Europe. It is one of two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae from which the goji berry or wolfberry is harvested, the other being Lycium chinense.

Lycopersicon Esculentum

Lycopersicon esculentum

T Traditional Use

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycopersicon
Primary use: medicinal

The tomato is a plant whose fruit is an edible berry that is eaten as a vegetable. The tomato is a member of the nightshade family that includes tobacco, potato, and chili peppers. It originated from western South America, and may have been domesticated there, in Mexico, or in Ce…

At a glance

· Both in Solanaceae, but different genera (Lycium vs Lycopersicon).
· Both are primarily medicinal.
· Evidence tiers — Lycium Barbarum: T; Lycopersicon Esculentum: T.