Pedanius Dioscorides
The genus name "Lycium" was assigned by Linnaeus in 1753. The Latin name "lycium" is derived from the Greek word λυκιον ("lykion"), used by Pliny the Elder (23-79) and Pedanius Dioscorides (ca. 40-90) for a plant known as dyer's buckthorn, which was probably a "Rhamnus" species. The Greek word refers to the ancient region of Lycia (Λυκία) in Anatolia, where that plant grew.