Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Withania (en), Withanie somnifère (fr)

Species

Angiosperms > Solanales > Solanaceae > Withania

Characteristics

Herbs perennial, 30-150 cm tall, pubescent with dendritic hairs. Stems woody proximally, erect or reclining, branched, tomentose. Petiole 1-2 cm; leaf blade ovate, obovate, or oblong, 2.5-12 × 2-7 cm, glabrescent adaxially except along midvein, pubescent abaxially, base cuneate, apex acute. Inflorescences subsessile clusters of 4-6 flowers; peduncle obsolete. Pedicel ca. 5 mm. Calyx campanulate, 3-5 mm, tomentose; lobes deltate, 1-2 mm. Corolla yellowish green, narrowly campanulate, 5-8 mm, tomentose at throat; lobes ovate, spreading or recurving, 2-2.5 mm. Filaments ca. 1.8 mm; anthers yellow, ovoid, ca. 1 mm, minutely apiculate. Style exserted. Fruiting calyx becoming brown and translucent, globose or ovoid, truncate at base, 1-2.2 cm; lobes short, somewhat urceolate. Berry shiny, scarlet, globose, 5-8 mm. Seeds drying pale brown, reniformdiscoid, 2-2.5 × 2 mm. Fl. and fr. Oct.
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Erect shrub to 1 m. All parts grey-pubescent with dendritic hairs. Leaves ovate, the lamina up to 8 cm long, and 4.5 cm wide, usually c. 5 cm long, 3 cm wide; petiole c. 1 cm long. Inflorescence a congested cluster of 4–6 flowers; pedicels 3–5 mm long. Calyx 4–6 mm long at time of flowering; lobes shortly triangular with linear apices, 2–3 mm long. Corolla 5–6 mm long, dull yellow-green; lobes triangular, 1.5–3 mm long, spreading. Anthers 1 mm long. Ovary obtusely conical, 1–1.5 mm long; style 3 mm long. Berry globular, 5–10 mm diam., shining red, surrounded by urn-shaped inflated calyx, the tube 15–20 mm long. Seeds more or less disc-shaped, 1.5–2.2 mm long, light brown.
Erect, perennial shrub, up to 1 m high; vegetative parts with whitish branched hairs. Stems ± striate, ± brown, densely and shortly pubescent. Leaves ovate-oblong to elliptic, up to 80 x 35 mm, margins entire to ± wavy, narrowed into ± 20 mm long petioles, glabrescent. Flowers in small, axillary clusters; pedicels 5 mm long. Calyx densely pubescent. Corolla campanulate, 7 mm long, yellow or yellow-green. Fruit globose berries, ± 8 mm in diam., bright red, inside 20 mm long enlarged membranous calyces. Seeds kidney-shaped, 2.5 mm in diam., reticulated, very pale brown. Flowering time all year, mainly Nov.
Leaves alternate or distally ± opposite; petiole 0.3–3.2 cm long, rather sheathing at the base; lamina membranous to somewhat fleshy, 2.5–17.5 × 1–7 cm, ovate to obovate, occasionally lanceolate or oblanceolate, rarely rotund, base obtuse to attenuate, occasionally rounded or truncate, and often oblique or occasionally unequal-sided, ± decurrent into the petiole, apex obtuse to acute, sometimes acuminate, entire to sinuate, whitish tomentose, becoming sparsely pubescent above and more densely so beneath especially on the nerves.
A small erect shrub. It grows 1.5 m high. It is woody in the lowest parts. The stems have few branches. The leaves are oval or oblong and have a wedge-shaped base. They have a short stalk and do not have teeth. The leaves are covered in star-shaped hairs. The flowers are greenish or yellow and are 5 mm across. They are bell shaped. They are usually in clusters of 4-6 on side shoots. The fruit is a shiny red berry 5-8 mm across. The seeds are pear or kidney shaped.
Shrub, up to 1.5 m high. Stems terete, tomentose. Leaves shortly petiolate; blade ovate, obovate or oblong, margins entire or very slightly sinuate; petioles ± 10 mm long. Flowers: 4-6 in axillary fascicles; calyx with outer surface densely tomentose, enlarging and completely enclosing berry; corolla ± 5.5 mm long, divided nearly to middle into 5 triangular lobes, yellow or yellowish green; Oct.-Jul. Fruit a globose berry, 6-7 mm long, glabrous.
Calyx 3–5.5(7) mm long, 2–3.5(4) mm across, often slightly 5-or 10-ribbed, divided to c. the middle into 5 triangular to lanceolate or sub-linear lobes 1.4–3 × 0.8–1.6 mm, tomentellous outside and on the lobes inside; in fruit papyraceous or scarious, brownish, (10)12–24 × (8)9–17 mm, urceolate or ovoid-conic, ± 5-angled and somewhat 10-ribbed, sunken at the base, ± acute, acuminate at the summit, the lobes 2–5 × 1–3 mm, somewhat glabrescent.
Corolla yellowish to greenish-white or greenish, 4–7(8) mm long, campanulate or tubular-infundibular, divided to near the middle or less, hairy with finger-like hairs on the upper part of the tube and lobes outside, also with a band of longer hairs inside above insertion of the filaments; limb 3–6.5(7) mm across; lobes 5, 1.5–3(4) × 1.3–2.5 mm, triangular or triangular-lanceolate, acute, sub-acute or sometimes acuminate.
Shrub, up to 1.5 m high. Leaves ovate, obovate or oblong, entire or very slightly sinuate, shortly petiolate, 30-150 x 10-70 mm. Flowers 10-15 cm axillary fascicles. Calyx densely tomentose outside, enlarging and completely enclosing berry. Flowers yellow or yellowish green.
Erect, sometimes spreading or more rarely decumbent, often bushy, herb or shrub, with usually several–many stems arising from a woody rootstock; younger parts whitish or greyish tomentose with small branched hairs, glabrescent.
Stamens 5, scarcely exserted, glabrous; filaments 2.5–3(3.5) mm long; anthers 0.6–1 mm long, ovate-oblong in outline, the connective often apiculate.
Fruit green turning brick-coloured, orange or red when ripe, glossy, subsessile in the erect to pendulous calyx, (5)6–10(12) mm in diameter.
Seeds 2–2.5 × 1.5–1.8(2.5) mm, lenticular-reniform, sometimes ovate or elliptic in outline, orange, bright red or pale brown.
Flowers (1)2–8(10) at a node, erect to nodding; pedicels (1)2–4(5) mm long, slender, in fruit elongated to 9 (or more) mm.
Ovary 1–2(2.5) × 0.7–1.5(2) mm, ovoid, glabrous; style 2–3.5 mm long, scarcely exserted.
Branches terete or somewhat angular, striate.
Much-branched undershrub 3-7 ft. high
Disk 0.2–0.4 mm high.
Flowers small, pale.
Life form perennial
Growth form shrub
Growth support free-standing
Foliage retention evergreen
Sexuality hermaphrodite
Pollination
Spread -
Mature width (meter) 0.5
Mature height (meter) 1.0
Root system -
Rooting depth (meter) 1.5
Root diameter (meter) -
Flower color
Blooming months -
Fruit color
Fruiting months
JanFebMar
AprMayJun
JulAugSep
OctNovDec
Nitrogen fixer -
Photosynthetic pathway c3

Environment

It grows in the subtropics. It grows along roadside and in waste places and in the Mediterranean at low altitudes. It can grow up to 1,700 m altitude. It cannot stand waterlogging. In Pakistan it grows to 2,300 m altitude. Hobart Botanical Gardens 1. In Yunnan.
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An undershrub in stony places. Disturbed soil, along roadsides, in cultivated land, on termite mounds in grassland, in open woodland and riverine vegetation, at elevations from sea-level up to 2,300 metres.
An undershrub in stony places. Disturbed soil, along roadsides, in cultivated land, on termite mounds in grassland, in open woodland and riverine vegetation, at elevations from sea-level up to 2,300 metres.
Grows inshallow rocky soil.
Light 7-9
Soil humidity 2-11
Soil texture 5-7
Soil acidity 3-7
Soil nutriment -
Hardiness (USDA) 9-11

Usage

The tender shoots are eaten as a vegetable. The powdered roots are made into a tonic with warm milk, raw sugar, honey, long pepper and basmati rice. The seeds are used to coagulate milk. CAUTION: It is reported to be poisonous. The plant is rich in alkaloids.
Uses animal food food food additive gene source material medicinal non-vertebrate poison poison social use vertebrate poison
Edible fruits leaves roots seeds shoots
Therapeutic use Asthma (bark), Pressure ulcer (bark), Diuretics (fruit), Anthelmintics (leaf), Anti-bacterial agents (leaf), Anti-inflammatory agents (leaf), Antineoplastic agents (leaf), Antipyretics (leaf), Antirheumatic agents (leaf), Arthralgia (leaf), Carbuncle (leaf), Conjunctivitis (leaf), Diuretics (leaf), Dyspnea (leaf), Edema (leaf), Endophthalmitis (leaf), Fever (leaf), Furunculosis (leaf), Hypnotics and sedatives (leaf), Inflammation (leaf), Liver diseases (leaf), Nasopharyngeal neoplasms (leaf), Neoplasms (leaf), Pain (leaf), Scabies (leaf), Tuberculosis, lymph node (leaf), Ulcer (leaf), Wounds and injuries (leaf), Abortifacient agents (root), Aging (root), Anti-bacterial agents (root), Anti-inflammatory agents (root), Antineoplastic agents (root), Antirheumatic agents (root), Aphrodisiacs (root), Arthritis (root), Asthenia (root), Asthma (root), Brain diseases (root), Carbuncle (root), Common cold (root), Constipation (root), Cough (root), Dementia (root), Disinfectants (root), Diuretics (root), Dyspnea (root), Edema (root), Emaciation (root), Epilepsy (root), Erectile dysfunction (root), Fatigue (root), Female urogenital diseases (root), Fever (root), Hiccup (root), Hypnotics and sedatives (root), Infertility, male (root), Inflammation (root), Leukorrhea (root), Liver diseases (root), Low back pain (root), Muscle weakness (root), Narcotics (root), Neoplasms (root), Nervous system diseases (root), Pain (root), Anti-poisoning (root), Psoriasis (root), General tonic for rejuvenation (root), Scabies (root), Skin diseases (root), Sleep aids, pharmaceutical (root), Sleep initiation and maintenance disorders (root), Stress, physiological (root), Tuberculosis (root), Tuberculosis, lymph node (root), Ulcer (root), Vitiligo (root), Sexual debility (root), Deobstruent (root), Rheumatoid arthritis (root), Anti-bacterial agents (seed), Anti-inflammatory agents (seed), Antirheumatic agents (seed), Diuretics (seed), Dyssomnias (seed), Edema (seed), Hypnotics and sedatives (seed), Liver diseases (seed), Massive hepatic necrosis (seed), Neoplasms (seed), Tuberculosis, lymph node (seed), Abortifacient (unspecified), Anodyne (unspecified), Arthritis (unspecified), Asthma (unspecified), Bronchitis (unspecified), Candida (unspecified), Contraceptive (unspecified), Cough (unspecified), Diuretic (unspecified), Dropsy (unspecified), Dyspepsia (unspecified), Eye (unspecified), Fever (unspecified), Fungicide (unspecified), Gynecopathy (unspecified), Hiccup (unspecified), Hypertension (unspecified), Inflammation (unspecified), Intestine (unspecified), Lumbago (unspecified), Marasmus (unspecified), Narcotic (unspecified), Pediculicide (unspecified), Rectitis (unspecified), Rennet (unspecified), Rheumatism (unspecified), Ringworm (unspecified), Sedative (unspecified), Senility (unspecified), Sore (unspecified), Tonic (unspecified), Tumor (unspecified), Tumor(Abdomen) (unspecified), Viricide (unspecified), Witchcraft (unspecified), Wound (unspecified), Cold (unspecified), Debility (unspecified), Enema (unspecified), Poison (unspecified), Rectum (unspecified), Spasmolytic (unspecified), Tubercle (unspecified), Bactericide (unspecified), Cancer (unspecified), Psoriasis (unspecified), Scabies (unspecified), Uterus (unspecified), Adenopathy (unspecified), Syphilis (unspecified), Amnesia (unspecified), Anticonvulsants (unspecified), Anti-inflammatory agents (unspecified), Antineoplastic agents (unspecified), Antirheumatic agents (unspecified), Anxiety disorders (unspecified), Aphrodisiacs (unspecified), Dementia (unspecified), Diuretics (unspecified), Edema (unspecified), Disorder of ejaculation (unspecified), Galactogogues (unspecified), Infertility, male (unspecified), Leukorrhea (unspecified), Low back pain (unspecified), Menstruation disturbances (unspecified), Nervous system diseases (unspecified), Nootropic agents (unspecified), Increase physical endurance, strength and stamina (unspecified), General tonic for rejuvenation (unspecified), Anticonvulsants (whole plant), Antidepressive agents (whole plant), Aphrodisiacs (whole plant), Hypercholesterolemia (whole plant), Mental disorders (whole plant), Stress, physiological (whole plant)
Human toxicity -
Animal toxicity -

Cultivation

Plants are grown by seed. The seeds can be sown directly or put in a nursery and transplanted. Seeds germinate in one week. They can also be grown from greenwood cuttings with a heel.
Mode seedlings
Germination duration (days) 14 - 21
Germination temperacture (C°) 21
Germination luminosity -
Germination treatment -
Minimum temperature (C°) -
Optimum temperature (C°) 18 - 32
Size -
Vigor -
Productivity -

Images

Habit

Withania somnifera habit picture by plusminus (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera habit picture by Acosta García Isabel (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera habit picture by Fabio Biuzz (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Withania somnifera leaf picture by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera leaf picture by plusminus (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera leaf picture by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Withania somnifera flower picture by Iain Douglas-Hamilton (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera flower picture by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera flower picture by Acosta García Isabel (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Withania somnifera fruit picture by plusminus (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera fruit picture by Ricardo Lemaur (cc-by-sa)
Withania somnifera fruit picture by susan brown (cc-by-sa)

Distribution

Withania somnifera world distribution map, present in Australia, China, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Pakistan, and South Africa

Conservation status

Withania somnifera threat status: Critically Endangered

Identifiers

LSID urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:814245-1
WFO ID wfo-0001032779
COL ID 5C2KB
BDTFX ID 83466
INPN ID 706933
Wikipedia (EN) Link
Wikipedia (FR) Link

Synonyms

Physalis flexuosa Physalis flexuosa Withania chevalieri Withania kansuensis Withania macrocalyx Withania microphysalis Alicabon somniferum Hypnoticum somniferum Physalis scariosa Physaloides somnifera Withania mucronata Withania obtusifolia Withania sicula Physalis somnifera Withania somnifera subsp. obtusifolia Physalis tomentosa Withania somnifera