Family: Solanaceae
Author: (L.) Dunal
Bibliography: A.P.de Candolle, Prodr. 13(1): 453 (1852)
Year: 1852
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Withania
Vegetable: False
Observations: S. Europe to C. China, Africa to Myanmar
Description
The Winter-cherry, scientifically known as Withania somnifera, is a notable plant that has garnered attention for its wide range of geographical distribution and significant role within the botanical community. First described by A.P. de Candolle in 1852, this plant belongs to the Solanaceae family, which encompasses a variety of essential and familiar plants.
Endemic to Southern Europe and extending across Central China, the Winter-cherry also thrives in parts of Africa and stretches as far as Myanmar. This broad distribution highlights the plant’s adaptability to different climates and environments, making it a subject of interest for botanists and horticulturists alike.
Commonly referenced by its author, (L.) Dunal, Withania somnifera has long been studied for its unique properties and applications. The plant is often linked to traditional medicinal practices, particularly within Ayurvedic medicine, where it is valued for its purported health benefits.
Winter-cherry is a hardy plant, often found in a variety of habitats ranging from dry, arid regions to more temperate zones. Its resilience and versatility make it an excellent candidate for further study, particularly in understanding plant survival strategies and potential uses in various cultural contexts.
The detailed botanical intricacies and regional prominence of Withania somnifera exemplify its importance within the Solanaceae family, marking it as a significant species worthy of continued scientific and cultural exploration.
Common Names
Eng: withania, winter-cherry, rennet
Swe: withania
En: Winter-cherry, Withania, Rennet, Poison gooseberry, Winter cherry, Ashwagandha
Am: ጊዜዋ
Ar: خصرقوت، عجشى الغراب, سكران (سَكَران، سِكْران), سم الفار (سِم الفار)، عورور (عَورور)، لبخ (لَبَخ), سم الفراخ (سِم الفِراخ)، مرجان (مُرجان), شجره الغراب (شَجرة الغُراب)، لبخ (لِبَخ), شرم (شَرْم)، حمير الغراب, فقيش (فقّيش)، شرمه (شَرمه، شِرمه), عبعب منوم
As: অশ্বগন্ধা
Bn: অশ্বগন্ধা
Ca: Bufera
Zh: 睡茄
Cs: Withanie snodárná
Nl: Ashwaganda
Et: Uimastav juustumari
Fi: Rohtokoisio
Fr: Ti poc-poc
De: Schlafbeere
El: Ashvaganda
Gu: અશ્વગંધા
Ha: Ƙarama anta
He: ויתניה משכרת
Hi: अश्वगंधा
Hu: Álombogyó
It: Alchechengi falso
Kn: ಅಶ್ವಗಂಧಾ
Ko: 아슈와간다
Mk: Ашваганда
Ml: അമുക്കുരം
Mr: आसकंद
Ne: अश्वगन्धा
No: Ashwagandha
Pa: ਅਸ਼ਵਗੰਧਾ
Fa: جینسنگ هند
Pl: Witania ospała
Pt: Aswaganda
Si: අමුක්කරා
Sv: Withania
Ta: அமுக்கிரா
Te: అశ్వగంధ
Vi: Sâm Ấn Độ
Synonyms
- Physalis villosa (Moench ex Steud.)
- Physalis tomentosa (Thunb.)
- Hypnoticum somniferum (Rodr. ex Boiss.)
- Physalis flexuosa (L.)
- Physalis arborescens (Thunb.)
- Withania chevalieri (A.E.Gonç.)
- Alicabon somniferum ((L.) Raf.)
- Withania arborescens (Dunal)
- Withania macrocalyx ((Chiov.) Chiov.)
- Withania obtusifolia (Täckh.)
- Withania mucronata (Chiov.)
- Physalis sugunda (Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.)
- Withania somnifera var. flexuosa ((L.) Dunal)
- Physalis somnifera var. communis (Nees)
- Physalis somnifera var. flexuosa ((L.) Nees)
- Physaloides somnifera ((L.) Moench)
- Larnax morrisonii ((Dunal) Miers)
- Withania microphysalis (Suess.)
- Withania sicula (Lojac.)
- Withania kansuensis (Kuang & A.M.Lu)
- Physalis somnifera (L.)
- Withania somnifera var. communis ((Nees) Dunal)
- Withania morisonii (Dunal)
- Physalis alpini (J.Jacq.)
- Withania somnifera var. macrocalyx (Chiov.)
- Physalis scariosa (Webb & Berthel.)
- Withania somnifera subsp. obtusifolia ((Täckh.) Abedin & al.)
Distribution
- Afghanistan (native)
- Algeria (native)
- Angola (native)
- Assam (native)
- Bangladesh (native)
- Botswana (native)
- Burundi (native)
- Cameroon (native)
- Canary Is. (native)
- Cape Provinces (native)
- Cape Verde (native)
- Chad (native)
- China North-Central (native)
- China South-Central (native)
- Cyprus (native)
- Djibouti (native)
- East Aegean Is. (native)
- Egypt (native)
- Eritrea (native)
- Ethiopia (native)
- Free State (native)
- Greece (native)
- Gulf States (native)
- India (native)
- Iran (native)
- Kenya (native)
- Kriti (native)
- KwaZulu-Natal (native)
- Lebanon-Syria (native)
- Lesotho (native)
- Libya (native)
- Malawi (native)
- Mali (native)
- Mauritania (native)
- Morocco (native)
- Mozambique (native)
- Myanmar (native)
- Namibia (native)
- Niger (native)
- Nigeria (native)
- Northern Provinces (native)
- Oman (native)
- Pakistan (native)
- Palestine (native)
- Rwanda (native)
- Sardegna (native)
- Saudi Arabia (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Sinai (native)
- Somalia (native)
- Spain (native)
- Sri Lanka (native)
- Sudan (native)
- Swaziland (native)
- Tanzania (native)
- Tunisia (native)
- Turkey (native)
- Uganda (native)
- West Himalaya (native)
- Yemen (native)
- Zambia (native)
- Zaïre (native)
- Zimbabwe (native)
- Baleares (introduced)
- Mauritius (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- Réunion (introduced)
- Socotra (introduced)
- South Australia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Fruit
Taken Jul 31, 2020 by susan brown (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 10, 2019 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 11, 2021 by balwant rajput (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 31, 2022 by Aurelio Peña (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 4, 2021 by Ricardo Lemaur (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jul 13, 2022 by Fabrice Rubio (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Uday Pratap Singh (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 20, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 10, 2021 by Uday Pratap Singh (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 1, 2020 by Vijigiri Dr Vijigiri Dinesh (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jul 27, 2019 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 10, 2021 by dragon.fly (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 4, 2020 by El Arbi El Filaoui (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2019 by Gaia Landwell (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 27, 2020 by Xeve Dor (cc-by-sa)
Flower
Taken Nov 14, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 20, 2010 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 14, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Sep 24, 2020 by Mehmet Basbag (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 20, 2022 by Jacques Lépinay (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Jan 11, 2022 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jan 11, 2022 by Maarten Vanhove (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 27, 2021 by Decker Dan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 2, 2020 by Lawrence ole Ngugi (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken May 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken May 15, 2010 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)
Taken Nov 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 11, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 25, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Christian LECHEVIN (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2928840)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:821709-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal)