SPECIES DESCRIPTION
WITHANIA SOMNIFERA
Family and Genus:- See- SOLANACEAE
Common Names:- Withania
Homotypic Synonyms:- Physalis somnifera
Meaning:- Withania (L) Meaning unknown.
Somnifera :- (L) Sleep inducing, sleep-bearing.
General description:- An erect subshrub, woody at least in the lower part.
Stems:-
1) 60-120 cm, erect, branched, woody below, greyish stellate-tomentose.
Leaves:-
1) 3-10 x 2-7 cm, ovate to obovate or oblong, acute to obtuse, cuneate at the base,
subglabrous above, stellate-tomentose beneath.
2) Petiole,1-2 cm.
Flowers:-
1) 4-16 in congested axillary clusters.
2) Pedicels, up to 5 mm, patent.
3) Calyx, c. 5 mm, densely stellate-tomentose, with triangular teeth;
a) fruiting calyx, 10-20 x 8-10 mm, urceolate, 10-ribbed, with short teeth.
4) Corolla, campanulate, c. 5 mm, yellowish-green.
5) Anthers, c. 1 mm, ovate.
Fruit:-
1) Berry, 5-8 mm Æ, shining, red.
Key features:-
1) Leaves, cuneate at the base, stellate-tomentose beneath.
2) Corolla, c. 5 mm.
3) Fruiting calyx, urceolate.
Habitat:- Coastal flats, roadsides, ruderal habitats, archaeological sites. 0-200 m.
Distribution:- Scattered throughout the Mediterranean region, Africa and SW Asia
to India. Mainly west and central Crete around coastal areas. Fairly rare.
Flowering time:- Irregularly throughout the year
Photos by:- Richard Akesson
