Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Roadside verge, Borrowdale Common, near bridge

Photo: Bart Wursten
Bushman's Point, Lake Chivero

Photo: Bart Wursten
Upper part of Hill Complex, Great Zimbabwe

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Synonyms:	Physalis somnifera L.
Common names:	Poison gooseberry (English) Winter cherry (English)
Frequency:	Frequent
Status:	Probably introduced
Description:	Erect subshrub or woody based perennial to 1.5 m. Stems tomentose. Leaves: lamina 4-10 × 3-7 cm, ovate, stellate-tomentose, glabrescent; base cuneate; margin entire. Flowers 4-16 in a cluster. Corolla greenish, tomentose externally. Fruit a berry, 8-10 mm in diameter, spherical, glossy, scarlet, enclosed within an enlarged accrescent calyx, c. 2 cm in fruit.
Notes:	This species is rather similar to a Physalis, but can be easily distinguished by the flowers occurring in clusters.
Derivation of specific name:	somnifera: sleep-bearing or -producing
Habitat:	Roadsides, disturbed ground, termite mounds, open woodland and riverine vegetation.
Altitude range:
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native to the Old World subtropics; now widely distributed from Europe south through Africa to South Africa and from the Middle East to India and southern China.
Mozambique distribution:	MS,GI,M
Growth form:	Ps
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects (whose larvae eat this species):
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Content last updated:	Sunday 1 June 2008
Literature:	Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 111. Gonçalves, A.E. (2005). Solanaceae FZ 8(4) Pages 56 - 58. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 80. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 100. Pooley, E. (1998). A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Region. Natal Flora Publications Trust. Durban. Pages 72 - 73. (Includes a picture). Wild, H. (undated, c. 1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds ?Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 91. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Withania somnifera:

African Plant Database: Withania somnifera
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Withania somnifera
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Withania somnifera
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Withania somnifera
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Withania somnifera
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Withania somnifera
JSTOR Plant Science: Withania somnifera
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Withania somnifera
Tropicos: Withania somnifera
West African Plants database: Withania somnifera