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

Photo: Bart Wursten
C8 between Katima Mulilo and Kongola at turn-off to Kaenda

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Synonyms:	Physalis somnifera L.
Common names:	Poison gooseberry (English) Winter cherry (English)
Frequency:	Frequent
Status:	Native per POWO
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.
Type location:	Spain
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: (metres)
Flowering time:
Worldwide distribution:	Native from Europe south through Africa to South Africa and from the Middle East to India and southern China.
FZ divisions:	MS,GI,M
Growth form(s):
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Images last updated:	Sunday 1 June 2008
Literature:	Bikandu, B., Lukoki, F., Habari, J.P., Ntore, S. & Sosef, M.S.M. (2020). Solanaceae Flore d'Afrique Centrale Nouvelle Serie Jardin Botanique Meise, Belgique Pages 117 - 119. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 37. 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 Flora Zambesiaca 8(4) Pages 56 - 58. (Includes a picture). Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 110. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 117. (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. Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 236. 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). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 106. Troupin, G. (1985). Solanaceae Flore du Rwanda Spermatophytes Volume III Page 383. Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 91. (Includes a picture).

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Flora of Botswana: Withania somnifera
Flora of Burundi: Withania somnifera
Flora of Caprivi: Withania somnifera
Flora of the DRC: Withania somnifera
Flora of Malawi: Withania somnifera
Flora of Rwanda: Withania somnifera
Flora of Zambia: Withania somnifera
Flora of Zimbabwe: Withania somnifera

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Withania somnifera
African Plant Database: Withania somnifera
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Withania somnifera
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Withania somnifera
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Withania somnifera
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Withania somnifera
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Withania somnifera
JSTOR Plant Science: Withania somnifera
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Withania somnifera
Plants of the World Online: Withania somnifera
Tropicos: Withania somnifera
Wikipedia: Withania somnifera