Withania, Winter cherry
Withania somnifera

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

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.

There are about 10 Withania species. It has alkaloids with sedative properties.

Where it is found

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.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Arabia, Asia, Australia, Botswana, Canary Islands, China, East Africa, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, Greece, Himalayas, India, Iran, Iraq, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pakistan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Sikkim, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

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. The fruit are used as a flavouring and preservative. CAUTION: It is reported to be poisonous. The plant is rich in alkaloids.

Edible parts

Shoots, leaves, roots, vegetable, fruit

How it is grown

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.

Its other names

Local names

Aksan, Asgand, Ashwagandha, Cheese tree, Dahat-tha-gaing, Ganda, Gisewa, Indian ginseng, Karama anta, Kuaak, Kuak, Kuthmithi, Punir, Winter cherry, Zafua

Synonyms

Physalis somnifera L.; Physaloides somnifera (L.) Moench; Withania microphysalis Suess.;