Family: Solanaceae
Withania somnifera
Citation:
Dunal in A. DC., Prod. 13:453 (1852).
Synonymy: Physalis somnifera L., Sp. Pl. 182 (1753).
Common name: Clustered) winter cherry.
Description:
A shrub to c. 1 m tall, woody below, grey-pubescent with dendritic hairs, sparse on older surfaces, unarmed; leaves commonly c. 5 x 3 cm, ovate, apex acute or obtuse, petiole c. 1 cm long.
Inflorescence a congested cluster of 4-6 flowers in the leaf axil; pedicels 3-5 mm long; calyx tube c. 2 mm long, the lobes 2-3 mm long, shortly triangular; corolla 5-6 mm long, the tube campanulate, the lobes cut to about the middle, a drab yellowish-green; filaments c. 3 mm long, slender; anthers c. 1 mm long, ovate; ovary glabrous; style c. 3 mm long, erect; stigma capitate.
Berry 5-10 mm diam., globular, shining, red, succulent, included within the inflated calyx tube; seeds irregular-discoid, c. 2 mm long, light-brown, minutely reticulate, c. 35 per berry.
| Flowering and fruiting branch and a fruit.
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Image source: fig. 580 in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Purdie et al. (1982) Flora of Australia 29:187, fig. 47A, B.
Distribution:
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In Australia plants appear to grow on shallow rocky soils.
S.Aust.: EP, SL, SE. N.S.W. native to western Asia and not widely naturalised.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: April — Sept.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Author:
Not yet available
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