Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
Withania somnifera, commonly called ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, is a resilient Solanaceae shrub famed for …
Japanese withania (Withania japonica)
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
/ License
Withania japonica - Japanese Wild Nightshade Species | Botanical Encyclopedia
Found throughout the temperate forests and grassy slopes of Japan, Withania japonica grows as a herbaceous perennial endemic to the islands of Honshu and Shikoku. Adrien René Franchet and Paul Amédée Ludovic Savatier first collected and described this species, which was later reassigned to its current genus by Hunziker. It is adapted to moist, shady forest margins.
Taxonomy
- ∟ царство Plantae
- ∟ division Tracheophytes (Vascular Plants)
- ∟ subdivision Spermatophytes (Seed plants)
- ∟ Angiosperms
- ∟ mesangiosperms (Core angiosperms)
- ∟ eudicots
- ∟ asterids
- ∟ order Solanales
- ∟ family Solanaceae
- ∟ subfamily Solanoideae
- ∟ tribe Physaleae
- ∟ genus Withania (ashwagandha)
- ∟ species Withania japonica (Japanese withania)
Morphology
This species is characterized by its erect, branching stems that grow from a perennial rootstock. The leaves are ovate to lanceolate, thin, and green on both sides, with slightly hairy margins. They are arranged alternately along the upper stems.
Its solitary or paired flowers hang downward from the leaf axils on slender pedicels. The calyx is campanulate and expands significantly after flowering to envelope the maturing orange-red berry in a lantern-like structure.
Interesting facts
The accrescent calyx surrounding the berry of this species resembles the lantern-like structures found in the closely related genus Physalis. This morphological similarity often causes confusion among amateur botanists. However, the precise structure of the floral parts confirms its classification within the genus Withania.
Geography of distribution
- Japan
Sources
- POWO (2026): Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- IPNI: International Plant Names Index.
- GBIF: Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
See also
Shrubby winter cherry
Withania frutescens
A heavily branched Mediterranean evergreen shrub featuring tortuous woody stems, heart-shaped leaves, and green-to-red berries …
Indian rennet
Withania coagulans
A small gray-white shrub native to South Asia and the Middle East, renowned for its …
Orobal
Withania aristata
An endemic evergreen shrub of the Canary Islands and North Africa, notable for its yellowish-green …