Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
Withania somnifera, commonly called ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, is a resilient Solanaceae shrub famed for …
Gansu Withania (Withania kansuensis)
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Withania kansuensis: Botany, Morphology, and Natural Habitat
Hailing from the mountainous terrains of Gansu province in China, Withania kansuensis thrives as a wild perennial herb adapted to temperate elevations. This species remains primarily in its natural habitat, growing in forest margins and rocky valleys.
Botanists study this plant to understand the diversity of high-altitude flora. Due to its wild nature, it has not been domesticated or introduced into commercial horticulture.
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 kansuensis (Gansu Withania)
Morphology
The structural characteristics of Withania kansuensis show adaptation to high altitudes. The plant exhibits specific vegetative and reproductive structures:
- Stems: The erect stems are green, cylindrical, and slightly woody at the base, reaching heights of 50 to 80 centimeters. They can be glabrous or covered with sparse, fine hairs.
- Leaves: The leaves are arranged alternately on slender petioles. They are ovate to ovate-lanceolate, measuring 5 to 12 centimeters in length, with an acuminate apex and a cuneate base.
- Flowers: Solitary or paired flowers arise from the leaf axils. They feature a cup-shaped, 5-lobed calyx and a small, greenish-yellow campanulate corolla.
- Fruits: The fruit is a globose berry, measuring 8 to 10 millimeters in diameter, which turns red upon maturity. It is loosely enclosed by the enlarged, persistent calyx.
Flowering season
Summer (June to August)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Name
Dec
Interesting facts
The species name kansuensis directly refers to the Gansu province of China, highlighting its narrow geographical distribution. This plant has adapted to survive the challenging, cold winters of high-altitude Asian mountain ecosystems.
Geography of distribution
- Gansu
- China
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO)
- World Flora Online (WFO)
- Flora of China
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 …