Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
Withania somnifera, commonly called ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, is a resilient Solanaceae shrub famed for …
Kweichow withania (Withania kweichouensis)
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Withania kweichouensis - Mountain Nightshade of China
Growing natively in the damp forests and valleys of China, Withania kweichouensis exhibits the classic resilience of mountain nightshades.
This species occurs mainly in provinces such as Guizhou, Hubei, and Hunan. It contributes to the rich understory biodiversity of these temperate forest ecosystems.
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 kweichouensis (Kweichow withania)
Morphology
Withania kweichouensis features erect, slightly angled stems that can grow up to a meter in height. Its leaves are typically ovate-lanceolate or elliptic, with acute apexes and entire margins, arranged alternately along the branches.
The inflorescences consist of small, nodding flowers grouped in the leaf axils. The corolla is pale yellow or greenish-white, leading to the development of small, fleshy berries that turn bright red or orange at maturity.
Applications
Although not widely cultivated, this plant is of interest in botanical studies regarding the distribution and evolution of the Solanaceae family in East Asia. Some traditional local uses may exist, but they are not well-documented in mainstream scientific literature.
Interesting facts
The specific epithet kweichouensis indicates its origin in Kweichow, the Wade-Giles romanization for Guizhou Province in southwestern China. This region is renowned for its high levels of plant endemism.
Taxonomists K. Z. Kuang and An Min Lu first described the species, which was later re-examined and placed in its current position by the Argentine botanist Armando Hunziker.
Geography of distribution
- China
Sources
- Plants of the World Online (POWO)
- World Flora Online (WFO)
- Flora of China
Technical Information
Taxon Synonyms: Physaliastrum kweichouense
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 …