Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera
Withania somnifera, commonly called ashwagandha or Indian ginseng, is a resilient Solanaceae shrub famed for …
Yunnan winter cherry (Withania yunnanensis)
Silhouette: T. Michael Keesey
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Withania yunnanensis: Taxonomy, Subspecies, and Botanical Description
Moist mountain valleys of Yunnan and Bhutan serve as the primary habitat for Withania yunnanensis, a robust wild perennial species. Belonging to the Solanaceae family, this species has been studied for its taxonomic placement and regional variations.
In its native regions, it grows along forest edges and streamsides at significant altitudes. As a wild species, it has not been modified for garden cultivation or commercial agricultural use.
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 yunnanensis (Yunnan winter cherry)
Morphology
The morphological features of Withania yunnanensis vary slightly across its subspecies, but the general structures are consistent. The key characteristics include:
- Stems: The stems are robust, erect, and can grow from 1 to 2 meters tall, exhibiting a branched pattern that is glabrous or only sparsely hairy.
- Leaves: Alternate leaves are ovate-elliptic to lanceolate, measuring 8 to 18 centimeters long and 4 to 8 centimeters wide, with a cuneate base and an acuminate apex.
- Inflorescence: Flowers are positioned in axillary groups of 2 to 5, featuring a 5-toothed, cup-shaped calyx and a greenish-yellow campanulate corolla of 6 to 8 millimeters.
- Berries: The mature red berries are globose, reaching 7 to 9 millimeters in diameter, and are loosely enveloped by the persistent calyx.
Flowering season
Summer (June to August)
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Name
Dec
Interesting facts
The division of Withania yunnanensis into two distinct subspecies, bhutanica and yunnanensis, illustrates localized speciation. These subspecies have evolved distinct traits to adapt to the separate mountainous regions of Bhutan and Yunnan respectively.
Geography of distribution
- Yunnan
- China
- Bhutan
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 …