Withania

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Withania
Withania somnifera, blom, Manie van der Schijff BT.jpg
Withania somnifera
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Subfamily: Solanoideae
Tribe: Physaleae
Genus: Withania
Pauquy (1825), nom. cons.
Species

19; see text

Synonyms [1]
  • ArchiphysalisKuang (1966)
  • HypnoticumRodati ex Meisn. (1839)
  • OpsagoRaf. (1838)
  • PhysaliastrumMakino (1914)
  • PhysaloidesMoench (1794)
  • PuneeriaStocks (1849)
  • ScleromphalosGriff. (1854), nom. nud.

Withania is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae, with 19 [1] to 23 species that are native to parts of North Africa, western Asia, south Asia, southern Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Canary Islands. [2] [3] Withania was initially included within Physalis by Linnaeus in 1753 but has since become its own genus. [4] This grouping was due to the shared feature of an inflated Calyx that surrounds and protects the fruit.

Two of the species, W. somnifera (ashwagandha) and W. coagulans (ashutosh booti), are economically significant, and are cultivated in several regions for their medicinal uses. [2]

Etymology

Withania is thought to have been named in honour of Henry Witham, a British geologist and writer on fossil botany beginning in 1830. [5]

Species

19 species are accepted. [1]

Related Research Articles

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Nolina is a genus of tropical xerophytic flowering plants, with the principal distribution being in Mexico and extending into the southern United States. They are large, dioecious plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onagraceae</span> Family of flowering plants

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<i>Lycium</i> Genus of flowering plants

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<i>Physalis</i> Genus of flowering plants

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<i>Physalis angulata</i> Species of flowering plant

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<i>Withania somnifera</i> Species of plant

Withania somnifera, known commonly as ashwagandha or winter cherry, is an evergreen shrub in the Solanaceae or nightshade family that grows in India, the Middle East, and parts of Africa. Several other species in the genus Withania are morphologically similar.

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<i>Withania coagulans</i> Species of flowering plant

Withania coagulans is a plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family, native to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Indian subcontinent. Within the genus Withania, W. somnifera (Ashwagandha) and W. coagulans are economically significant, and are cultivated in several regions for their use in Ayurveda. It is claimed to help control diabetes. The berries contain a rennet-like protease that can be used to clot milk for cheese production. The plant is prone to leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Withania Pauquy. Plants of the World Online . Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 Mirjalili, M. H.; Moyano, E.; Bonfill, M.; Cusido, R. M.; Palazón, J. (2009). "Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine". Molecules. 14 (7): 2373–2393. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.368.967 . doi: 10.3390/molecules14072373 . PMC   6255378 . PMID   19633611.
  3. "Withania somnifera". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  4. Rydberg, Per Axel (1896). "The North American Species of Physalis and related Genera". Memoirs of the Torrey Botanical Club. 4 (5): 297–374. ISSN   0097-3807.
  5. "Withania". Electronic Flora of South Australia. Government of South Australia, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
  6. "Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal". Flora of Pakistan. eFlora.org.
  7. "Withania coagulans". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 19 January 2018.