Solanaceae FAMILY

Withania somnifera

Edibility

1/5

Medicinal

4/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant is toxic if eaten[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ]. Although providing many well-known foods for people, including the potato, tomato, pepper and aubergine, most plants in the family Solanaceae also contain poisonous alkaloids. Unless there are specific entries with information on edible uses, it would be unwise to ingest any part of this plant[ K Title Plants for a Future Author Ken Fern Description Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips. ].

Botanical Description

Withania somnifera is an erect or spreading, evergreen shrub; it usually grows 60 - 100cm tall, occasionally reaching 200cm[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].. A very important medicinal herb in Ayurveda, where it has a value similar to that of Ginseng in China. Its use has spread from India to many other countries. It is mainly gathered from the wild but is also cultivated, especially in India[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ]. It is widely sold, especially in India.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeMediterranean Europe, most of Africa, through W. Asia to Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka.

HabitatAn undershrub in stony places[ 238 Title Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Publication Author Bown. D. Publisher Dorling Kindersley, London. Year 1995 ISBN 0-7513-020-31 Description A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant. ]. Disturbed soil, along roadsides, in cultivated land, on termite mounds in grassland, in open woodland and riverine vegetation, at elevations from sea-level up to 2,300 metres[ 299 Title Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. Publication Author Website http://www.prota.org Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa. ].