Botanical identity
A root used in food-like tonics and concentrated extracts.
KingdomPlantae
Phylum / divisionTracheophyta
ClassMagnoliopsida
OrderSolanales
FamilySolanaceae
GenusWithania
Scientific name with authorshipWithania somnifera (L.) Dunal
Curated parts indexedRoot
Indexed scientific synonyms
Alicabon somniferum (L.) Raf.Hypnoticum somniferum (L.) RodatiHypnoticum somniferum (L.) Rodati ex Boiss.Larnax morrisonii (Dunal) MiersPhysalis alpini J.Jacq.Physalis arborescens Thunb.Physalis flexuosa L.Physalis scariosa Webb & Berthel.Physalis somnifera L.Physalis somnifera var. communis NeesPhysalis somnifera var. flexuosa (L.) NeesPhysalis sugunda Buch.-Ham.Physalis sugunda Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.Physalis tomentosa Thunb.Physalis villosa MoenchPhysalis villosa Moench ex Steud.Physaloides somnifera (L.) MoenchWithania arborescens DunalWithania chevalieri A.E.Gonç.Withania kansuensis Kuang & A.M.LuWithania macrocalyx (Chiov.) Chiov.Withania microphysalis Suess.Withania morisonii DunalWithania mucronata Chiov.Withania obtusifolia Täckh.Withania sicula Lojac.Withania somnifera subsp. obtusifolia (Täckh.) Abedin, Al-Yahya, Chaudhary & J.S.MossaWithania somnifera var. communis (Nees) DunalWithania somnifera var. flexuosa (L.) DunalWithania somnifera var. macrocalyx Chiov.Withnia somnifera var. communis Cordem.
Documented use categories
Medicine
Human food
Animal food
Gene source
Material
Poison reported
Social use
These categories describe the kinds of human-use reports attached to the taxon in the source checklist. Multiple categories can coexist; a plant may be recorded as both food and poison, depending on part, preparation and context.
How to interpret this record
Traditional and practical context
Traditional and practical context is preparation-specific. A documented use category is not proof of clinical effectiveness.
Evidence boundary
Evidence must be assessed by exact species, plant part, preparation, route, dose and health question.
Safety boundary
Confirm botanical identity, plant part, route, dose, medicines, allergies, pregnancy, breastfeeding and age before use.
Dataset record and provenance
DatasetWCUPS 2020
LicenceCC BY 4.0
Name sourceIPNI
IPNI / external identifier821709-1
Use codesAF GS HF MA ME PO SU
Crop wild relativeNo
Contributing checklist sources
Kew Economic Botany CollectionEuropean Red List of Medicinal PlantsUSDA GRINMedicinal Plant Names Services v8.2Plant Resources for Tropical AfricaUseful Plant ProjectUseful Plants of West Tropical Africa
Read the full dataset citation, licence and import methodology →
!Educational index, not a treatment recommendation
The presence of a taxon in this database does not provide a diagnosis, dose, formulation or assurance of safety. Some indexed plants are toxic, regulated, endangered or unsafe in specific life stages.