| Scientific name: | Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal | |
| Synonym name: | Physalis somnifera L. | |
| Common name: | Common Winter-cherry, Sleepy nightshade | |
| Hebrew name: | ויתניה משכרת | |
| Arabic name: | سم الفراخ "Simm Frakh" | |
| Plant Family: | Solanaceae, סולניים |
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| Life form: | Chamaephyte | |
| Stems: | 30-150 cm tall, pubescent with dendritic hairs; woody proximally, erect or reclining, branched, tomentose | |
| Leaves: | Alternate; ovate, obovate, or oblong; entire, dentate or serrate | |
| Flowers: | Corolla bell-shaped with 3-6 yellow-green lobes; yellow petals on the inside but with a green outer-covering layer | |
| Fruits / pods: | Berry, shiny, red, globose, 5-8 mm, in papery protective covering (calyx) | |
| Flowering Period: | Summer | |
| Habitat: | Rich soils, ruderal | |
| Distribution: | The Mediterranean Woodlands and Shrublands, Semi-steppe shrublands, Shrub-steppes, Deserts and extreme deserts | |
| Phytogeo: | Med - Irano-Turanian | |
| Summer shedding: | perenating |
Derivation of the botanical name: Withania for withanine, the main constituents of this plant. somnifera, somnifer, sleep bringing ; meaning sleep inducing The name ashwagandha (one of the common names for this herb) comes from the sanskrit meaning "horse-like-smell". Apparently, this name not only refers to the smell of the herb but also its strengthening and aphrodisiac qualities. It is sometimes called “Indian Ginseng”.
Location: Maagan Kibbutz Holiday Village - Sea of Galilee |