Withania frutescens

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Physalis suberosa
• Physalis frutescens
• Withania villosa
• Withania suberosa
• Withania grosii
• Hypnoticum frutescens
• Opsago suberosa
• Opsago cordata
• Atropa frutescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Solanales, and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Withania.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution concentrated primarily within the Mediterranean basin. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is documented across Spain and Portugal. It can also be found on the Balearic Islands within the same European region. Moving across the sea to Northern Africa, the species is established in Morocco. Finally, its range extends through Algeria, completing its geographical footprint in these coastal areas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Withania frutescens is characterized by its ability to thrive across a diverse topographical gradient, specifically occupying an elevational range that extends from as low as 10 m AMSL to a maximum of 700 m AMSL. This broad altitudinal distribution suggests an adaptability to varying environmental pressures, ranging from lowland coastal or alluvial conditions to slightly higher, more temperate foothills. Its presence within these specific elevations indicates a preference for habitats that can sustain its growth patterns within these vertical limits, likely interacting with specific soil compositions and moisture regimes found within this 690-meter altitudinal span.

Elevational range max:

700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

10 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Withania frutescens is characterized by its specific growth habit and structural classification within botanical life forms. This species functions primarily as a phanerophyte, possessing well-developed aerial shoots that persist above the ground level to facilitate its reproductive and vegetative cycles. Furthermore, its developmental architecture can be classified as a nanophanerophyte, indicating that while it maintains woody or semi-woody structures, its height remains relatively low compared to larger phanerophytes. This combination of life forms allows the plant to navigate its ecological niche by maintaining permanent above-ground biomass while remaining compact in stature.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Withania frutescens is characterized by a woody growth form, specifically classified as a shrub. Despite possessing some climbing tendencies, it functions as a self-supporting plant rather than an obligatory or facultative liana or vine. The plant exhibits a woody structure and can reach a maximum height of approximately 2 meters.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological architecture of the foliage in Withania frutescens is characterized by a highly consistent and compact leaf morphology, reflecting a specialized structural adaptation. The leaves exhibit a distinct elliptic form, maintaining a robust and nearly symmetrical shape throughout their development. Morphologically, the leaves demonstrate a tight range of dimensions, with a minimum length of 5 cm and a maximum length of 5.5 cm, closely mirroring their width parameters. The leaf width is similarly constrained, spanning from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 5.5 cm. This near-equivalence between length and width measurements indicates a dense, rounded leaf structure that optimizes surface area within a specific geometric profile, contributing to the plant's overall vegetative efficiency.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

5 cm

Leaf width max:

5.5 cm

Leaf width min:

5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Withania frutescens is characterized by a dioecious sexual reproduction system. The plant's flowering cycle is extensive, beginning in January and continuing through to December, showing a highly variable seasonal presence. The flowers are distinctively green in color. Following pollination, the plant produces fleshy, indehiscent fruits categorized as berries. These berries exhibit a red coloration and vary in width from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.9 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds are produced with consistent dimensions, featuring a minimum seed length of 3.4 mm and a maximum length of 4.2 mm, paired with a minimum width of 3 mm and a maximum width of 4 mm. The seed volume is highly uniform, maintaining a minimum, maximum, and mean volume of 34 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Jan

Flowering time :

Dec

Fruit colour :

red

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

0.9 cm

Fruit width min:

0.5 cm

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed length max:

4.2 mm

Seed length min:

3.4 mm

Seed volume max:

34 mm³

Seed width max:

4 mm

Seed width min:

3 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Withania frutescens has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Root

1. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)

Chemicals

Withania frutescens has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Withanolides, Isoleucine, Polyphenol, Withaferin A, tryptophan.

Withanolides

1. Steroids
2. Natural product communications
3. Pharmaceutical biology

Isoleucine

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Polyphenol

1. Natural product communications

Withaferin A

1. Steroids

tryptophan

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences

Activities

Withania frutescens has 4 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antihyperglycemic, Antimicrobial, Antidiabetic.

Antioxidant

1. Steroids
2. Natural product communications
3. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)

Antihyperglycemic

1. Steroids
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antimicrobial

1. Steroids
2. Natural product communications

Antidiabetic

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Withania frutescens has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include dysentery, hyperglycemia, nosocomial infections, poisoning, postprandial hyperglycemia.

Dysentery

1. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)

Hyperglycemia

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Nosocomial infections

1. Natural product communications

Poisoning

1. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)

Postprandial hyperglycemia

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Withania frutescens has 3 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include W. frutescens extract, extract, hydroethanolic extract.

W. frutescens extract

1. Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)

Extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Hydroethanolic extract

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)