Common Name: Ground Cherry

General Information

Ground cherry is an annual plant growing 80 - 120cm tall[].
The edible fruit is generally well liked and is often gathered from the wild. The plant is also cultivated for its fruit in both temperate and tropical areas[].

Known Hazards

Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where many of the members have poisonous leaves and stems, though the full ripe fruits are usually edible[, ].

Botanical References

Range

N. America - Wisconsin, Virginia, Ohio. Indiana and southwards.

Habitat

Damp to dry open woods, sand dunes and disturbed soil[]

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.45 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

An annual plant, it can be grown in any area of the world that has a growing season of 4 months or more.
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[].
The plant has become naturalized in some areas outside its native range[].
Plants commence flowering about 30 - 40 days after germination and the fruit starts to ripen after 80 - 90 days[].
There are some named varieties[]. 'Cossack Pineapple' has a small pineapple-flavoured fruit[]. 'Goldie' has medium-sized fruits that are borne prolifically on a well-branched plant[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, preserves etc[, , , ]. A delicious bitter sweet flavour. The fruit falls from the plant before it is fully ripe and should be left for a week or two until the husk has dried and the fruit has turned a golden-yellow[]. Delightful when fully ripe[]. When dried in sugar, the fruit is excellent in fruit cakes, some cooks preferring them to raisins or figs[]. Yields up to 0.5 kilo per plant[]. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own 'paper bag' (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten. The fruit will store for several weeks if left in the calyx[]. The fruit is a berry about 15mm in diameter[].

Medicinal

The whole plant is antipyretic, depurative, diuretic, pectoral, vermifuge[]. A decoction is used in the treatment of abscesses, coughs, fevers, sore throat etc[, ]. An infusion of the whole plant is used as a narcotic[].

The leaves are cholagogue and diuretic[]. They are boiled in a preparation for the treatment of urine retention[]. The leaves are used to treat swellings[].

The fruit is diuretic, laxative and vermifuge[].

The roots are aperitif, bitter, febrifuge and tonic[]. They are used in the treatment of ground itch, kidney problems, and worms[].
The root contains physaline, a substance recommended as a quinine substitute for the treatment of intermittent fevers[].

The genus Physalis contains withanolide lactonic steroids[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ or in containers and only just cover the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out when 20cm tall. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination[].

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