Common Name:

General Information

Physalis coztomatl is a perennial plant, branched from near the base, with stems that become more or less woody and persist; it can grow up to 200cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Physalis coztomatl has a very large range, it is present in many protected areas and there are no major widespread threats currently affecting its population. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

The unripe fruits and foliage of Physalis species contain solanine and other solanidine alkaloids and are toxic if ingested in large quantities. The ripe fruiys are usually edible, and several species are cultivated for these fruits[].

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - central and southern Mexico

Habitat

Oak forests, pine forests and pine-oak forests, and mountain mesophyllus forests; at elevations from 2,200 - 3,800 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	1.50 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Physalis coztomatl is a plant mainly of the seasonally dry tropics of Mexico

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. The green, globose fruit is up to 20mm in diameter with numerous small seeds[].

Medicinal

The plant is used as a diuretic and as a treatment for stomach inflammation, diarrhoea, and flatulence[].
Applied directly to the chest area, the helps against asthma[].

Other Uses

Physalis coztomatl is a wild relative of, and potential gene donor to Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana), low ground-cherry Physalis pubescens) and tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa[].

Propagation

Seed -

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