Common Name:

General Information

Physalis gracilis is a herbaceous perennial plant, slightly erect to prostrate in habit, and rooting at the lower nodes; it can grow up to 90cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.
Physalis gracilis has a wide distribution, is common and there are no known major threats 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

Northern S. America - Ecuador, through Central America to northern Mexico

Habitat

Deciduous tropical forests; at elevations from 10 - 2,400 metres[]. Open areas of pine-oak or cloud
forest, or as a weed in crops associated with the forest; at elevations from 500 - 1,700 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.75 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Physalis gracilis is a plant of the moist tropics.

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw. A sweet flavour[]. The yellow, globose fruit is 8 - 10mm in diameter with numerous small seeds[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[]. No more information.

Other Uses

Physalis gracilis 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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Captcha: if i have 3 bananas, and i eat them all, how many bananas did i just eat?