Physalis leptophylla
B.L.Rob. & Greenm.
Solanaceae
Common Name:
General Information
Physalis leptophylla is an annual plant with spreading branches; it forms a dense, leafy, hemispherical mound, growing around 50 - 100cm tall[
1981- Title
- Rio Mayo Plants - A study of the flora and vegetation of the valley of the Rio Mayo, Sonora
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington DC
- Year
- 1942
- ISBN
-
- Description
- One of my favourite authors on native plants, often including their uses. This is an excellent example with lots of information, even though the book is 80 years old.
,
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Physalis leptophylla is widely distributed, its population is presumed stable 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)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
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[
270- Title
- Flora of N. America
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
].
Botanical References
Range
Southern N. America to Mesoamerica - northern and western Mexico to Guatemala
Habitat
Deciduous tropical forests; at elevations up to 600 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]. Sandy soils in moist, shady places[
1981- Title
- Rio Mayo Plants - A study of the flora and vegetation of the valley of the Rio Mayo, Sonora
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington DC
- Year
- 1942
- ISBN
-
- Description
- One of my favourite authors on native plants, often including their uses. This is an excellent example with lots of information, even though the book is 80 years old.
].
Properties
| Conservation Status | Least Concern |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Height | 0.60 m |
Cultivation Details
Physalis leptophylla is a plant mainly of subtropical regions.
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw, cooked or in sauces[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
1438- Title
- Food Plants in the Americas: A Survey of the Domesticated, Cultivated, and Wild Plants Used for Human Food in North,
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kermath B.M.; Bennett B.C.' Pulsipher L.M.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 2014
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A pre-publication draft of an amazing, on-going work first started in 1985. It contains information on more than 3,900 taxa from the Americas - from Arctic regions to the Tropics
,
]. The globose fruit is 4 - 9mm in diameter with numerous small seeds[
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
This species is a wild relative of, and potential gene donor to the crops tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa), low-ground cherry (Physalis pubescens), and Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
