Common Name:

General Information

Physalis nicandroides is a branched, erect, annual plant growing up to 100cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine.
Physalis nicandroides 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(2017)[].

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

Habitat

Around volcanic areas, open fields, thorn woodlands, tropical forest and tropical deciduous forests, also as a weed in agriculture areas, scrubland, oak forest and from coastal areas; at elevations from sea level to 2,500 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Height	0.00 m

Cultivation Details

Physalis nicandroides is a plant of the seasonally dry tropics

Edible Uses

Fruit - occasionally eaten[]. The dark brown, globose fruit is up to 15mm in diameter, containing numerous small seeds[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is often left to grow in agricultural fields, where it acts as an insect trap[].

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)[].

Propagation

Seed -

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