Physalis philadelphica
Lam.
Solanaceae
Closely related to Physalis ixocarpa, this is probably the wild species that Physalis ixocarpa was derived from in cultivation[
170- Title
- Ground Cherries, Husk Tomatoes and Tomatilloes.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dremann. C. G.
- Publisher
- Redwood City Seed Co
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-933421-03-6
- Description
- Only a small booklet but it covers the various species in some depth.
].
Common Name: Wild Tomatillo
Flowering and fruiting branch
Photograph by: Malte
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Flowering and fruiting branch
Photograph by: Malte
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Flowering plant
Photograph by: Mariuszjbie
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Developing fruit, with part of the calyx removed
Photograph by: Gerrit Davidse
General Information
Wild tomatillo is an annual plant growing around 60cm tall.
The edible fruit is gathered from the wild, whilst the plant is sometimes also cultivated[
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Known Hazards
All parts of the plant, except the fruit, are poisonous[
19- Title
- Poisonous Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Stary. F.
- Publisher
- Hamlyn
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-600-35666-3
- Description
- Not very comprehensive, but easy reading.
,
65- Title
- A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Frohne. D. and Pfänder. J.
- Publisher
- Wolfe
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 0723408394
- Description
- Brilliant. Goes into technical details but in a very readable way. The best work on the subject that I've come across so far.
].
Botanical References
170- Title
- Ground Cherries, Husk Tomatoes and Tomatilloes.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dremann. C. G.
- Publisher
- Redwood City Seed Co
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-933421-03-6
- Description
- Only a small booklet but it covers the various species in some depth.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
C. America - El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico.
Habitat
Not known in a truly wild situation, it is found as a weed of cultivation.
Properties
| Weed Potential | Yes |
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Annual |
| Height | 0.60 m |
| Pollinators | Insects |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 2,600 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 25°c, but can tolerate 8 - 31°c[
]. It is not tolerant of frost[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 600 - 1,100mm[
].
Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8[
].
The plant is a common weed of cultivation.
There are some named varieties[
183- Title
- Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Facciola. S.
- Publisher
- Kampong Publications
- Year
- 1990
- ISBN
- 0-9628087-0-9
- Description
- Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
,
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. 'Purple de Milpa' has small purple-tinged fruits with a sharp flavour, they keep well[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
50- Title
- Flora Europaea
- Publication
-
- Author
- ?
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- Year
- 1964
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
]. A delicious flavouring when used like a tomato and added to soups, stews etc[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. 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 subglobose fruit can be 6cm in diameter[
]. The fruit can be stored for up to a year if picked before they are fully ripe and left inside their calyx.
Medicinal
The juice from the berries has been used as an eyewash[
257- Title
- Native American Ethnobotany
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moerman. D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press. Oregon.
- Year
- 1998
- ISBN
- 0-88192-453-9
- Description
- Very comprehensive but terse guide to the native uses of plants. Excellent bibliography, fully referenced to each plant, giving a pathway to further information. Not for the casual reader.
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow in situ. Germination is usually quick and free. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination with daytime temperatures of 30°c falling to 21°c at night[
170- Title
- Ground Cherries, Husk Tomatoes and Tomatilloes.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Dremann. C. G.
- Publisher
- Redwood City Seed Co
- Year
- 1985
- ISBN
- 0-933421-03-6
- Description
- Only a small booklet but it covers the various species in some depth.
,
299- Title
- Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.prota.org
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
].
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
