Common Name: Tomatillo Miltomate

General Information

Physalis cordata is an erect, annual plant growing from a taproot. Spreading branches are produced at most nodes, the plant usually growing around 15 - 50cm tall, occasionally to 200cm[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
Physalis cordata 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

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Range

Southern N. America - Alabama, Tennessee, Mexico, through Mesoamerica to northern S. America - Venezuela, Colombia; Caribbean

Habitat

Various habitats includings forest along beach areas; dry tropical forest, perennial forest, semi-deciduous forest, beach areas, roadsides, river margins, lake margins, fields and cultivated ground; at elevations from near sea level to 2,550 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.70 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Physalis cordata is found mainly in the seasonally dry tropics, though as an annual it can be grown in more temperate regions.
The plant grows wild on moist soils, dry soils, rocky soils, sandy soils[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[]. The green or purple, globose fruit is 12 - 13mm in diameter containing numerous small seeds[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Physalis cordata 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 -