Common Name: Tomatillo

General Information

Physalis grisea is an erect, annual plant growing from a taproot. Spreading branches are produced at most nodes; the plant growing 10 - 60cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes cultivated, mainly on a garden scale, for its edible fruit[].

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

Central, eastern and southern N. America - New York and Vermont, southwards on the coastal plain to texas; also from Minnesota southwards.

Habitat

Open areas, meadows, pastures, disturbed woodlands, stream bottoms, cultivated sites; at elevations from 50 - 200 metres[]. Adventive in northern Mexico in oak forest and crop fields; at elevations of 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Annual
Height	0.40 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Not known

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw[]. Mostly sweet[]. (We assume this means that most plants produce sweet fruits[].) The sweet-tasting fruits are used in pies, jams, sauces, and as a garnish []. The yellow, globose fruit is around 10 - 15mm in diameter, conraining numerous small seeds[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -