Physalis pruinosa
L.
Solanaceae
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Common Name: Strawberry Tomato
General Information
Physalis pruinosa is an annual plant that can grow up to 0.60 metres tall.
It is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.
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
43- Title
- Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fernald. M. L.
- Publisher
- American Book Co.; New York
- Year
- 1950
- ISBN
- 0442222505
- Description
- A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
,
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
Eastern N. America - Wisconsin, New York and south to Florida.
Habitat
Dry open often sandy soils, old fields and wasteland[
43- Title
- Gray's Manual of Botany.Eighth Edition
- Publication
-
- Author
- Fernald. M. L.
- Publisher
- American Book Co.; New York
- Year
- 1950
- ISBN
- 0442222505
- Description
- A bit dated but a good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
].
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Habit | Annual |
Height | 0.60 m |
Pollinators | Insects |
Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
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.
].
The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
Occasionally cultivated for its edible fruit, there are some named varieties.
Similar to P. peruviana[
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 in pies, preserves etc[
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 bitter sweet flavour. 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.
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away well. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination[
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.
].
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