Solanaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Physalis cordata

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & 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[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].

Botanical Description

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[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. , 2214 Title Taxonomic revision of Physalis in Mexico Publication Front. Genet. 14:1080176 Author Martínez M. et al Website http:// 10.3389/fgene.2023.1080176 Publisher Year 2023 ISBN Description ]. 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)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

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

HabitatVarious 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[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].