Solanaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Physalis cinerascens

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

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 cinerascens is a prostrate to slightly erect, herbaceous perennial that grows from a deeply buried rhizomatous rootstock. The plant branches from the base and at most nodes, growing around 5 - 50cm tall[ 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. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. Physalis cinerascens is widely distributed, its population is presumed stable and it faces no major widespread threat. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2018)[ 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 RangeCentral and southern N. America - New Mexico, Kansas and Missouri, south to southern Mexico

HabitatFound in many different habitats, including dry forests, tropical deciduous forest, dry shrublands, vegetation of coastal dunes and halophytic vegetation, it also occurs in perturbed areas; at elevations from sea level to 2,600 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. ].