Solanaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Physalis leptophylla

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 leptophylla is an annual plant with spreading branches; it forms a dense, leafy, hemispherical mound, growing around 50 - 100cm tall[ 1981 Title Rio Mayo Plants - A study of the flora and vegetation of the valley of the Rio Mayo, Sonora Publication Author Gentry H.S. Publisher Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington DC Year 1942 ISBN Description One of my favourite authors on native plants, often including their uses. This is an excellent example with lots of information, even though the book is 80 years old. , 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 leptophylla is widely distributed, its population is presumed stable and there are no major widespread threats currently 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

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthern N. America to Mesoamerica - northern and western Mexico to Guatemala

HabitatDeciduous tropical forests; at elevations up to 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. ]. Sandy soils in moist, shady places[ 1981 Title Rio Mayo Plants - A study of the flora and vegetation of the valley of the Rio Mayo, Sonora Publication Author Gentry H.S. Publisher Carnegie Institution of Washington; Washington DC Year 1942 ISBN Description One of my favourite authors on native plants, often including their uses. This is an excellent example with lots of information, even though the book is 80 years old. ].