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Solanaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Physalis crassifolia

Physalis crassifolia

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 crassifolia is an erect, perennial plant growing from a shallow, rhizomatous rootstock. The stems of older plants become woody and persist, widely spreading branches are produced at the base and at most nodes; the plant usually grows around 10 - 40cm tall, occasionally reaching 100cm[ 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 crassifolia 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(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 RangeSouth-western N. America - Nevada, Utah, Arizona and the Mojave desert of California south to southwest Mexico.
HabitatCoastal dunes, sandy and rocky places; at elevations below 1,200 metres[ 71 Title A California Flora. Publication Author Munz P.A. & Keck D.D. Publisher University of California Press; Los Angeles Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader. , 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 ]. Deserts, canyon floors and rocky hillsides[ 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. ].