Solanaceae FAMILY

Calliphysalis carpenteri

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

Calliphysalis carpenteri is an erect, single-stemmed, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a taproot, the base of the stem becomes more or less woody in older plants; it grows up to 75cm tall, exceptionally reaching 150cm, often becoming bushy and up to 90cm wide[ 2215 Title Calliphysalis (Solanaceae): A New Genus from the Southeastern USA Publication Rhodora, 114(958):133-147. 2012 Author Whitson M. Website http://10.3119/11-10 Publisher Year 2012 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouth-eastern N. America - Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

HabitatSandy soils on the coastal plain[ 72 Title Manual of the Southeastern Flora. Publication Author Small J.K. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher University of N. Carolina Press. Year 1933 ISBN Description Getting rather dated now, an immense work covering the flora of Southeastern N. America. No pictures, it is not for the casual reader. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. A woodland species, favoring hammocks and disturbed sites such as washing river bluffs, treefall gaps, and sunny areas along trails[ 2215 Title Calliphysalis (Solanaceae): A New Genus from the Southeastern USA Publication Rhodora, 114(958):133-147. 2012 Author Whitson M. Website http://10.3119/11-10 Publisher Year 2012 ISBN Description ].