Physalis gracilis

Miers

SolanaceaeFruitLeavesPotential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Leaves, Fruit

Fruit - raw. A sweet flavour. The yellow, globose fruit is 8 - 10mm in diameter with numerous small seeds.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a subtropical plant.

Ecuador, Mexico, South America*,

Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela

How to Identify

A subtropical herb in the nightshade family with edible leaves and fruit.

How to Grow

Physalis gracilis is a plant of the moist tropics.

Medicinal Uses

The plant is used medicinally. No more information.

Other Uses

Physalis gracilis is a wild relative of, and potential gene donor to Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana), low ground-cherry Physalis pubescens) and tomatillo (Physalis ixocarpa.

Names & Synonyms

Champ lulh, Costomate, Tomate, Tomatillo, Yurankmis

References (4)

Mapes, C. & Basurto, F., 2016, Biodiversity and Edible Plants of Mexico. Chapter 5 in R. Lira, et al. (eds.), Ethnobotany of Mexico, Ethnobiology, Springer. p 107
Pena, F. B., et al, 1998, Los quelites de la Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico: Inventory Y Formas de Preparacion. Bol. Soc. Bot. Mexico 62:49-62
Piedra-Malagón, E. M., et al, 2022, Edible native plants of the Gulf of Mexico Province. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e80565 p 31
Torre, de la, L., et al, 2008, Enciclopedia de las Plantas Útiles del Ecuador. Herbario QCA. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador. p 587