Physalis Facts

Sylvia

9 years ago

Physalis is actually a herbaceous or soft-wooded, perennial somewhat vining plant sized 2 to 3 ft. (1.6-0.9 m) in height but occasionally may attain 6 ft. (1.8) m. It is a smooth berry which looks like a small, round yellowish tomato. It is sub-globose berry, 1.25–2 cm diameter, each enclosed in a bladder like husk which will become papery on maturity. It is green while young turning to a smooth, glossy, golden –yellow to orange when ripe with many tiny (2 mm diameter) yellowish, flat seeds surrounded in the juicy palatable pulp.

Name	Physalis (Cape Gooseberry)
Scientific Name	Physalis peruviana
Native	Indigenous to South America in the high altitude tropical Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru
Common/English Name	Aztec Berry, Winter Cherry, bladderberry, Peruvian Ground Cherry, Gooseberry-Tomato, goldenberry, Husk Cherry, Inca Berry, Peruvian Cherry, Cape Gooseberry, Poha, Cherry Tomato Goldenberry, Poha Berry, Strawberry Tomato, Barbados Gooseberry, obra cabbage
Name in Other Languages	Arabic : Hhabwah, Hhashîsh Sakrân Fijian : Botebote Yadra, Kospeli, Maulanggua Finnish : Ananaskirsikka, Kapinmarja Czech : Mochyně Peruánská Peru : Capulí, Pasa Capulí, Aguaymanto Danish : Ananaskirsebaer, Kapstikkelsbaer Italian : Alchechenge Giallo, Alchechengi Giallo Ecuador : Uvilla ( Spanish ) Polish : Miechunka Peruwianska French : Alkékange Jaune Doux Nauruan : Oatamo, Watamo Chinese : Deng Long Cao, Deng Long Guo Gabon : Alkekengi, Coqueret Brazil : Alquequenje Amarelo, Bate-Testa Mangarevan : Maru I – Kiribati : Te Baraki, Te Bin Tahitian : Tupere Dutch : Ananaskers, Goudbes, Kaapsche Kruisbes Japanese : Ke Hôzuki Swedish : Ananaskörsbär, Kapkrusbär Chile : Capuli, Amor En Bolsa, Bolsa De Spanish : Alquequenje, Capuli, Uvilla Malawi : Jamu, Peruvian Cherry Bolivia : Capuli, Motojobobo Embolsado Nepalese : Ishmagol, Jangalii Mevaa, Jangali Meva, Rasabarii India : Macao, Makowi, Rasbhari, Teparee Sri Lanka : Thol Thakkali ( Sinhalese Niuean : Manini, Manini Fua Lalahi German : Ananaskirsche, Kap-Stachelbeere Columbia : Uvilla, Uchuva, Vejigón, Guchavo Cook Islands : Tupera, Tūpere, Tūpere ( Maori ) Philippines : Lobolobohan ( Tagalog) Turkish : Altın Çilek, Sarhosh Out Egypt : Harankash, Is-Sitt Il-Mistahiya; Venezuela : Topotopo, Chuchuva, Alquequenje Amarillo Portuguese : Groselha-Do-Peru Tomateiro Inglês Sudan : Habwa ( Arabic ) Tongan : Ku‘Usi Quecha : Aguaymanto, Topotopo Slovenian : Perujsko Volčje Jabolko Hawaiian : Pa‘Ina, Poha South Africa : Cape Gooseberry, Golden Berry Mexico : Cereza Del Peru
Description	Physalis is a smooth berry which looks like a small, round yellowish tomato. It is sub-globose berry, 1.25–2 cm diameter, each enclosed in a bladder like husk which will become papery on maturity. It is green while young turning to a smooth, glossy, golden –yellow to orange when ripe with many tiny (2 mm diameter) yellowish, flat seeds surrounded in the juicy palatable pulp.
Plant Growth Habit	Herbaceous or soft-wooded, perennial somewhat vining plant
Growing Climate	Sunny, frost-free location, sheltered from strong winds
Soil	Well drained soil but does best on sandy to gravelly loam. Good crops are obtained on rather poor sandy ground
Plant Size	2 to 3 ft. (1.6-0.9 m) in height but occasionally may attain 6 ft (1.8) m
Branch	Ribbed, often purplish, spreading branches covered with fine hairs
Leaf	Nearly opposite, velvety, heart-shaped, pointed, randomly-toothed leaves 2 3/8 to 6 in (6-15 cm) long and 1 1/2 to 4 in (4-10 cm) wide
Flowering Season	Starts from June to August
Flower	Bell-shaped, nodding flowers form in the leaf axils. They are yellow in color with dark purple-brown spots in the throat, and cupped by a purplish-green, hairy calyx. Fruit buds are produced after 12 to 13 stem internodes are formed
Fruit shape & size	Sub-globose berry, 1.25–2 cm diameter, each enclosed in a bladder like husk which becomes papery on maturity
Fruit color	Green while young which turns to a shiny, smooth, golden –yellow to orange once ripe
Flesh Color	Golden –yellow to orange colored
Fruit Peel	Smooth, waxy, orange-yellow skin
Flavor/aroma	Slightly tart flavor
Fruit Taste	Sweet along with a pleasing grape-like tang. Husk is bitter and are unpalatable
Seed	Numerous tiny (2 mm diameter) yellowish, flat seeds
Varieties/Types	Giant, Giallo Grosso, Golden Berry, Edulis, Giant Poha Berry, Long Aston, Golden Berry
Season	During August to November
Major Nutrition	Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 3.92 mg (24.50%) Iron, Fe 1.4 mg (17.50%) Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 15.4 mg (17.11%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 0.154 mg (12.83%) Carbohydrate 15.68 g (12.06%) Phosphorus, P 56 mg (8.00%) Vitamin A 50 µg (7.14%) Protein 2.66 g (5.32%) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.056 mg (4.31%) Total Fat 0.98 g (2.80%) Calcium, Ca 13 mg (1.30%)
Health Benefits	Antioxidant benefits Protecting liver and kidney against fibrosis Healthy Pregnancy Relief of Arthritis Pain Cognitive Ability Cardiovascular functions Improves Eyesight
Calories in 1cup (145gm)	74 Kcal
Traditional Uses	It is used in folk medicine for dealing with diseases like hepatitis, dermatitis, malaria, rheumatism, asthma, and leukemia,. In India, Physalis peruviana is a common medicinal herb used by Muthuvan tribes living in the Shola forest regions against jaundice. Leaf decoction is taken as a diuretic and antiasthmatic in Colombia. Heated leaves are applied as poultices on inflammations in South Africa. To relieve abdominal ailments in children, Zulus administer the leaf infusion as an enema.
Precautions:	The unripe fruit is supposed to be toxic to some people. The plant is assumed to have caused illness and death in cattle in Australia.
How to Eat	Fruit Salads: Fruits can be consumed raw in fruit cocktails, fruit salads, in cooked dishes or even canned whole in syrup or processed into jams. Puddings, pies: The fruit is perfect for snacks as well as for making puddings, pies, sauces, jams, jellies, ice cream, preserves, chutneys and glazes for meat and seafood. Dessert: Fruits are stewed along with honey and consumed as dessert in Colombia. Rasin: The fruit can also dries into tasty “raisins”. British use the husk as a handle for dipping the fruit in icing. Fruits are also an attractive sweet whenever dipped in chocolate or other coatings or pricked and rolled in sugar.
Other Facts	Physalis is used as an ornamental plant.

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