Clammy Groundcherry
Physalis heterophylla
Family: Solanaceae
What it is like
A small plant that keeps growing from year to year. It grows 50 cm tall. It has a stout rhizome or underground stem. The stems are erect and hairy. The leaves have glandular hairs. The leaves are 6 cm long by 5 cm wide. They are almost heart shaped with a few irregular coarse teeth along the edge. The flowers occur singly. They are yellow and funnel shaped. They are purple at their base. The fruit are yellow when ripe and contain many seeds. The fruit are 3 cm long by 2.5 cm across. They are enclosed in a papery husk.
There are about 75-100 Physalis species.
Where it is found
It is a cool temperate plant. It grows in fields and open places. It suits hardiness zone 3.
Countries/locations it is found in
Canada, North America, USA
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They can be made into pies, jams, sauces, syrup, preserves or soup. (Pectin must be added when making jam.) Dried fruit can be ground into meal and used in bread. The dried fruit are stored for later use.
Edible parts
Fruit