Native gooseberry
Physalis minima

Family: Solanaceae

What it is like

An erect or spreading branched herb. It is an annual plant. The roots are fibrous. The leaves are alternate and entire and covered with soft downy hairs. They have irregular teeth along the edge. They are 2-3 cm long and 1-1.5 cm wide. They are pale green. The stems are round or nearly so. The flowers are yellow with the inner ring of petals bell shaped. These are sometimes purple at the base inside. The fruit is a round berry about 6 mm across. It is completely surrounded by an inflated calyx. This is 5 angled.

There are about 75-100 Physalis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. They are common in waste places at low altitudes up to 1600 m in the Babuyan Islands and from northern Luzon to Mindanao and Palawan in the Philippines. It grows in southern China on slopes between 1000-1800 m. altitude. It grows in wetlands. It can grow in arid places. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Benin, Brunei, Central Africa, China, Congo DR, East Africa, Fiji, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Micronesia, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Niue, Northeastern India, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, SE Asia, Sikkim, Socotra, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Tuvulu, Uganda, USA, Vietnam, Wallis & Futuna, West Africa, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The ripe fruit are eaten raw. They are also preserved. The leaves are eaten cooked.

They are mostly eaten by children.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, seeds

How it is grown

In Northeastern India fruit are available February to March.

Its other names

Local names

Ajja kotte, Amansit, Ban tipariya, Batepari, Bauk-pin, Bon tepari, Budda budama, Chalpang-puak, Chechendet, Cheplukan, Chipluan, Chirboti, Chirpoti, Chutia handi, Ciplukan, Dhan mori, Etagoli lodidi, Fotka, Futka, Gudde hannu, Jojing nbelang, Kamoni, Kedicahu, Kongo ogwal-ogwal, Kopal phuta, Kupanti, Kuttythakkali, Leletup, Letup-letup, Manini, Motampuli, Njodi-njotta, Pakmou, Pako tipai, Papotan, Parpoti, Phakphake, Phuga, Pini, Pipat, Pokmou, Pon-pon, Popte, Popti, Ran popati, Sodakkuthakali, Sunberry, Tepari, Thaitho, Thaitu, Tholtakkali, Tongogwal matino, Tulatipati, Tungnyai ri, Tunutunu, Ubat pekong, Vejiga de perro, Xiao suan jiang

Synonyms

Physalis angulata Linnaeus var. villosa Bonati; Physalis eggersii O. E. Schulz; Physalis lagascae Roemer & Schultes; Physalis lagascae Roem. & Schult. var. glabrescens O. E. Schulz; Physalis parviflora R. Brown; Physalis indica Lamk.;