Physalis angulata aka Cutleaf Groundcherry

Physalis angulata is called cutleaf ground cherry. It belongs to the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its native range spans tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas. It now grows across many warm regions beyond that range. People gather wild plants for food and grow them for fruit. Sellers offer the fruit in local markets in Mexico. The IUCN listed the species as Least Concern in 2017.

This annual grows upright from a taproot and forms spreading branches. Garden references give heights around 2.5–2.6 feet [0.75–0.8 metres]. A broader account reports 0.3–6.6 feet [0.1–2 metres]. Some lower stems lie along the ground and root at nodes. Narrow-leaved plants can be hard to identify without flowers. Plants carry leaves from May to October in the PFAF account. They flower from July to September in that same account. Each flower has both male and female organs. Insects pollinate the flowers, though Useful Tropical Plants reports no self-fertility.

The fruit can reach about 1.2 inches [0.03 metres] across. Each fruit develops within a calyx that forms a papery cover. This cover helps shield it from pests and weather. The fruit has juicy flesh and a mildly sour taste. PFAF lists fruit for eating fresh or cooked. It also records cooked young leaves as a food. The calyx is toxic and must not be eaten. The leaf-use entry includes a caution, so it is not an assurance of safety.

Grow this plant in sun or light shade. It prefers moist soil that drains well. Sandy, loamy, and clay soils can all support it. It also accepts mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soil. Wild plants occur beside woods, in thickets, and on disturbed ground. Rich soil suits it, and cultivated beds provide a growing site. PFAF advises sowing seed under glass in March or April. Cover the seed with only a thin layer of soil. Move plants outdoors after the last expected frost.

Its main garden use is as a fruit crop. Traditional medicine uses include fever, cough, and stomach complaints. These records describe use, not proof that treatments work. The plant can become an invasive weed in warm regions. It can host tomato bacterial spot and several crop viruses. Root-knot nematodes also use it as a host. These risks matter where gardeners grow it near food crops.