Common groundcherry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Common groundcherry |
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| var. subglabrata | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Physalis
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| Species: |
longifolia
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Physalis longifolia, also known as the common groundcherry or wild tomatillo, is a cool plant that grows flowers and fruits. It belongs to the nightshade family, just like tomatoes and potatoes! This plant is originally from North America, found in places like eastern Canada, most of the United States, and northern Mexico. Sometimes, it can pop up in other areas where it wasn't originally found. In a few places, like California, it can even grow a bit too much and become a "weed" that farmers might not want.
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What Does It Look Like?
This plant is a perennial herb, which means it grows back every year. It usually gets about 20 to 60 centimeters (about 8 to 24 inches) tall. Its leaves are somewhat oval-shaped and are about 4 to 7 centimeters (about 1.5 to 2.7 inches) long. They grow on small stems called petioles.
The flowers grow where the leaves meet the main stem. They are shaped like bells and can be up to 2 centimeters (about 0.8 inches) wide. These flowers are bright yellow with purplish marks in the middle. After the flower, a berry grows, covered by a papery husk. This husk can be up to 3.5 centimeters (about 1.4 inches) long and has ten visible lines or "veins."
Different Types of Physalis longifolia
There are two main types, or varieties, of this plant:
- P. longifolia var. longifolia
- P. longifolia var. subglabrata (which is sometimes called P. subglabrata)
How People Use It
The yellow-green fruit of the Physalis longifolia is safe to eat! When it's fresh, some people say it tastes like a slightly bubbly, not-quite-ripe strawberry. If you dry the berry, it tastes like a mix between a raisin and a dried cranberry.
Food for Native American Groups
Long ago, many Native American groups used this fruit as food. The Puebloan peoples, for example, called the fruits charoka and shuma charoka. They would eat them fresh or cook them.
The Zuni people had a special name for this plant and a similar one: Ke’tsitokia. Zuni women often grew these plants in their home gardens. They would boil the tomato-flavored berries and grind them up with onion, coriander, and chilis to make a delicious dish. The fruit was also dried and mixed into flour to make bread. Even today, the Zuni use the common tomatillo (which is a close relative) in a sauce recipe that comes from these old traditions.
It's pretty easy to grow P. longifolia in gardens, and it produces tasty fruit!
