Cape gooseberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Peruvian ground-cherry
• cape gooseberry
• Cape-Goosberry
• Cape-gooseberry
• Peruvian-cherry
• goldenberry
• gooseberry-tomato
• Cherry Tomato
• Gooseberry Tomato
• Love Apple
• Poha Berry
• Strawberry Tomato

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Physalis tuberosa
• Physalis edulis
• Physalis incana
• Physalis incana
• Physalis latifolia
• Physalis peruviana var. latifolia
• Boberella peruviana
• Physalis peruviana var. vulgaris
• Herschelia edulis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered as Solanales and placed in the family Solanaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation falls under the genus Physalis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing in Austria. It also has a documented range within the borders of Belgium. Finally, its distribution extends further east to include the Czechia-Slovakia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Physalis peruviana is characterized by its broad adaptability to diverse forest ecosystems and a significant vertical distribution across varying altitudes. It is commonly found inhabiting several distinct forest types, including Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (also known as Floresta Pluvial), and Floresta Ombrófila Mista. This species exhibits a wide elevational range, starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) and reaching a maximum altitude of 3700 m AMSL, with a mean elevation of approximately 1700 m AMSL. This expansive altitudinal gradient allows the plant to occupy a variety of ecological niches, from lowland tropical environments to high-altitude montane zones.

Elevational range max:

3700 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, Floresta Ombrófila (= Floresta Pluvial), Floresta Ombrófila Mista

Genetics

The genetics of Physalis peruviana are characterized by a complex chromosomal architecture that reflects varying levels of polyploidy within different populations. The species exhibits a chromosome number that can manifest as 24, 48, or 72, indicating a significant capacity for genome doubling and polyploidization processes. While much of the studied genetic variation centers around a diploid ploidy level of 2, the presence of higher chromosomal counts suggests that the plant utilizes autopolyploidy or allopolyploidy as a mechanism for evolutionary adaptation and phenotypic diversity.

Chromosome number :

24,48,72

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Physalis peruvianana is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, its perennable buds are situated at or just below the soil surface, providing a survival mechanism against varying environmental conditions. The plant exhibits variable deciduousness, meaning its foliage patterns may change depending on the specific climatic circumstances or seasonal shifts it encounters. This combination of a perennial nature and a hemicryptophytic life form enables the species to maintain a stable presence in its habitat while adapting its vegetative state to the surrounding ecology.

Deciduousness :

variable

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Physalis peruviana is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit rather than acting as a liana or vine, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.945 m. As a strictly terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior or aquatic adaptations.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.945 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Physalis peruviana is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy typical of plants growing in temperate to subtropical environments where carbon fixation occurs primarily during the day through the Calvin cycle. The vegetative structure features non-succulent leaves that are morphologically elliptic in form. These leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with a mean length of 10.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a maximum of 15 cm) and a mean width of 6.5 cm (ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 10 cm). The plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 445.5 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its efficiency in light interception relative to its biomass. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on available soil nitrogen to support its physiological processes and growth.

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

15 cm

Leaf length mean:

10.5 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

10 cm

Leaf width mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf width min:

4 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

445.5 cm²/g

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Physalis peruviana is characterized by sexual processes through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically occurs between June and July, featuring yellow flowers that range in width from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. The pollination syndrome is biotic, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant produces indehiscent yellow berries. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length and width of 1.375 cm, a minimum of 1 cm, and a maximum dimension of 3.5 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width. Each fruit contains a significant number of seeds, typically ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per berry. The seeds themselves are small, with a mean length of 1.75 mm (ranging from 1.75 mm to 2 mm) and a mean mass of approximately 0.0008498335 g (ranging from 0.00081 g to 0.0009 g). Dispersal is achieved via a zoochorous syndrome, specifically through endozoochory, where the seeds are distributed after being consumed by animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower width max:

2.5 cm

Flower width min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit colour :

yellow

Fruit length max:

3.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.375 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width max:

1.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.375 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

2 mm

Seed length mean:

1.75 mm

Seed mass max:

9e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0008498335 g

Seed mass min:

0.00081 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Physalis peruviana has 4 reported plant parts identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, root, stem.

Fruit

1. Current nutrition reports
2. Pharmaceutical biology
3. Molecular nutrition & food research
4. Journal of dietary supplements
5. Biomaterials advances

Leaf

1. Planta medica

Root

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Stem

1. Planta medica

Chemicals

Physalis peruviana has 68 reported phytochemicals identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Withanolides, Flavonoids, PHYSALOLACTONE, Withanolide S, Withaperuvin C.

Withanolides

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Frontiers in plant science
3. Journal of dietary supplements
4. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of dietary supplements
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

PHYSALOLACTONE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pharmaceutical biology

Withanolide S

1. Dr. Duke
2. Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health : a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health

Withaperuvin C

1. Dr. Duke
2. Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health : a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health

4-Deoxyphysalolactone

1. Dr. Duke

4beta-Hydroxywithanolide E

1. Dr. Duke

Arachidic acid

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Physalis peruviana has 438 reported activities identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antihepatotoxic, Antiinflammatory, Antipyretic.

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud
3. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Molecular nutrition & food research

Antihepatotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedica : revista del Instituto Nacional de Salud

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Physalis peruviana has 19 reported investigations on conditions identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, colon cancer, oxidative damage, antioxidant, arthritis.

Cancer

1. Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health : a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health
2. Current nutrition reports
3. Pharmaceutical biology
4. Biomaterials advances
5. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Colon cancer

1. Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health : a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health
2. Molecular nutrition & food research

Oxidative damage

1. CNS & neurological disorders drug targets
2. Frontiers in chemistry

Antioxidant

1. Molecular nutrition & food research

Arthritis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Breast cancer

1. Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health : a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health

Cadmium

1. Current drug targets

Fibrosis

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Glioblastoma

1. Hawai'i journal of medicine & public health : a journal of Asia Pacific Medicine & Public Health

Inflammation

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Preparations

Physalis peruviana has 12 reported preparations identified across 10 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Water extract, acetone-dehydrated fruit extract, crude aqueous extract, ethanol extract, ethanolic extract of fresh fruits.

Water extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Acetone-dehydrated fruit extract

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Crude aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ethanolic extract of fresh fruits

1. Frontiers in chemistry

Extracts

1. Journal of helminthology

Hexane extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hot water extract

1. Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

Plant extract

1. Journal of dietary supplements

Plant extracts

1. Current drug targets