Physalis pubescens L.

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• downy ground-cherry
• low hairy ground-cherry
• Low Ground-cherry
• Husk-tomato
• ground-cherry
• strawberry-tomato

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Physalis nodosa
• Physalis obscura var. viscidopubescens
• Physalis neesiana
• Physalis obscura
• Physalis petiolaris
• Physalis ramosa
• Physalis turbinata
• Physalis subulata
• Physalis staminea
• Physalis foetens
• Physalis foetidissima
• Physalis decumbens
• Physalis latiphysa
• Physalis hylophila
• Physalis pubescens var. minutifolia
• Physalis pubescens var. hygrophila
• Physalis pubescens var. glabra
• Physalis barbadensis var. glabra
• Physalis floridana
• Physalis heterophylla var. timbo
• Physalis hirsuta var. integrifolia
• Physalis hirsuta var. barbadensis
• Physalis obscura var. glabra
• Physalis hirsuta var. repandodentata
• Physalis viscidopubescens
• Alicabon barbadense
• Boberella pubescens
• Physalis barbadensis var. obscura
• Physalis integrifolia
• Physalis pubescens var. integrifolia
• Alkekengi villosa
• Physalis miraflorensis
• Physalis hygrophila
• Physalis angustiloba
• Physalis brasiliensis
• Physalis obscura var. pubescens

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae, the order Solanales, and the family Solanaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Physalis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, it is found throughout Germany as well as in the Czechia-Slovakia region. The distribution extends into Southeastern Europe, where it inhabits the landscape of Albania. Finally, the plant is also recorded growing within the borders of Italy.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Physalis pubescens is characterized by its ability to thrive in highly disturbed environments, specifically within anthropic areas (Área Antrópica) where human activity has modified the landscape. This species demonstrates a broad vertical distribution, colonizing various terrains from sea level up to a maximum elevation of 1400 m AMSL. By occupying these human-influenced habitats, the plant leverages disturbed soils and open spaces, ranging from a minimum elevation of 0 m AMSL to its upper altitudinal limit, showcasing significant ecological plasticity across different topographical gradients.

Elevational range max:

1400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Physalis pubescens is characterized by its classification as an annual species, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant follows a specific survival strategy where the majority of its vegetative structure dies back at the end of the season, leaving only seeds to persist through unfavorable conditions to ensure the continuation of the next generation. This life form is further defined by its growth habit as a therophyte, which dictates its rapid seasonal development and reliance on seed dormancy to navigate environmental shifts.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Physalis pubescens is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial plant that grows independently, functioning neither as an epiphyte nor as a parasite. In terms of its stature, the plant is relatively low-growing, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.9 m, resulting in a mean plant height of approximately 0.50 m. Although it possesses a climbing habit, it is classified as self-supporting rather than a liana or a vine.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.9 m

Plant height mean:

0.5048037065 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Physalis pubescens is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency under varying environmental conditions. The plant's vegetative architecture includes leaves that exhibit significant morphological variability, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 8 cm. The width of these leaves also fluctuates, showing a mean measurement of 5.8 cm and reaching a maximum width of 6 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form, relying instead on available soil nutrients for its developmental processes.

Leaf length max:

8 cm

Leaf length min:

1 cm

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

5.8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Physalis pubescens is characterized by a biotic pollination process, specifically driven by an insect pollination syndrome. The flowering period typically commences in June and concludes in August. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a fleshy fruit categorized as a berry, which is indehiscent in nature. These fruits maintain an average width of approximately 1.3 cm. The dispersal of the species follows a zoochorous pattern, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed via the digestive tracts of animals. The resulting seeds are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.0012385 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0007 g to a maximum of 0.00193 g) and a consistent mean width of 1.75 mm. Furthermore, the seeds exhibit a uniform volume of 3.1 mm³.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

fleshy

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

1.3 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

0.00193 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0012385 g

Seed mass min:

7e-04 g

Seed volume max:

3.1 mm³

Seed width mean:

1.75 mm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Physalis pubescens has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include fruit, leaf, stem.

Fruit

1. Fitoterapia
2. Natural product research
3. International journal of molecular sciences

Leaf

1. Steroids

Stem

1. Steroids

Chemicals

Physalis pubescens has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Withanolides, Physapubescin, physaloside A.

Withanolides

1. Fitoterapia
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Steroids

Physapubescin

1. Scientific reports

physaloside A

1. Journal of natural products

Conditions

Physalis pubescens has 6 reported investigations on conditions identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, coughs, eczema, lymphoma, pemphigus.

Cancer

1. Natural product research

Coughs

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Eczema

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Lymphoma

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Pemphigus

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Sore throats

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Preparations

Physalis pubescens has 1 reported preparations identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include crude MeOH extract.

Crude meoh extract

1. Journal of natural products