Scientific Name
Physalis spp.
Common Name
Ground cherry, Jerusalem cherry, Chinese lantern, strawberry tomato

HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

Characteristics

Family
Solanaceae
Plant Description
Perennial herbs, often much branched and spreading at the top; leaves alternate, simple, smooth margined or irregularly toothed; flowers axillary, nodding, 5-parted, bell- or funnel-shaped, yellowish; fruit a globose yellow, red, purple, or blue-black berry surrounded by a papery sac.
Origin
USA, NC, South America.
Distribution
Throughout.
Where Found
Weedy in disturbed areas, naturalized; forest or natural area, in thin woodlands and sandy, open areas; landscape in vegetable gardens and flower gardens as cultivated annual herbaceous plant.
Mode
Ingestion.
Poisonous Part
Unripe berries and leaves.
Symptoms
Headache, stomach pain, lowered temperature, dilated pupils, vomiting, diarrhea, circulatory and respiratory depression, loss of sensation; may be fatal.
Edibility
EDIBLE PARTS: Ripe fruits edible and some used to make jelly, jams, preserves, sauces, or pies. HARVEST TIME: Only collect fruit from areas you know have NOT been treated with pesticides. Collect during late July or August. SAFE HANDLING PROCEDURES: Wash cherries thoroughly with warm water. Do not use dish detergent or any type of sanitizer. These products can leave a residue on the surface of the cherry. Wild cherries can be eaten raw or cooked. Use in place of domestic cherries. SOURCE: Crowhurst, A. 1972. The Weed Cookbook. Lancer Books, Inc. New York, 190 pp.
Toxic Principle
Solanine and other solanidine alkaloids.
Severity
HIGHLY TOXIC, MAY BE FATAL IF EATEN!

"Poisonous Plants of North Carolina," Dr. Alice B. Russell, Department of Horticultural Science; Dr. James W. Hardin, Botany; Dr. Larry Grand, Plant Pathology; and Dr. Angela Fraser, Family and Consumer Sciences; North Carolina State University. All Pictures Copyright @1997Alice B. Russell, James W. Hardin, Larry Grand. Computer programming, Miguel A. Buendia; graphics, Brad Capel.

Disclaimer: The list of poisonous plants on this web site does not necessarily include every poisonous plant that is known, or that might be found in an urban landscape or home. North Carolina State University does not advise eating any of the plants included in this web site. The information concerning edibility is taken from the literature, and the degree of reliability is unknown. We discourage the use of any of these plants for self medication. In cases of accidental exposure or ingestion, contact the Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

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