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Re: Husk Tomato, etc.; Physalis revisited

> Just a bit confusing, this husky Physalis... so I consulted my
> books and seed catalogs. So far I found five specie in the genus
> Physalis that may be planted in the home garden:
>
> Physalis alkekengi      orn.    Chinese Lantern (many sources)
> Physalis ixocarpa       veg.    Tomatillo (many sources)
> Physalis peruviana      s.f.    Cape Gooseberry, Golden Tomatillo
> (Cook's) Physalis pruinosa       veg.    Husk Cherry, Ground Cherry,
> Husk Tomato,
>                                 Strawberry Tomato (Jonny's, Nichols)
> Physalis pubescens      ???     ???
>
> "orn." = ornamental, "veg." = vegetable, "s.f." = small fruit,
> "???" = use and common name unknown.
> Sources are given in parentheses for U.S. home garden seeds.
>
> A revision for the common names of Physalis pruinosa would be a good
> thing, I think. This is the Husk Tomato.
>
> There exist crosses between P. pruinosa and P. peruviana named
> "P. edulis", with bigger fruit, used as a small fruit (no american
> name or source found).
>
> Andreas


Aha!  Thanks very much to Andreas for this very informative data!  I
think the mystery has been partially solved now, because I
unexpectedly got a second copy of the Territorial catalog yesterday
(my original was lent out, so I couldn't peruse it) and I have
discovered that the catalog has botanical names in it although the
seed packet doesn't show any evidence of it (perhaps a suggestion to
Territorial would be to change their seed packets?).

According to my catalog, the husk tomato that they sell is Physalis
ixocarpa.

They also sell a "ground cherry", which is apparently "Solanum
melanocerasum".  Seems my mother is sending me some of the ground
cherry seeds since she heard me talk about the tomatillos...thought
it would be an interesting combination and learning experience for
me!  So now I will be seeing how these plants differ...providing they
make it to transplant stage (I sow seed indoors under light racks)
grow for me.

I am going to be sowing my seeds for some warm-weather crops this
weekend, such as tomatoes, peppers, the husk tomatoes, the ground
cherries (that my mother is giving to me), eggplants, etc.

Joan
cmathew@airmail.net
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/8098/
USDA gardening zone 7b (just north of Dallas, TX)
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