Physalis angulata

Aug 7 • Written by Carmin Nezat

Ground Cherry! Physalis sp. It is not documented which Physalis species was used by Cajun people but in  Louisiana, the native species is listed as Physalis angulata, Commonly known as cut-leaf ground-cherry,  lanceleaf groundcherry, Chinese lantern, and cow pops. It grows in pastures, roadsides, fields, and  disturbed ground throughout Louisiana and east Texas; the ripe fruit may be eaten raw or cooked and  tastes like a sweet tomato. The Healer’s Garden Brochure refers to this plant as “Poc Poc”, and  interestingly enough, “petit Poc Poc” originates from African French. The Acadian French name is  ’corqueret,’ which is also the standard French name; the genus name "Physalis" means ’plant with a  bladdery husk.’ Traditional Cajun application is a tea of the roots or leaves for stomachache and a  poultice of the roots or leaves for burns.  

It is in the Solanaceae family which is the nightshades-so the plants contain Solanine which is a toxic  alkaloid – so there is potential toxicity for people with nightshade allergies.  

There is documentation of various species of Physalis being used as food in addition to wound dressings  and stomachache aids much like the Cajun application; the Iroquois used a compound infusion of roots  and dried leaves of Physalis heterophylla Nees aka ”clammy groundcherry” as a wash for scalds and  burns and also taken as a purgative for bad stomach aches. The Ponca, Omaha and Winnebago applied  Physalis lanceolata Michx. (named by Andre Michaux in Flora Boreali-Americana in 1803) aka Lanceleaf 

Groundcherry (since renamed to Physalis angulata as lanceifolia and lanceolata are a variation of the plant but no longer used in taxonomy) -so the same species that grows in Louisiana (but a variation of the species perhaps with a few different characteristics as an adaptation to the climate)- as a decoction of root for stomach troubles and headaches and the root as a dressing for wounds.  

Clinical studies on Physalis angulata are extremely extensive so they will not be listed here, however in conclusion, phytochemical studies yield plant steroids Physalins with activity against numerous types of human and animal cancer cells; Studies have shown anti inflammatory, genotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-leishmanial (leishmanial parasites), immunomodulatory, molluscicidal, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-asthmatic properties. 

1 Physalis angulata (cutleaf groundcherry) (cabi.org)
2 Putokan physalis angulata, chinese lantern, cutleaf groundcherry / Medicinal herbs / Philippine  Alternative Medicine / / StuartXchange 
3 Plants of Louisiana (usgs.gov) Groundcherry. 
4 Healers-Garden-Brochure-Web.pdf (netdna-ssl.com) Ground cherry 
5 Herrick, James William, 1977, Iroquois Medical Botany, State University of New York, Albany, PhD  Thesis, page 430. BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database Physalis heterophylla Nees 
6 Gilmore, Melvin R., 1919, Uses of Plants by the Indians of the Missouri River Region, SI-BAE Annual  Report #33, page 113. BRIT - Native American Ethnobotany Database Physalis lanceolata Michx. 
7 Putokan physalis angulata, chinese lantern, cutleaf groundcherry / Medicinal herbs / Philippine  Alternative Medicine / / StuartXchange

Image 1 (https://wildsouthflorida.com/cutleaf.groundcherry.html)