Physalis, Berries In The Hood

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Physalis, a relative of such representatives of the Solanovy family respected by Russians as Tomato, Potatoes, Eggplant, Capsicum (capsicum), has not yet managed to take its rightful place in Russian gardens, although it is the largest genus of this plant family. One of the reasons is Physalis's love for warmth, and another reason lies in ignorance of the useful abilities of the plant's fruits, hiding from the outside world in a pretty little case

Naturally, among the four hundred species of Physalis, there is a place for plants with different abilities, useful or dangerous to humans. But, for many thousands or millions of years, people have managed to cultivate several types of Physalis, which give them delicious and healing berries. Today, South and Central America is considered the birthplace of Physalis, although geologists find the seeds of plants of this genus in various parts of the planet, including in Siberia, where the seeds have been preserved in rocks belonging to the “Miocene” on a geochronological scale, practically, to our neighbor in time of existence of the earth's land, which began 23 million years ago, and ended only some 5 million years ago. Five million years for the earth's land is an instant, given its age of 4,600 million years.

Physalis ordinary or Chinese lanterns

Physalis ordinary (Latin Physalis alkekengi) is one of the species of the genus that can be found almost anywhere in the world. Unlike most of his relatives, he calmly endures even Siberian frosts, decorating autumn gardens with his bright red-orange lanterns, for which the genus of plants got its Latin name "Physalis". After all, it is based on a consonant Greek word meaning "bubble".

Physalis ordinary, thanks to its hardy and branched root, is a perennial plant. This Latin American alien behaves quite aggressively, quickly conquering territory. Nagging roots like to present surprises, stretching far from the original planting site and showing tops in the most unexpected places for a gardener, including Physalis, an ordinary one, likes to run away on the other side of the fence, decorating the roadsides of village roads.

The berries of this species are not only inedible, but even toxic, and therefore they are grown as an ornamental plant. A very picturesque house of intergrown sepals is building a plant for its fruit-berry. Bright lanterns retain their shape and color for several years, and therefore are suitable for winter bouquets.

In the countries of East Asia, the dried fruit of Physalis vulgaris is used as an antiseptic, diuretic, sedative and hepatic agent.

Physalis Peruvian or Cape Gooseberry

Unlike the previous species, Physalis Peruvian (Latin Physalis peruviana) is a thermophilic plant, and therefore in a cold climate it can grow only in greenhouses. In English-speaking countries, the plant is called "Cape gooseberry", which in Russian texts is written as "Cape gooseberry". I would make another translation of this name - "Gooseberry in the hood". If the word "gooseberry" is really similar to the word "gooseberry", then the word "Cape" is "cape", "cloak", "cape", "hood" … It indicates the sepals of the flower, which, after pollination, stretch and grow together, forming a protective structure for the berry, similar to traditional Chinese paper lanterns or a dull hood.

Physalis Peruvian's “hood” is not red, but light, I would say, light coffee, and the fruit hiding under it resembles a smooth gooseberry or grape. This fruit is not just edible, but has healing powers. Physalis Peruvian berries are very popular in many countries with warm climates, as well as in the United States. In Egypt, for example, on the fertile lands of the Nile Valley, Peruvian Physalis has been grown since ancient times. It is said that the Egyptian pharaohs used the berries as an effective tonic and tonic. Today, the berry is sold right along with the "hoods" in Egyptian markets and in large supermarkets. So, the tonic became available not only to the pharaohs, but also to mere mortals.

Berries are eaten fresh, or used to make all kinds of sweets, including jam. The taste of the berries is pleasant, but fresh. Therefore, for jam, in addition to sugar, lemon and cinnamon are added to the berries.

Physalis berries are an important fruit in the fight against iron deficiency anemia. Berry juice is mixed with guava, strawberries, mangoes and oranges for a drink that strengthens erection in men.