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The Strawberry tomato (Physalis grisea) belongs to Solanaceae (the Nightshade family). It is an annual herb that is native to the eastern United States, from Wisconsin south to Florida. This herb grows in arid grasslands and waste grounds, and can reach 45-70 cm in height. The leaves are ovate or cordate, serrated and tomentose. The pale yellowish-brown flowers bloom from July to September. The corolla has five brown mottles on the inside. The fruit is enveloped with bursiform calyx, ripen in yellow and dropped. The fruit has mango smell, sour flavor and it is used as food.
It is said that there are over 100 varieties of the Strawberry tomato, and their places of origin also vary by type. There seems to be quite a bit of misuse and confusion surrounding the scientific names of the Strawberry tomato.
In YList, Physalis grisea is the standard, while Physalis pubescens var. grisea, Physalis pruinosa, and Physalis greenei are listed as synonyms. However, in KEW Plants of the World Online, Physalis pubescens var. grisea is considered a synonym of Physalis viscosa and thus a separate species, Physalis pruinosa is treated as a separate species, and Physalis greenei is considered a synonym of Physalis crassifolia and thus a separate species.
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