ground cherry
Noun: 1. A type of plant: Any of numerous plants belonging to the genus Physalis, characterized by their annual or perennial herbaceous growth and distinctive fruit. The fruit is an edible, fleshy berry that is fully enclosed and protected by a papery, lantern-like husk (a calyx) that resembles a bladder. 2. The fruit of such a plant: The small, often yellow-orange berry itself, which is edible and has a sweet-tart flavor. Common species include the Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) and the tomatillo (Physalis philadelphica).
- Noun (Plant):
- The ground cherry is easy to grow in a sunny garden.
- Several species of ground cherry are native to the Americas.
- Noun (Fruit):
- I harvested a bowl of ripe ground cherries from the vine.
- The ground cherry has a unique, tropical taste that is perfect for jams and desserts.
- Botanical Context: In botanical and horticultural writing, "ground cherry" is used to specify plants within the genus, often distinguishing them from similar nightshade family plants.
- The study focused on the germination rates of three different ground cherry cultivars.
- Physalis (n): The scientific genus name for ground cherries.
- Cape gooseberry (n): A common name for , a specific type of ground cherry.
- Husk cherry (n): Another common name for the fruit, referring to its papery covering.
- Tomatillo (n): () A specific type of ground cherry essential in Mexican cuisine, typically used green in salsas and sauces.
- Chinese lantern (n): () A related ornamental species grown for its bright orange-red husks.
- Husk tomato: (Informal) Highlights the fruit's tomato-like appearance and papery husk.
- Strawberry tomato: (Regional) Refers to the small, often sweet fruit.
The term "ground cherry" can refer broadly to the entire plant or specifically to its fruit. The defining characteristic is the papery, inflated husk (the calyx) that surrounds the berry. While many species produce sweet fruit for eating fresh, others, like the tomatillo, are used in savory cooking. Some inedible species are grown purely for ornamental purposes.
- any of numerous cosmopolitan annual or perennial herbs of the genus Physalis bearing edible fleshy berries enclosed in a bladderlike husk; some cultivated for their flowers