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Cape Gooseberry
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Cape Gooseberry
ntroduced Photo: Pravir Deshmukh
Common name: Cape Gooseberry, Goldenberry, Husk Cherry, Peruvian Ground Cherry, Poha, Poha Berry • Adi: Jojing-Belang • Assamese: কপাল ফুটা Kapal Phuta • Bengali: টেপাৰি Tepari • Dogri: पटाका टमाटर Pataka Tamatar, रसभरी Rasbhari, टमाटर चेरी Tamatar Chery • Gujarati: મોટી પોપટી Moti Popti • Hindi: बमभुटका Bambhutka, चिरपोटी Chirpoti, पटपोटनी Patpotni, रसभरी Rasbhari, मकोय Makoy • Kannada: ದೊಡ್ಡ ಬೊಂಡುಳ ಗಿಡ Dodda Bondula Gida, ದೊಡ್ಡ ಬುಡ್ಡೆ ಗಿಡ Dodda Budde Gida, ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗುಪ್ಪಟ್ಟೆ ಗಿಡ Dodda Guppatte Gida • Karbi: নিহাং বক বক Nihang Bokbok • Konkani: ಚಿರಿಪುಟ್ಲ Chiriputla • Malayalam: കരിമ്പൊട്ടി Karimpotti, മലതക്കാളിക്കീര Malathakkaalikkeera, പൊട്ടപ്പാലച്ചെടി Pottappalachedi • Marathi: पोपटी Popti • Mizo: Puarpep • Nepali: इश्मगोल Ishmagol, जंगली मेवा Jangali Mewaa, रसभरी Rasabharee • Nyishi: Donam As • Odia: ଡଙ୍କାରୀ Dankari, ଟିପାରି Tipari • Rajasthani: बडी चिरपोटी Badi Chirpoti, चिरपोटण Chirpotan • Tagin: Donam As • Tamil: பெரியதக்காளி Periya-Takkali • Tangsa: Tungnyai • Telugu: బుడమ Budama, బుడ్డబూషర Buddabusara, బూసరకాయ Busarakaaya, పాముబుడ్డ Paambudda • Tulu: ಬೊಂಡೊಲಿ Bondoli Source: Names of Plants in India
Botanical name: Physalis peruviana    Family: Solanaceae (Potato family)
Synonyms: Physalis tomentosa, Physalis puberula, Physalis latifolia

Cape gooseberry is a perennial, somewhat vining plant usually reaching 2-3 ft. in height. Under good conditions it can reach 6 ft, but will need support. The purplish, spreading branches are ribbed and covered with fine hairs. Oppositely arranged leaves are heart-shaped, 2.5-6 inches long. Flowers are bell-shaped, nodding, and arise in leaf axils. They are yellow in color with dark purple-brown spots in the throat, and cupped by a purplish-green, hairy sepal cup. Fruit buds are produced after 12-13 stem internodes are formed. After the flower falls, the calyx expands, forming a straw-colored husk much larger than the fruit enclosed. The fruit is a berry with smooth, waxy, orange-yellow skin and juicy pulp containing numerous very small yellowish seeds. Cape gooseberry is native to South America, but was widely cultivated in South Africa.

Identification credit: Pravir Deshmukh Photographed in Arunachal Pradesh & Delhi.

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