physalis

noun

physa·​lis
ˈfīsələ̇s,
ˈfis-;
fīˈsalə̇s
1
capitalized : a large genus of low-growing chiefly American annual or perennial herbs (family Solanaceae) that have an angled campanulate corolla and an inflated and sometimes brightly colored calyx enclosing a fruit which is a greenish or yellow 2-celled globular berry and that include several plants which are cultivated for their edible fruit or their showy calyxes see cape gooseberry , chinese lantern plant , ground-cherry, strawberry tomato
2
plural -es : any plant of the genus Physalis

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, modification of Late Greek physallis Chinese lantern plant, from Greek, bladder, bubble

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Cite this Entry

“Physalis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physalis. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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