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The Husk tomato (Physalis pubescens) belongs to Solanaceae (the Nightshade family). It is an anuual herb that is native to the southern half of the United States, Mexico, Central and much of South America. THis herb grows in many types of habitat, including disturbed areas, and it can reach about 60 cm in height. The leaves are ovate or heart-shaped and have smooth or toothed edges. The bell-shaped and about 1 cm across flowers bloom from the axils in summer. They are yellowish white with five dark spots in the throats, and fave five stamens tipped with blue anthers. The five-lobed calyx at the base of the flower enlarges as the fruit develops, becoming a lanternlike structure which contains the berry.
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