The difference between false nightshade and lantern fruit

1. Leaf Difference

The leaves of Physalis are simple, alternate, herbaceous, about 4 to 15 cm long including the petiole, and about 1.5 to 7.5 cm wide. The tip of the leaf gradually becomes pointed, the base of the leaf is broadly wedge-shaped, and the edges have irregular serrations and are wavy.

The leaves of the lantern fruit are thick, broadly ovate or heart-shaped, 6 to 15 cm long, 4 to 10 cm wide, short and gradually pointed at the apex, and the base of the leaves is symmetrically heart-shaped. The leaves are entire or have a few inconspicuous sharp teeth. Both sides of the leaves are densely covered with soft hairs, and the petiole is about 2 to 5 cm long.

2. Flower Differences

The flowers of Pseudophyll are solitary in the leaf axils, are lavender in color, the calyx has five deep lobes, the base of the lobes is heart-shaped, the corolla is funnel-shaped, about 3 cm in diameter, and there are five purple patches inside the flower tube.

The flowers of the lantern fruit are solitary and axillary, with pedicels about 1.5 cm long. Its calyx is broadly bell-shaped, densely covered with soft hairs like the pedicels, about 7 to 9 mm long, and the lobes are lanceolate; the corolla is broadly bell-shaped, about 1.2 to 1.5 cm long, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, yellow with purple markings at the throat, and 5 lobes, which are nearly triangular.

3. Fruit Difference

The capsule of Physalis is spherical, about 2 cm in diameter, and is wrapped with 5 persistent sepals.

The berries of the cape gooseberry are about 1 to 1.5 cm in diameter and are yellow when ripe. The berries are covered with a thin papery calyx and are ovoid in shape, light green or light yellow.