Um, that I don't know. I'm the guy that passed Genetics in college ONLY by virtue of the fact it was a giant, herd class of over 500 people and was graded on a curve, so statistically, someone HAD to do worse than I did, just by virtue of the fact that, while I didn't understand a hoot of it past Mendel's peas, I at least bothered to show up MOST of the time. What I do know, which is limited, is that most of the blossoms on tomatoes, peppers, ground cherries, eggplants, and other members of that plant family are self-pollinating, and don't generally cross with each other without some intent and effort on the part of the grower. I'm sure it can and does happen, but not too often from what I've read. I'm sure somebody who knows more about it will come along. Or, you could try posting the question on the Tomato forum and I'm sure you'd get a concrete answer pretty quickly.

Yes, you are absolutely correct, it's not a Physallis at all, although it is a relative. What you have there is not a Cape Gooseberry, it's Nicandra physalloides, common name "Shoo-fly plant" This Physallis relative is native to S. America, grows up to six feet tall, and bears the dry, physallis-like pods you see on your plants. It' often grown as an ornamental, and the branches of pods, once dried, do make a nice accent in floral work. The plant itself is toxic, and can be used to make insecticide teas or powders similar to rotenone, or so it's claimed. However, when I've grown it, I've found it susceptible to whitefly, so I question how insecticidal it may be -- perhaps it depends on the pest species.

If you look at the Native indicator on the USDA site, an "N" denotes a Native species, an "I" would indicate an Introduced species. Physalis heterophylla is determined to be a Native species. Rb Here is a link that might be useful: plants.usda/Physalis heterophylla

I won't pester you guys anymore after this post but wanted to tell you I tasted my first ever ground cherry (from an Aunt Molly's plant) and it was very good. It did have a bit of a citris tingle and a bit of a pineapple taste but I'd have to say it is unique in the taste department. It was sweet tasting and I didn't notice an after taste. I think it has a taste kids would go for. I also think this plant would be ideal for children to watch grow and then to harvest the cherries after they've fallen from the plant. Peeling the little paper like covering off of the cherry would be something young children would enjoy doing. The fruits are very small, so it would take a lot to make a pie. However, the plant sets a lot of little fruits so if you had the space to grow several plants, that would make a big difference. I remember reading that some growers felt they could harvest 300 or so from one plant and after watching this one grow and set fruit, I don't doubt it. My little plant is growing in a pot. I don't know if growing it in ground would cause the fruits to be bigger. I have very limited sunlight hence the pot, so I could move it around. My original thought was to try and grow it in my small greenhouse, thinking it would enjoy the heat but I don't know how hot the house will get when the daytime temps climb. I do have a shade cloth over the house and it does get some limited shade until about noon. Of course, afternoons are the hot time of the day so I'm skeptical about being able to grow them in there during the summer. Might try just for the lesson learned. I hope you all have great success with your Ground Cherries this summer. Mary