Ethnobotany of the genus Physalis L. (Solanaceae) in the South American Gran Chaco Author Arenas, Pastor Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CEFyBO-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 16 (1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina. pastorarenas@yahoo.com.ar Author Kamienkowski, Nicolás Martín Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos, CEFyBO-CONICET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155, Piso 16 (1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina. text Candollea 2013 2013-12-01 68 2 251 266 journal article 3170 10.15553/c2012v682a9 d2046a1e-a3a5-46f6-ab00-906b77e825e5 2235-3658 5748008 Physalis pubescens var. hygrophila (Mart.) Dunal Annual herbaceous plant that reaches 1 m in height. Found in low-lying warm zones of South America, from Colombia to the north of Argentina , with the Gran Chaco being one of its areas of distribution. The name P. neesiana Sendtn. was usually used for identifications of this taxon, which has recently been reinterpreted ( TOLEDO & BARBOZA, 2005: 77 ). The Toba- Pilagá consume the ripe fruits raw. In the past, wherever it was abundant, the women would pick a good quantity and bring them home for family consumption. They report that in years past, the English missionaries belonging to the Anglican Church, who performed evangelical work with this ethnic group, used to make jams with these fruits. Physalis pubescens var. hygrophila (Mart.) Dunal ARGENTINA . Prov. Salta . Dpto Gral . San Martín : Misión Chaqueña “ El Algarrobal ”, 23º15 S 63º44 W , 25.II.1984 , Maranta & Arenas 561 ( BA ) [Wichí indians]. Dpto Rivadavia : Misión La Paz , 22º24 S 62º30 W , 24.I.1984 , Arenas 2694 ( BA ) [Choroti indians]; Misión San Patricio , 23º53 S 62º33 W , 3.I.1983 , Maranta & Arenas 339 ( BA ) [Wichí indians]. Prov. Formosa . Dpto Bermejo : Dr. G. Sayago , La Rinconada , 23º29S 61º34W , 7.VIII.1985 , Arenas 2978 ( BA ) [Toba-pilagá indians]. Physalis pubescens var. hygrophila (Mart.) Dunal “kaaní hi’toi” [Choroti indians]; “qochi’maGañik” [Toba-pilagá indians]; “yesteh’lhuy”, “wi’yes te’lhui”, “p’oh p’oh” [Wichí indians].