a genus of annual or perennial grasses of the family Solanaceae. A distinguishing feature is the inflated calyx in which the fruit, a berry, develops. More than 100 species are found in tropical and subtropical regions, primarily in Central America and southeastern North America. Three wild species and several cultivated species occur in the USSR; the three most commonly cultivated species are P. peruviana, P. pubescens, and P. aequata.
P. peruviana is a perennial. Its stem is 70–100 cm high, and its leaves are cordate and tomentose. The flowers are small and solitary; there are brown spots at the base of the petals. The rounded-oval fruits are yellow-orange and weigh 5–12 g; their tartness and aroma are suggestive of strawberries. The fruits are eaten fresh and are used to make confectioneries. The plant is grown in southern parts of the USSR; the yield of fruit is small.
P. pubescens is an annual with trailing stems 50–80 cm long. The leaves are broad-oval and slightly crinkled. The small flowers are pale yellow with brown spots at the base of the petals. The yellow fruits are small, weighing less than 10 g; they are very sweet (resembling strawberries), aromatic, and sticky. They are used fresh and in confectioneries.
P. aequata, an annual measuring about 1 m in height, has elongate-oval leaves. The flowers are quite large; their coloration is yellow with dark purple spots at the base of the petals. The light yellow, green, or purple fruits range in shape from flat-rounded to oval. They weight 30–60 g. Varieties grown in the USSR are Moskovskii ranii, whose yellow fruits weigh 40–80 g and yield 200–300 quintals per ha; Gruntovoi gribovskii, whose yellow-green fruits weigh 35–60 g; and Konditerskii, whose green fruits weigh 30–50 g. The fruits are eaten fresh and in processed form (in marinades, “caviar,” and confectioneries); they are also used for pickling. The plants are propagated by seeds and seedlings.