If these are in the Physalis genus, then yes, I think they are edible. These may commonly be known as Chinese lanterns and ground cherries, etc. Paul.

Usually one of the tomatillo types has a greenish paper like husk that tends to split open and turn tan color when they are usually ready to pick. If you have ones about the size of golf balls when the husk is removed, and the actual skin is green, it may be a tomatillo. The skins (not the paper like husks) also have an oil/sticky feel to them, and look similar to a small green tomato. I grew these many years ago, and never saw any new growth the next year. However, I also rototill my garden (zone 6) twice a year and use a fabric weed blocking mulch when I grow my garden. If they are becoming a noxious weed, you can try spraying with a weed killer when you see emerging plants. One type that also kills the roots. Continual picking of any berries or fruits can also reduce seeds from sprouting.

Get a possitive visual ID before eating your plant! There are many poisonous members of this family.

Here a quick note on Ground Cherry plants (Physalis pubescens): Plants are spreading and have much more hair on their leaves than tomatillos. The fruit is the size of a dime or a bit larger and is a dusky gold when ripe...it also falls to the ground when ripe, hence the name, "Ground Cherry".

There is another similar plant...Shoo-Fly plant. The flowers are blueish and not yellow like tomatillo and ground cherry. Often the stems will have a dark purplish-black tinge to them as will the husks. I believe this one not edible.

Yes, be very careful wrt wild edibles. Some are easy to ID and recognize, and some not. There are a lot of good books on wild edibles and wild plant identification. Get several, if you can (I know books are kinda expensive). If in doubt, don't eat.

One good way to ID it might be to dig one up and take it to your local extension service.

Also, learn the scientific names to avoid confusion.

We need a wild edibles forum on Gardenweb. Ya think?

Are the tomatillo and ground cherry in the nightshade family like belladonna, tomatoes etc?

I'm not sure. The leaves look similar to a pepper leaf. The tomatillo itself looks very similar to a tomato once the husk is removed. Maybe an expert can reply here..

Yes they are in the tomato family Solanaceae, as are some very poisonous plants like devil's apples (Datura spp.), tobacco (Nicotiana spp.) and the deadly poisonous Solanum dulcamara, so be careful.
By the way, tomatoes too are slightly toxic if eaten green and unripe.

Solanum dulcamara berries are edible when they are dead ripe, although children should not eat them, because they might still have enough alkaloids to hurt them. Likewise, black nightshade (S. nigrum) also has edible berries when they are dead ripe.

What color are the husks and the berries on this plant?

Ok the plants look just like the tomatillo plants. The only differences are that the plant has a stronger stalk and the leaves are darker green. They flower yellow Then turn to husks with berries inside. The husks on the berries are green as are the berries. The biggest difference is the berries dont grow like the tomatillo they stay very small like a pea. Also they spread very quickly. Any information would be helpfull. If these are poisonous I would like to get rid of them. If they are not I would like to let them spread.

I believe thats a ground cherry. As mentioned here, there are several tomatillos, some of which are very small. The husks will turn tan color after they totally ripen, then they tend to split open. The small berries inside are probably never going to get bigger like most tomatillos. If you find no use for them in making any foods, a good strong weed killer can be used. One that also kills the root. Continue to spray weed killer when you see more emerge. Usually after a single season of devoted spraying, they should stop. Just be vilulent in looking for more new growths. I grew a type that had fruits nearly the size of golf balls, and found them useful in salsas. Find out for sure if these are edible, then allow a few to ripen fully. Taste, and then decide which direction to take. If you have lots of room and they look 'pretty', let them spread, if not, and your looking for a more usful item in your garden, get rid of them.

Dig one up and take it to your county Cooperative Extension agent. If they can't identify it for sure, don't eat it; it's just not worth the risk. Those of us trying to identify it by reading a description are just guessing; you need a local expert to tell you for sure.

Oh, and post back here so we don't start worrying about whether you tried it and got sick!

don 't get rid of them too quickly - you are describing exactly something that I bought at a nursery on PURPOSE because I planted one last year and we all loved it. Gather the fruit that falls to the ground. Let the berries turn yellow - then eat them. To be sure, check it out first, but I'd bet my 6 ground-cherry plants on it!

Go to your local library and take a look at "The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers". A picture meeting your description is on photo number 273, and a written description is on page 803. The Latin name is (Physalis heterophylla), common name is Clammy Ground Cherry (there are several closely related species). The leaf and unripe berry, and probably the stalk as well, are loaded with poison alkaloids; the ripe berry (which should be yellow) is said to be edible. However, absolute identification should be made before eating any wild plant. This berry is enclosed in a green, inflated calyx, and is the size of a pea.
I had an unusual experience with this plant - I was raising tomato hornworms (yes, on purpose) both inside and out of doors. The ones outside were placed on a group of tomato plants. but some escaped to a small patch of ground cherries which were about three feet away. All of the hornworms on the tomato plants became infected by parasitic wasps, and NONE of those on the ground cherry became infected. This was attributed to the different alkaloids found in the ground cherry plant parts which were ingested by the caterpillars.

Taste the wild Physalis cautiously. The ones here in south Texas are sometimes too strong and get you in the back of the throat. I occasionally find some good ones if they are very ripe, but they ARE nightshades and some Physalis are moderately toxic.

I have ground cherries and before the last frost killed the plants they were delicious! Mine make fruits about the size of the end of a man's thumb...dime to quarter sized, and have very square stems like mints. And they DO HAVE TO BE COMPLETELY RIPE! But they will ripen fully on your windowsil, just like tamatoes. I was so excited when I found out what they were that I harvested a bunch of seeds...much easier than regular tomato seeds...and offered them on my trade list. I've had a couple takers so far and can't wait to see what they think. I'd be happy to send more to anybody that wants them for a SASBE. LMK

I was looking up what I identified in my yard as physalis wrightii, and I found some good info on these links:

http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Physalis+wrightii

http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/phpps/ipc/weedinfo/physalis.htm

The plant's leaves are identical to my tomatillo plant, and the flowers are also, in shape, but the color is cream with greenish yellow center. I measured the flower diameter, and anthers to an exact match. But I have not found out for certain if p. wrightii is indeed edible. Does anyone know?

I was looking up what I identified in my yard as physalis wrightii, and I found some good info on the attatched link, and at the PFAF site (Plants For A Future).

The plant's leaves are identical to my tomatillo plant, and the flowers are also, in shape, but the color is cream with greenish yellow center. I measured the flower diameter, and anthers to an exact match. But I want more proof for certain if p. wrightii is indeed edible. Does anyone know?

Here is a link that might be useful: California weeds