While out scouting and putting up a couple of trail cameras, I ran across a plant that I thought I recognized in the woods. I planted a couple of tomatillo plants in my garden this year, which I bought at a local feed store. The plant I found in the woods had very similar structure, very similar flowers and the little paper lantern looking husks hanging below. I picked one off and opened the husk to find a green, pea sized husk tomato. I squished it just to be sure... sticky... Yep! I found wild husk tomatoes, or tomatillos growing in a cottonwood stand along the river. Hopefully my tame ones are going to come through for me. I have lots of the paper lanterns, but several have dropped off before producing fruit inside. Here's a link to wykepedia to check them out. Strangely, the ones pictured (in wykepedia article) are much smaller than what I found and what I have in my garden. The ones in the woods were probably about 2 feet tall. The ones in my garden are closer to 3 feet tall.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis)
(http://www.tropicalplantbook.com/garden_plants/images/borders_new/New_Folder2/Physalis-ixocarpa-800.jpg)
I see them in the woods quite often around here. Never gave them a second thought. Are the wild ones edible ?
Once the husks turn brown, they should be ripe. They are edible. I have read articles that say if they have a bitter taste, don't eat them. They should have a tangy taste and make great salsa. I use the store-bought tomatillos to make a "salsa verde" with oven roasted tomatillos, jalapenos and garlic. Once they all have a slightly blackened crust on one side, turn them over and blacken the other. Throw them in a blender, then add finely chopped onion and cilantro to the blended mix when you pour it out.
OMG, I'm making myself hungry...