a beige husk fully enclosing the fruit. The fruit is a round, smooth berry, resembling a miniature yellow tomato wide. Removed from its calyx, it is bright yellow to orange in color, and sweet when ripe, with a characteristic, mildly tart grape-like flavor. A prominent feature is the inflated, papery calyx enclosing each berry. The calyx is accrescent until the fruit is fully grown; at first, it is of normal size, but after the petals fall, it continues to grow until it forms a protective cover around the growing fruit. If the fruit is left inside the intact calyx husks, its shelf life at room temperature is about 30–45 days. The calyx is inedible. Nutrition Raw cape gooseberries are 85% water, 11% carbohydrates, 2% protein, and 1% fat (table). In a reference amount of , raw cape gooseberries supply 53 calories and provide moderate levels (10-19% of the Daily Value) of thiamine, niacin, and vitamin C. Analyses of oil from different berry components, primarily its seeds, showed that linoleic acid and oleic acid were the main fatty acids, beta-sitosterol and campesterol were principal phytosterols, and the oil contained vitamin K and beta-carotene. Distribution and habitat The center of genetic diversity for Physalis peruviana is in the Andes mountains of Chile, Colombia, and Peru. It grows in forests, forest edges, and riparian areas. It grows at high elevations of in its native region, but may also be found at sea level in Oceania and Pacific islands where it occurs widely in subtropical and warm, temperate conditions. Its latitude range is about 45°S to 60°N, and its altitude range is generally from sea level to . The plant has become invasive in some natural habitats, forming thickets, particularly in Hawaii and on other Pacific islands. There are believed to be dozens of ecotypes worldwide that differentiated by plant size, calyx shape, and the size, color, and flavor of the fruit. Wild forms are thought to be diploid with 2n = 24 chromosomes, while cultivated forms include varieties with increased ploidy and 32 or 48 chromosomes. Cultivation It has been widely introduced into cultivation in tropical, subtropical, and temperate areas such as Australia, China, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines. P. peruviana thrives at an annual average temperature from , tolerating temperatures as high as . It grows well in Mediterranean climates and is hardy to USDA hardiness zone 8, meaning it can be