Greenleaf Five Eyes

Chamaesaracha coronopus

Physical Characteristics

Chamaesaracha coronopus is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in). See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

Distribution

Western N. America.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

The berries are extremely poor in flavour, dry, seed-dense, and potentially toxic. No part of the plant offers safe or worthwhile food value. Greenleaf five-eyes should be considered a non-edible species despite occasional outdated references suggesting otherwise [2-3]. Fruit[46, 161]. Edible Uses & Rating: Although sometimes listed as “edible” in older or superficial foraging references, the fruits of greenleaf five-eyes are overwhelmingly rated as unsafe or unpalatable. Their acrid and bitter flavor, combined with the near certainty of digestive upset in some individuals, makes them entirely unsuitable as a food source. The remainder of the plant is not edible. In practical terms, greenleaf five-eyes should be considered a non-food species for modern foragers, with an edibility rating near the lowest possible. Its value as a wild edible is effectively negligible [2-3]. Taste, Processing & Kitchen Notes: Ripe berries of greenleaf five-eyes are unpleasant from the first bite. Fresh fruits taste strongly acrid, bitter, and notably devoid of sweetness. Their texture is dry, with only a thin skin surrounding a mass of seeds. Cooking does nothing to reduce the bitterness or dryness; the unpleasant flavour simply becomes warm rather than raw. The calyx fits tightly around the berry, making preparation tedious even if the berries were somehow desirable. Because the fruit chemistry includes compounds similar to solanine and other nightshade glycoalkaloids, processing methods such as boiling or roasting are ineffective at neutralising toxins and do not produce a safe or palatable food. In short, there are no practical kitchen uses for this plant [2-3]. Seasonality (Phenology): Greenleaf five-eyes has an extended growing season in the desert Southwest, flowering and fruiting from April through October. Because rainfall patterns strongly influence growth cycles, plants in favourable conditions may bear fruit nearly year-round. The berries ripen gradually, often with earlier fruits exposed beyond the calyx and later fruits maturing deeper within it. As berries ripen, they become increasingly dry rather than sweeter, making “perfectly ripe” stages irrelevant in culinary contexts. Safety & Cautions (Food Use): Because greenleaf five-eyes belongs to the nightshade family and contains solanine-like compounds, all berries should be considered potentially toxic. Consumption may cause digestive upset or more serious symptoms in sensitive individuals. The berries’ unpleasant flavour provides a natural deterrent, but foragers should avoid experimenting with them. No traditional processing techniques are known that render the berries safe or palatable, and no part of the plant should be considered reliable food. Harvest & Processing Workflow: For ethical and safety reasons, harvesting is not recommended. If berries are collected for documentation or botanical study, the calyx must be peeled back to expose the fruit, a tedious process due to its tight fit. Because berries dry out quickly and provide almost no flesh, there is no practical workflow for food preparation. Foragers should avoid collecting them for consumption. Look-Alikes & Confusion Risks: Five-eyes species may superficially resemble small groundcherries (Physalis spp.), especially to inexperienced foragers. However, groundcherries possess inflated papery husks (true lantern-like calyces) that fully enclose the fruit, whereas greenleaf five-eyes has only a partially enclosing calyx that remains tight and does not form a lantern. Furthermore, groundcherries typically ripen to yellow or orange, with soft, sweet, aromatic fruits. In contrast, five-eyes fruits remain pale, dry, and unpalatable. Because misidentification could lead to consuming unsafe berries, foragers must pay close attention to the calyx structure, fruit appearance, and leaf form. Traditional / Indigenous Use Summary: There is no documented traditional food use of greenleaf five-eyes among Indigenous groups of the Southwest. Its poor flavour, minimal fruit pulp, and potential toxicity almost certainly excluded it from intentional harvest. Ethnobotanical literature is nearly silent on its cultural uses, suggesting that the plant held little practical value beyond being a common component of desert flora.

Medicinal Uses

The plant has been used to treat swellings[257].

Known Hazards

Because greenleaf five-eyes belongs to the nightshade family and contains solanine-like compounds, all berries should be considered potentially toxic. Consumption may cause digestive upset or more serious symptoms in sensitive individuals. The berries’ unpleasant flavour provides a natural deterrent, but foragers should avoid experimenting with them. No traditional processing techniques are known that render the berries safe or palatable, and no part of the plant should be considered reliable food.