Are Lycium Barbarum and Physalis Angulata in the same botanical family?

Yes — both belong to Solanaceae.

Can you substitute Lycium Barbarum for Physalis Angulata?

They share the Solanaceae family, so they can sometimes substitute in recipes — with notable differences in aroma.

Compare · per-herb profile

Lycium Barbarum vs Physalis Angulata

Lycium barbarum · Physalis angulata

Lycium Barbarum

Lycium barbarum

T Traditional Use

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Lycium
Primary use: medicinal

Lycium barbarum is a shrub native to China, with present-day range across Asia and southeast Europe. It is one of two species of boxthorn in the family Solanaceae from which the goji berry or wolfberry is harvested, the other being Lycium chinense.

Physalis Angulata

Physalis angulata

T Traditional Use

Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Physalis
Primary use: medicinal

Physalis angulata is an erect herbaceous annual plant belonging to the nightshade family Solanaceae. Its leaves are dark green and roughly ovate, often with serrate margins. The flowers are five-sided and pale yellow; the yellow-orange fruits are borne inside a balloon-like calyx…

At a glance

· Both in Solanaceae, but different genera (Lycium vs Physalis).
· Both are primarily medicinal.
· Evidence tiers — Lycium Barbarum: T; Physalis Angulata: T.