Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, rhizomes deeply buried, stout, sparsely to ± densely pubes­cent, hairs dendroid-stelliform, to 1 mm. Stems erect to decumbent, branching at most nodes, proximal branches spreading and decumbent, 0.5–5 dm. Leaves sessile or petiolate; petiole 1/5 to as long as blade; blade orbiculate to broadly ovate or elliptic to spatulate, 1.5–8(–9) × 1–6(–8) cm, base truncate to attenuate, mar­gins coarsely dentate, sinuate, or entire. Pedicels 10–33 mm, 15–60 mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx (3.5–)5–9 mm, lobes 1.5–4 mm; corolla yellow with 5 dark purple-black spots, campanulate-rotate, (8–)10–16 mm; anthers yellow, rarely purple-tinged, not twisted after dehiscence, 2–5 mm. Fruiting calyces loosely enclosing berry, 10-ribbed, 15–35(–45) × 10–35 mm.

Distribution

c, sc United States, Mexico.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Physalis cinerascens var. cinerascens, Physalis cinerascens var. spathulifolia

Key

1	Leaf blades orbiculate to broadly ovate, 1–6(–8) cm wide, base truncate to slightly attenuate, margins dentate, sinuate, or entire; corolla limbs reflexed when fully open.	Physalis cinerascens var. cinerascens
1	Leaf blades elliptic to spatulate, 1–4 cm wide, base attenuate, margins entire; corolla limbs not reflexed when fully open.	Physalis cinerascens var. spathulifolia