Physalis walteri
J. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 7: 112. 1834.
Illustrator:
Copyright:
Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, rhizomes deeply buried, stout, pubescent, hairs dendroid-stelliform, to 1 mm. Stems erect to decumbent, branching at most nodes, proximal branches spreading and decumbent, (0.5–)1.5–3(–4) dm. Leaves petiolate; petiole 1/5–1/3 blade; blade broadly elliptic to ovate (2–)3–7(–11) × 1.5–4(–7.5) cm, base rounded, margins entire, rarely irregularly shallowly sinuate. Pedicels 10–25(–30) mm, 15–35(–45) mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx 5–9 mm, lobes 2–4 mm; corolla yellow with 5 dark purple-brown spots, campanulate-rotate, 10–16 mm; anthers yellow, rarely purple-tinged, not twisted after dehiscence, 2.5–3.5 mm. Fruiting calyces loosely enclosing berry, 10-ribbed, 20–35 × 15–25 mm. 2n = 24.
Phenology: Flowering year-round in areas without frost.
Habitat: Beach dunes, maritime woodlands, inland sandhills, disturbed areas in sand.
Elevation: 0–60 m.
Distribution
Ala., Fla., Ga., Miss., N.C., S.C., Va.
Discussion
Physalis walteri occurs in inland, sandy areas in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi and on beach dunes from Florida north along the Atlantic Coast to southern Virginia.
Selected References
None.