Physalis hederifolia

Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, rhizome stout, densely pubescent, hairs simple, sometimes jointed, glandular, 0.5–1 mm, sometimes also with sessile glands. Stems erect to decumbent, usually branching from base and at most nodes, branches spreading, 0.5–3 dm. Leaves petiolate; petiole 1/2 to ± as long as blade; blade broadly ovate to orbiculate, 1.5–3.5 × 1–3 cm, base cordate to rounded, margins ± entire or coarsely dentate, teeth sharp to blunt. Pedicels 4–8(–13) mm, 5–15 mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx 5–7(–10) mm, lobes 1.5–3.5(–5) mm; corolla yellow with 5 dark brown spots, campanulate-rotate, 7–12 mm; anthers yellow, not twisted after dehiscence, 2–4 mm. Fruiting calyces loosely enclosing berry, 10-ribbed, 20–30 × 15–25(–30) mm. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering Apr–Aug.
Habitat: Dry open gravelly sites, rocky ledges, open plains.
Elevation: 200–2600 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Kans., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., Okla., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo., Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas).

Discussion

In Physalis hederifolia, the corolla limb is reflexed at maturity. This is a widespread species of the south­western United States and the Great Plains (as far west as southern California and southeastern Nevada, and east into the western half of Iowa, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas). Several varieties have been recognized based primarily on indument characters, but these features vary considerably over the range of the species. Plants from the more southern part of the range tend to have shorter hairs and to be more densely glandular; plants from northern Oklahoma and New Mexico northward tend to have longer hairs. All are clearly distinguishable from P. fendleri, which is eglandular, typically has forked or few-branched hairs, a distinctive leaf shape, and corollas with greenish-brownish smudges rather than distinct brown spots.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.