Physalis acutifolia

Herbs annual, taprooted, sparsely pubescent to ± glabrous, hairs simple, appressed, antrorse, to 0.5 mm. Stems erect to decumbent, branching at most nodes, branches spreading and sometimes decumbent, 1–5 dm. Leaves petiolate; petiole mostly 1/2–2/3 blade; blade narrowly elliptic-ovate to lanceolate, (1.5–)2.5–6.8(–8.3) × (0.7–)1–2.5(–5.4) cm, base attenuate to rounded, margins coarsely, deeply, irregularly dentate, teeth acuminate. Pedicels (13–)20–34(–40) mm, (20–)25–35(–39) mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx (3–)4–5(–6) mm, lobes (1–)2–4 mm, (acute to acuminate); corolla pale yellow to nearly white with green or darker yellow tinge, rotate, 5–15 mm; anthers usually blue-tinged, rarely all blue or yellow, not twisted after dehiscence, 1–3 mm. Fruiting calyces nearly filled by berry, 10-ribbed, 15–25(–30) × 13–20(–22) mm. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering (May–)Jul–Nov.
Habitat: Disturbed areas along streams and roadsides, gravel and sand, cultivated fields, parks.
Elevation: 100–2000 m.

Ala., Ariz., Calif., Ga., Miss., N.Mex., Tex., Mexico (Baja California, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Sonora).

Discussion

Corollas of Physalis acutifolia are nearly rotate with a very short floral tube and somewhat reflexed, widely flaring limb when fully open. Unless it is in flower, P. acutifolia is difficult to distinguish from narrow-leaved P. angulata, which has corollas that are more campanulate-rotate, without a reflexed limb.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa