Physalis neomexicana

Herbs annual, taprooted, densely glandular-pubescent, hairs simple, mostly 0.5(–1 mm), grayish brown in appearance when dry. Stems erect, angulate and blue-tinged, at least distally, branching at most nodes, internodes noticeably long, branches spreading, 1–5 dm. Leaves petiolate; petiole 1/3–1/2 blade; blade broadly ovate to orbiculate, 2–6 × 1.5–5 cm, base deltate to rounded-attenuate, margins coarsely, irregularly crenate-dentate. Pedicels stout, 2–5 mm, 5–10(–12) mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx 3–5 mm, lobes 1–2.5(–3) mm, long-attenuate; corolla yellow with 5 large, dark purple-blue-black spots, campanulate-rotate, 6–10 mm; anthers blue or blue-tinged, not twisted after dehiscence, 1 mm. Fruiting calyces loosely enclosing berry, sharply 5-angled (ribs often deep purple), nearly spheric, 20–25(–30) × 15–20(–30) mm. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering May–Sep.
Habitat: Sandy soil, pinyon-juniper associations, disturbed grasslands, roadsides, cultivated fields, gardens.
Elevation: 1500–2500 m.

Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Tex.

Discussion

Physalis neomexicana can be distinguished from P. pubescens by its stout pedicels, nearly spheric fruiting calyces, and grayish brown appearance when dry. Some herbarium specimen labels mention that the plants are ill-smelling. M. Martínez (1998) determined the name P. subulata Rydberg to be a synonym of P. patula Miller, which is a Mexican species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa