Herbs perennial, rhizomatous, rhizomes deeply buried and seldom collected, sparsely pubescent to densely villous, hairs simple, jointed, 1–3 mm. Stems erect, branching infre­quently, branches ascending to spreading, 1–3(–4) dm. Leaves petiolate; petiole to 1/3 blade at proximal nodes, appearing ± sessile at distal nodes; blade lanceolate or lanceolate-ovate, (2.5–)4.5–7.5(–9.5) × 1.2–2.5(–4) cm, base rounded and tapering to petiole, margins entire, saliently few-toothed, or repand. Pedicels 8–13(–15) mm, 10–20(–25) mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx 6–10 mm, lobes 2–5(–7) mm; corolla yellow with dark purple-black spots, campanulate-rotate, 14–16 mm; anthers dark purple to blue, rarely yellow, not twisted after dehiscence, (2–)3–3.5 mm. Fruiting calyces loosely enclosing berry, 10-ribbed, (20–)30–50 × 20–30(–35) mm, lobes attenuate. 2n = 24.

Phenology: Flowering (sporadically Jun–)Aug.
Habitat: Loose, gravelly soil near streams, slopes, rocky ridges, pinyon-oak-juniper woodlands.
Elevation: 1200–2800 m.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., N.Mex., Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora).

Discussion

Only a few herbarium specimens of Physalis caudella have been seen from the flora area (Apache, Cochise, Pima, and Santa Cruz counties in Arizona, and Catron County in New Mexico).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.