Nicandra physalodes

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Stems hollow, ridged, angular in cross section, 5–10(–20) dm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent at nodes. Leaves: blade ovate to oblong or elliptic, 3–20(–31) × 2–10(–20) cm, margins sinuate-dentate, irregularly dentate, or lobed, surfaces sparsely pubescent. Flowering pedicels 20–30 mm, puberulent. Flowers: calyx 1–2 cm, lobes partially connate; corolla (1.5–)2–3 × 2–3.5 cm, throat white, often with 5 purple spots at base; stamens included; anthers yellow; style 3–5 mm, sparsely pubescent. Berries tan, 3–5-locular, 1–2 cm diam., very thin-walled, cracking easily when dry, enclosed in papery, expanded calyx, 2.5–3.5 × 2.5–3.5 cm. Seeds dark brown, 1–2 mm. 2n = 20.

Phenology: Flowering Jul–Oct (year-round in tropical areas).
Habitat: Cultivated fields, waste ground, dumps, old garden sites, rocky balds, roadsides.
Elevation: 0–1100 m.

Introduced; B.C., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Ala., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., South America, introduced also in Mexico, Central America, Africa, Pacific Islands (Hawaii).

Discussion

Nicandra physalodes is cultivated for its ornamental flowers and fruits. Historically, Nicandra was grown around farmsteads and used as a source of fly poison, thus the common name shoo-fly plant.

Nicandra is most likely to naturalize in areas with ample precipitation and warm climates. Many of the collections seen are old (pre-1950); they are indicative of areas in which N. physalodes can naturalize. Although scattered wild populations of N. physalodes have been documented from across the United States and Canada, these plants are more common in the eastern half of the United States and are probably uncommon in most of the rest of the range. In most areas, N. physalodes may reseed itself in garden sites and persist in this way for a year or two. Escaped plants of this type should occasionally be found throughout the continental United States and southern Canada.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa