Family: Solanaceae
clammy ground-cherry
[Physalis virginiana var. ambigua Mill.]
Arthur Meeks
Dan Tenaglia
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Physalis: from the Greek physalis, "a bladder," because of the inflated calyx
Plants: erect, perennial, 8"-36" tall forb; upper part of the stems with dense, soft hairs; colony-forming rhizomes
Leaves: stalked, mostly broadly-ovate with a sharp point and rounded to heart-shaped base, usually 1 1/4"- 3" long, entire or with irregular wavy teeth, hairy on both sides
Flowers: yellow with dark spots in the center, 5-parted, 1/2"-3/4" wide, shallow funnel-shaped, stalked; solitary from the leaf axils; blooms June-Sept.
Fruits: green berry, the covering much larger than the berry, the tip mostly closed, base notched, and hairy all over
Habitat: dry; woods, prairies; in sandy soil
Conservation Status: Native
Plants: erect, perennial, 8"-36" tall forb; upper part of the stems with dense, soft hairs; colony-forming rhizomes
Leaves: stalked, mostly broadly-ovate with a sharp point and rounded to heart-shaped base, usually 1 1/4"- 3" long, entire or with irregular wavy teeth, hairy on both sides
Flowers: yellow with dark spots in the center, 5-parted, 1/2"-3/4" wide, shallow funnel-shaped, stalked; solitary from the leaf axils; blooms June-Sept.
Fruits: green berry, the covering much larger than the berry, the tip mostly closed, base notched, and hairy all over
Habitat: dry; woods, prairies; in sandy soil
Conservation Status: Native
Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 3 Atlas of the Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora: by T.S. Cochrane & H.H. Iltis: habitat, distribution infomation / flowering and fruiting times USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. Illinois Wildflowers: Wonderful photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leaf arrangement key Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada"
Dan Tenaglia
Janice Stiefel
Robert Bierman
Robert Bierman
Arthur Meeks
Botanical Illustration
from USDA Plants website
Robert W. Freckmann
