Physalis walteri (Dune Ground-cherry)

https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu/main.php?pg=show-taxon-detail.php&lsid=urn:lsid:ncbg.unc.edu:taxon:{E7D469BD-FF14-465B-8D8C-B5299DBD457F}

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SOLANACEAE

Physalis walteri Nuttall. Common name: Dune Ground-cherry, Tomatilla de Suelo, Walter's Ground-cherry, Dune Ground-cherry. Phenology: May-Sep (-Apr). Habitat: Dunes of sea-beaches, openings in maritime forests, longleaf pine sandhills (southward), and rarely inland as a waif in disturbed areas. Distribution: Se. VA south to s. FL and west to s. MS.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: See Sullivan (1985) for further information on this species and its relatives. It is largely replaced on the Gulf Coast by the related P. angustifolia, with which it locally intergrades in peninsular FL. P. viscosa Linnaeus (in the narrow sense) is South American.

Synonymy ⓘ: = C, Fl6, FNA14, Va, WH3, Sullivan (1985), Sullivan (2004), Turner & Martínez (2011); = Physalis walteri Nutt. var. walteri — Ward (2008a); < Physalis maritima M.A.Curtis — F; < Physalis viscosa L. — G, S; < Physalis viscosa L. ssp. maritima (M.A.Curtis) Waterf. — RAB; < Physalis viscosa L. var. maritima (M.A.Curtis) Rydb. Basionym: Physalis walteri Nutt. 1834

Links to other floras: = Physalis walteri - FNA14

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Heliophily ⓘ: 8

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Horticultural Information

Intro: Spreading to prostrate or ascending perennial of seaside dunes, openings in maritime forests, sandhills (southward) and rarely inland as a waif in disturbed areas.

Stems: Stems several; unbranched or slighted branched; covered with minute, star-shaped tufts of hairs.

Leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; oval to elliptic; 1-4 in. long; with smooth margins and covered with short, soft, minute, star-shaped tufts of hairs.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary and on stalks drooping from leaf axils; greenish yellow with or without dark centers; 1/2-3/4 in. wide; funnel-shaped with 5 flaring lobes, 5 fused hairy sepals and 5 stamens with yellow anthers.

Fruits: Fruit a yellow or orange round berry enclosed by an expanded calyx, which matures to a papery husk.

Comments:

Height: 6-24 in.

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description: Spreading to prostrate or ascending perennial of seaside dunes, openings in maritime forests, sandhills (southward) and rarely inland as a waif in disturbed areas.

stems: Stems several; unbranched or slighted branched; covered with minute, star-shaped tufts of hairs.

leaves: Leaves alternate; petiolate; oval to elliptic; 1-4 in. long; with smooth margins and covered with short, soft, minute, star-shaped tufts of hairs.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary and on stalks drooping from leaf axils; greenish yellow with or without dark centers; 1/2-3/4 in. wide; funnel-shaped with 5 flaring lobes, 5 fused hairy sepals and 5 stamens with yellow anthers.

fruits: Fruit a yellow or orange round berry enclosed by an expanded calyx, which matures to a papery husk.

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Horticultural Information