Physalis virginiana P. Miller. Common name: Virginia Ground-cherry. Phenology: Apr-Oct; Jun-Nov. Habitat: Woodlands, glades, barrens, and disturbed areas. Distribution: This complex species is widespread in e. and c. North America.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Varieties are sometimes recognized; if so, only var. virginiana is represented in the eastern part of our area.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, Fl6, FNA14, G, GrPl, Il, Mi, Mo3, NcTx, Pa, Tat, Tn, W, WH3, Sullivan (2004), Ward (2008a); > Physalis intermedia Rydb. — S; > Physalis monticola C.Mohr — S; > Physalis virginiana Mill. — S; > Physalis virginiana Mill. var. virginiana — K4, NE, NY, RAB, Tx, Va; Physalis virginiana Mill. Basionym: Physalis virginiana Mill. 1768
Links to other floras: = Physalis virginiana - FNA14
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of dry woodlands, clearings and other disturbed areas.
Stems: Stems sparsely branched and ascending, with long soft hairs to shorter stiff hairs.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; on winged petioles; oval to lance-shaped with a tapering base; 1-4 in. long; with sparsely toothed, wavy or entire margins; sparsely to abundantly short-hairy.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary and drooping on stalks from leaf axils; yellow with distinctly dark centers; about 3/4 in. wide; funnel-shaped with 5 very shallow lobes, 5 fused hairy sepals and 5 stamens, usually with yellow tips.
Fruits: Fruit an orange or red berry enclosed by a densely hairy, 5-angled expanded calyx, which matures to a papery husk.
Comments:
Height: 4-16 in. (sometimes taller)
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of dry woodlands, clearings and other disturbed areas.
stems: Stems sparsely branched and ascending, with long soft hairs to shorter stiff hairs.
leaves: Leaves alternate; on winged petioles; oval to lance-shaped with a tapering base; 1-4 in. long; with sparsely toothed, wavy or entire margins; sparsely to abundantly short-hairy.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary and drooping on stalks from leaf axils; yellow with distinctly dark centers; about 3/4 in. wide; funnel-shaped with 5 very shallow lobes, 5 fused hairy sepals and 5 stamens, usually with yellow tips.
fruits: Fruit an orange or red berry enclosed by a densely hairy, 5-angled expanded calyx, which matures to a papery husk.
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