Native Plants
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Physalis hederifolia
Physalis hederifolia A. Gray
Ivyleaf Groundcherry, Ivy-leaf Groundcherry
Solanaceae (Potato Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: PHHE4
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Flattish, rather pentagonal, pale yellow flowers, usually with 5 deeper yellow or purple-brown patches near center, protruding from lightly hairy foliage.
As the fruit matures the calyx enlarges, becoming inflated and papery. This also occurs in Tomatillo (P. philadelphica), a species with a fruit to almost 3" (7.5 cm) wide, popular in Mexican and southwestern cuisine and a tangy addition to salads. Prior to preparation, the husk (calyx) is removed from the green, tomato-like fruit (tomatillo means "little tomato"). There are more than a dozen species of groundcherry in the West, all recognizable by the inflated calyx. Some have branched hairs on the leaves; others have longer flower stalks than P. hederifolia or flowers that are more bell-shaped.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Subshrub
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: Up to about 20 inches tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , BrownBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , KS , LA , MT , NE , NM , NV , NY , OK , RI , SD , TX , UT , VT , WYNative Distribution: Southeastern California east across southern Nevada, Utah, and Arizona to western Texas, and north through Plains states to eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota, and perhaps southeastern Montana.
Native Habitat: Dry sandy, gravelly, or rocky areas on plains, in brush, and in open woodlands.
Web Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Physalis hederifolia in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Physalis hederifolia in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Physalis hederifolia
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-06-07Research By: TWC Staff