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Quincula lobata
Quincula lobata (Torr.) Raf.
Purple Groundcherry, Chinese Lantern, Purple Ground Cherry
Solanaceae (Potato Family)
Synonym(s): Physalis lobata, Physalis lobata var. albiflora
USDA Symbol: QULO2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Purple Groundcherry grows almost flat on the ground. Leaves are alternate, 1 1/2-3 inches long and not quite as broad, often coarsely toothed or deeply cut, with rounded lobes. The flower is bluish-purple, with 5 united petals that open out to form a flat surface 3/4-1 1/4 inches across. It has 5 stamens with yellow anthers. This flower seems not to be much affected by drought.
It is an attractive, low-growing, full sun or light shade groundcover for much of the Southwest, with purple, blue, or white flowers and fuzzy, gray-green leaves. It blooms until frost, when the top dies, but the roots continue to expand throughout the winter, sending up new growth in the spring for a larger colony each year. The berry is edible, but caution is advised, for the flower resembles some of those of Solanum, a genus with both edible and deadly berries. Purple Groundcherry was formerly placed in the genus Physalis, but the purple flower and the flat, scale-like hairs on the leaves are considered distinctive.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Berry
Size Notes: No more than 6 inches tall.
Leaf: Gray-green.
Flower: Flower 1 inch.
Fruit: 4-7 mm.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Blue , PurpleBloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Blooms until frost.
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , CO , KS , NM , NV , OK , TX , UTNative Distribution: Southeastern California east across southern Nevada to southeastern Utah, eastern Colorado, and western Kansas, and south to western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico.
Native Habitat: Woodland edges, forest openings, fields
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Well-drained sand, sandy loam, loam, clay, caliche
Conditions Comments: Prefers full sun or light shade, like under a mesquite tree.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Low-growing, decorative, deciduous ground cover for the SouthwestUse Food: Berries edible, but be sure you've got the right plant, as similar-looking species in the genera Physalis and Solanum can be toxic.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | UPL | FACU | UPL | UPL | FACU |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-1009 Collected 2007-04-05 in Starr County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. WasowskiBibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona ChapterAdditional resources
USDA: Find Quincula lobata in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Quincula lobata in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Quincula lobata
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-23Research By: TWC Staff, GDG