Spermatophytes (seed plants): Angiosperms (flowering plants): Eudicots: Core Eudicots: Asterids: Lamiids: Solanales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (5/21/15):
Physalis heterophylla
FAMILY
Solanaceae
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
Read more about Clammy Ground-cherry at Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
The most recognizable traits of these nightshade relatives are the spotted, solitary, bell-shaped yellow flowers and the inflated, papery husk surrounding the ripe berry. Learn more from the University of Kentucky herbarium's website.
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Physalis heterophylla var. heterophylla
FAMILY
Solanaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 165-03-002:
Physalis heterophylla
FAMILY
Solanaceae
COMMON NAME:
Clammy Ground-cherry
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
JK Marlow jkm200602_5568
June Spartanburg County SC
Dense hairs, 0.5 to about 3mm, usually glandular, give leaves a sticky feel, per the University of Kentucky's John W. Thieret Herbarium.
)
JK Marlow jkm200602_5570
June Spartanburg County SC
)
JK Marlow jkm200602_5574
June Spartanburg County SC
Broadly bell-shaped flowers, usually w brown or purplish blotches in throat, per Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains.
)
Terry Holdsclaw tdh_p_heterophylla_0072
July Iredell County NC
Flowers axillary, solitary, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas.
)
Terry Holdsclaw tdh_p_heterophylla_0074
July Iredell County NC
Invested w short hairs. Lvs ovate, rounded at base, w irregular large teeth, per Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains.
)
Terry Holdsclaw tdh_p_heterophylla_1
July Iredell County NC
)
Terry Holdsclaw tdh_p_heterophylla_1b
July Iredell County NC
Pubescence viscid, glandular trichomes usually mixed with short and long hairs, per Weakley's Flora.
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4277
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4279
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
The calyx enlarges to become a parchmentlike husk enclosing the fruit, per Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains.
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4280
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4281
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
The berry is about 10mm in diameter, per Vascular Flora of the Carolinas.
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4283
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
)
JK Marlow jkm180828_4285
August Jackson County NC
Big Ridge Preserve
)
JK Marlow jkm210914_3676
September Greenville County SC
)
JK Marlow jkm210914_3678b
September Greenville County SC
Hairs divergent, simple, and may or may not be glandular (they usually are), per the University of Kentucky's John W. Thieret Herbarium.
)
JK Marlow jkm210914_3678c
September Greenville County SC
Pretend you don't see the occasional *slightly* branched hairs, per the University of Kentucky's John W. Thieret Herbarium.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (5/21/15):
Physalis heterophylla
FAMILY
Solanaceae
INCLUDING
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Physalis heterophylla var. heterophylla
FAMILY
Solanaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 165-03-002:
Physalis heterophylla
FAMILY
Solanaceae
2025
Forb
Perennial
Native to the Carolinas & Georgia
Documented growing wild in GA NC SC
Common (uncommon in Mountains, rare in Coastal Plain of GA-NC-SC)
Look for it in disturbed areas, dry rocky woodlands, hammocks, per Weakley's Flora
Click here to see a more detailed map from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium,
or click here to see a map from SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
...Variable
...Dry
LEAVES:
Simple
Alternate
Leaves have petioles.
FLOWER:
Spring/Summer/Fall
Yellow
Bisexual
Radially symmetrical
5-merous
5-lobed calyx
5-lobed campanulate to subrotate corolla
5 stamens
Superior ovary
Flowers solitary in leaf axils
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Berry
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Newcomb's Wildflower Guide p204
- Wildflowers of the Atlantic Southeast p250
- Wildflowers of the Eastern United States p085
- Wildflowers of Tennessee p197
- Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley, and the Southern Appalachians p234
- Wildflowers of the Southern Mountains p150