Physalis heterophylla
Physalis heterophylla
Physalis heterophylla is a species of the genus Physalis (Physalis ) in the nightshade family (Solanaceae ).
Description
Physalis heterophylla is a 15-100 cm tall perennial plant, which springs from a powerful rhizome, which is located deep under the earth. The Stems are erect to horizontal and often branching. The branches creep along the ground and are in ascending order. The hair is matted and consists of simple, hinged, projecting and 1 to 2 mm long trichomes, between which often can be shorter, glandular trichomes. The leaf blades of the fan leaves are broadly ovate to nearly circular, 4-11 (rarely 3 to 13 ) cm long and 3-9 (rarely to 10) centimeters wide. They are hairy and often glandular- tomentose. Forward the leaves are pointed, cut off at the base to slightly heart-shaped. The leaf margin is strongly and irregularly dentate to almost entire. The leaf stems have between one and two thirds of the length of the laminae.
The flowers appear singly in the axils of the leaves. They are (rarely to 20 ) mm long pedicles at 9-15. In the heyday of the calyx is 6-12 mm long, tomentose and often glandular hairy and covered with 3-6 mm long calyx lobes. The crown is yellow in color and 10 to 17 millimeters long. In Kronschlund there are five large, purple - brown spots. The dust bags are 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters long, dyed yellow, rarely tinged with blue. The stamens are as wide as the dust bag, at the top they are often conspicuous clavate.
At the fruit of the cup is extended to a length from 2.5 to 4 centimeters and its width is 1.5 to 3 centimeters. The cross-section is decagonal, pressed to the base. His color is green even in fruit ripening. The flower stem is extended to a length of 20 to 30 mm. The flowering period extends from May to September.
Dissemination
The species is widespread in all states of the Southeast of the United States and also occurs in some neighboring states of this region. It grows in open hardwood forests along the edges of pine woods, fields, roads and in disturbed habitats, often in the shade.
System
Within the genus Physalis (Physalis ) the species is classified in the subgenus section lanceolate Rydbergis.
Physalis heterophylla is similar to the cultivated Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana ), which is known only from the culture. The two species differ heterophylla by the non- glandular hairs and the blue to blue- tinged dust bag with only half as wide stamens of Physalis peruviana and shorter flower stems of Physalis.