12. Physalis pumila Nutt. (prairie ground cherry)

Pl. 564 e, f; Map 2634

Plants perennial, with deep-set, long-creeping rhizomes. Stems 15–45 cm long, erect or ascending, unbranched or with few, ascending branches toward the tip, moderately to densely pubescent with nonglandular, multicellular hairs, variously of minute loosely appressed, unbranched hairs 0.1–0.5 mm long and scattered to abundant, spreading, longer hairs 0.5–2.0 mm long, these either all or nearly all unbranched or many to most 2- or 3-branched. Leaves short- to moderately petiolate. Leaf blades 2–8(–10) cm long, lanceolate to elliptic or ovate, angled to a sharply pointed tip, tapered at the base, the margins entire or wavy to sparsely, shallowly and bluntly few-toothed, hairy, the surfaces grayish green to dark green when fresh, drying uniformly green (lacking orangish tinging or patches), moderately to densely pubescent with nonglandular, multicellular hairs, variously of minute loosely appressed, unbranched hairs 0.1–0.5 mm long and scattered to abundant, spreading, longer hairs 0.5–2.0 mm long, these either all or nearly all unbranched or many to most 2- or 3-branched. Flower stalks (7–)14–30 mm long, becoming elongated to 25–55 mm at fruiting. Calyces 6–12 mm long at flowering, the lobes 2.5–5.0 mm long, the outer surface densely pubescent at flowering with nonglandular, multicellular hairs, variously of minute loosely appressed, unbranched hairs 0.1–0.5 mm long and scattered to abundant, spreading, longer hairs 0.5–2.0 mm long, these either all or nearly all unbranched or many to most 2- or 3-branched, sparsely to moderately hairy at fruiting (more densely so on the lobes), at fruiting, becoming elongated to 25–40 mm long, shallowly 10-angled or 10-ribbed, concave at the base, mostly remaining green, occasionally pale brown to tan with age. Corollas 11–17 mm long, pale yellow to lemon yellow, the inner surface greenish- or pale brownish-tinged toward the base, lacking distinct spots or discolorations. Stamens with broad filaments about as wide as the anthers, the anthers 2–3 mm long, yellow, arched but not coiled after dehiscence. Fruits 1.0–1.5 cm long, green or yellow. 2n=24. May–September.

Scattered in the southwestern quarter of the state, uncommon farther north and east (Illinois to Louisiana west to Wyoming and New Mexico; introduced sporadically farther east and west). Glades and upland prairies; also strip mines, railroads and open, disturbed areas.

The present treatment follows that of W. F. Hinton (1976) in recognizing two subspecies within P. pumila.