6. Physalis grisea (Waterf.) M. Martínez

P. pruinosa L., misapplied

P. pubescens var. grisea Waterf.

Map 2628

Plants annual, more or less taprooted. Stems 20–50 cm long, erect or ascending, with several to many loosely ascending to spreading branches, sparsely to more commonly densely pubescent (at least toward the tip) with minute to longer, spreading, multicellular, gland-tipped and/or nonglandular hairs 0.1–1.0 mm long (sessile glands often also be present). Leaves moderately to long-petiolate. Leaf blades 2–12 cm long, ovate to broadly ovate, angled or short-tapered to a bluntly or sharply pointed tip, broadly rounded to shallowly cordate at the often oblique base, the margins coarsely, unevenly, and bluntly toothed (the larger ones with 8 or more teeth per side), minutely hairy, the teeth bluntly or sharply pointed, shallow and broad to deeper and narrower, the surfaces grayish green when fresh, drying orange, orangish-tinged, or with orangish patches, moderate to densely pubescent (more densely on the undersurface, especially along the veins) with short, nonglandular and gland-tipped hairs (sessile glands usually also present). Flower stalks 4–6 mm long, becoming slightly elongated to 5–12 mm at fruiting. Calyces 3–5 mm long at flowering, the lobes 1.5–2.5 mm long, the outer surface with relatively dense, short, multicellular, nonglandular hairs at flowering, persistently hairy at fruiting, at fruiting becoming elongated to 20–35 mm long, sharply 5-angled, concave at the base, green or pale brown to tan. Corollas 5–8 mm long, pale yellow to lemon yellow, the inner surface with 5 large, prominent dark purplish brown to dark reddish brown spots toward the base (these sometimes merged into a ring or appearing smudged). Stamens with slender filaments half as wide as the anthers or narrower, the anthers 1–2 mm long, blue or bluish-tinged, arched but not coiled after dehiscence. Fruits 1.0–1.5 cm long, green, yellow, or orange. 2n=24. May–November.

Uncommon, widely scattered, mostly in the southern half of the state (eastern U.S. west to Nebraska and Louisiana, also Washington to California; Canada). Banks of streams and rivers, upland prairies, and glades; also farmyards, pastures, railroads, roadsides, and open, disturbed areas.