124 HOW TO KNOW WILD FRUITS 



PHILADELPHIA GROUND CHERRY 

 Physalis Philadelphica Potato Family 



Fruit. — Like all the other fruits of this 

 genus the berry is inclosed in the enlarged 

 calyx. When ripe, the berry fills the calyx or 

 even opens it at the mouth. The undeveloped 

 fruit calyx shows its ten angles and is depressed 

 about the stem. The berry is reddish or purple, 

 quite large, and pulpy. It grows on a slender 

 stem from the leaf axil. The numerous seeds 

 are flattened. 



Leaves. — The ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves 

 usually slant toward the base. They are entire 

 or slightly wavy. They are smooth or a trifle 

 hairy above. 



Floivers. — The flowers are yellowish brown 

 with purplish centers. July-September. 



This annual is nearly smooth and is tall and up- 

 right. It ranges from Rhode Island to Georgia 

 and Texas and west to Minnesota and Nebraska. 



