DESCRIPTIVE MANUAL 



279 



Fig. 161- A. Distribution of Lance-leaved Salvia. 



Ground Cherry (Physalis lanceolata Michx.). 



Description. — A hirsute perennial with short, stiff hairs, some- 

 times nearly smooth ; forms short and stout underground stems ; 

 leaves oblong-ovate to lanceolate, sparingly angulate-toothed or 

 more often entire ; flowers in axillary peduncles, calyx hirsute, co- 

 rolla yellowish with a dark eye; berry reddish. The P. virginiana 

 Mill., is also an erect perennial with narrowly ovate acutish leaves 

 or acutish or rounded teeth, corolla pale yellow. The P. subglab- 

 rata MacKenzie and Bush, has ovate or ovate-oblong leaves, oblique 

 at the base, entire or repand, and brownish corolla; berry, large, 

 reddish or purple. The P. lieterophylla is perennial, leaves obtuse 

 repand, or obtusely toothed ; trichomes several-celled, glandular 

 and non-glandular. 



Distribution. — The P. lanceolata in southern Iowa and south- 

 ward, the P. virginiana. common everywhere in Iowa, in dry grav- 

 elly soil, from Connecticut to Iowa and southward; the P. sub- 

 glabrata from Rhode Island to Minnesota and southward. 



Extermination. — All of the perennial ground cherries are diffi- 

 cult to destroy because of the strong underground root-stocks which 

 freely spread the weed. These plants are also scattered by seed. 

 To exterminate the perennial weeds plow shallowly and expose the 

 plants to the sun ; give frequent cultivation. 



