NIGHTSHADE FAMILY 



SOLANACEAE 



PRAIRIE GROUND CHERRY 



Physalis lanceolata Michx. 



Several kinds of Ground Cherry occur in Illinois, some of 

 which are quite difficult to distinguish. This species is found on 

 dry prairies from South Carolina to Illinois and west to South 



Dakota andXewMexico, 

 blooming from July to 

 September. 



It is perennial from a 

 slender creeping under- 

 ground stem. The branch- 

 ing aerial stem grows 

 about 1 8 inches high and 

 is at first erect but later 

 spreading. It is sparsely 

 covered with short stiff 

 hairs. The leaves are us- 

 ually entire but may 

 have some angular teeth. 

 The calyx is 5-cleft 

 and after flowering it en- 

 larges and becomes much 

 inflated, inclosing the 

 fruit. The corolla is some- 

 what funnel shaped and 

 slightly 5-lobed,dull yel- 

 lowish with a brown 

 center, and about five- 

 eighths of an inch broad. 

 The fruit is a greenish yellow or reddish yellow berry. 



The Clammy Ground Cherry, Physalis heterophylla Nees, is 

 probably our commonest species. It occurs in rich soil, especially 

 where the surface has been disturbed through cultivation or other- 

 wise. The whole plant is quite hairy and somewhat glandular sticky. 

 The leaves are large, the blade usually more than 2 inches long and 

 more or less coarsely toothed. The calyx is long haired and the corolla, 

 nearly i inch broad, is greenish yellow with a brown or purple center. 

 The ripe yellow berries are sometimes used for making pies. This 

 perennial occurs from New Brunswick to Saskatchewan, south to 

 Florida, Colorado and Texas. 



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