170 



Descriptive Flora 



Vk to y£ across, blue, somewhat similar to blue flax but much 

 smaller. Stamens 5. Stigma 3-lobed. Pod oval or ovoid, less 

 than 14" l° n g> exceeding the calyx lobes and containing many- 

 seeds. Widely distributed, being found on tops of limestone 

 hills, in ravines and in river bottoms. March to June. 



SOLANACEAE. Potato Family. 

 Physalis mollis Nutt. Ground-cherry. 



Plant with weak, often half reclining branches, alternate, 

 coarsely angulate-toothed leaves, and yellow 5-angled flowers, 

 followed by inflated pods containing small tomato-like fruits. 

 Leaves simple, alternate or opposite. Blades broadly ovate to 

 rounded-cordate, coarsely angulate-toothed or wavy-toothed. 

 Petioles y± to 2" long. Corolla saucer-shaped, 5-angled, about 

 y 2 " across, yellow with purplish throat that is usually densely 

 bearded with short white branched hairs. Stamens 5, erect, 

 closing around the short pistil. Fruit an inflated, 5-angled, 5- 

 toothed pod. sunken at the base and containing a smooth, yellow 

 globular berry the size of a pea or larger. March to fall. Wide- 

 spread, usually low ground. 



Physalis mollis cinerascens (Dunal) A. Gray. Ground-cherry. 



Similar to Physalis mollis but greener, less hairy, and having 

 more rounded and less toothed leaf -blades. Leaves are generally 

 opposite and blades are frequently unequal at the base. The 

 Genus name has its origin in the Gr. physalis, bubble, from the 

 inflated calyx. 



Physalis virginiana Mill. 



Similar to Physalis mollis in general appearance. Corolla 

 18 to 25 mm. instead of 15 to 20 mm. in diameter. Hairs are 

 simple and not branched. Leaf -blades ovate-lanceolate, tapering 

 at both ends, more or less wavy-toothed, often yellowish green. 

 Plants are sometimes sticky due to the presence of glandular 

 hairs. 



Chmnaesa^acka oonioides (Moric.) Britton. Ground Saracha. 

 Low. spreading, unattractive, sticky plants, much branched 



