Key to Physalis

View taxon page for Physalis

(For a list of species in Physalis, use the above link.)

Jepson Manual glossary definitions can be seen by moving your cursor over words underlined with dots.

1. Flower ± 

erect 

Upright; vertically oriented.

; corolla purple; style curved ..... P. lobata

1' Flower generally nodding or otherwise not ± erect; corolla ± yellow to pale yellow; style straight

2. Leaf hairs branched; 

perennial 

Completing life cycle (germination through death) in more than two years or growing seasons, generally non-woody (at least above ground) to woody; includes perennial herbs as well as subshrubs to trees; the abbreviation 'per' only refers to perennial herb, not to the word 'perennial' alone.

 herb

3. Corolla with 5 purple-brown spots at base adaxially or not ..... P. hederifolia var. fendleri

3' Corolla generally with 0 spots but with darker green veins adaxially ..... [P. viscosa]

2' Leaf hairs 0 or 

simple 

Composed of a single part; undivided; unbranched.

; annual, perennial herb, subshrub

4. Perennial herb or subshrub from 

rhizome 

1. In seed plants, stem that is often elongate, more or less horizontal, usually underground; distinguished from roots by bearing of leaves, leaf scars, axillary buds, etc. 2. In ferns, stem that is located underground, embedded in leaf litter, on rocks or in rock crevices, or on trees or tree branches, often scaly or hairy; distinguished from roots by bearing of fronds (roots rarely bear fronds), and their greater diameter.

5. Anthers generally with some blue or purple ..... [P. longifolia]

5' Anthers yellow

6. Pedicel > flower, in fruit > calyx ..... P. crassifolia

6' Pedicel < flower, in fruit < calyx ..... P. hederifolia var. palmeri

4' Annual from taproot

7. Plant ± densely hairy ..... P. pubescens

8. Leaf 5–9 cm, ± thick, teeth many ..... var. grisea

8' Leaf 3–5 cm, thin, teeth 0–few ..... var. integrifolia

7' Plant glabrous to sparsely hairy

9. Corolla with 5 dark-purple spots adaxially; anthers twisted after opening ..... P. philadelphica

9' Corolla without spots adaxially; anthers not clearly twisted after opening

10. Corolla pale yellow with dark yellow center, 15–23 mm wide; 

leaf 

Organ arising from a stem, generally composed of a stalk (petiole) and a flat, expanded, green, photosynthetic area (blade); distinguished from a leaflet by the presence in its axil of a bud, branch, thorn, or flower; sometimes with lateral, basal appendages (stipules); either simple (toothed, lobed, or dissected but not divided into leaflets) or compound (divided into leaflets).

teeth < 7 mm; anthers 3 mm ..... P. acutifolia

10' Corolla yellow, 7–8 mm wide; leaf teeth 0 or < 3 mm; anthers 1–2 mm ..... P. lanceifolia

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Citation for an individual treatment: [Author of taxon treatment] [year]. [Taxon name] in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, [URL for treatment]. Accessed on .

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