Virginia Groundcherry

(Physalis virginiana P. Mill.)

Solanaceae (Nightshade Family)

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲ ▼ mature plants

▲ ▼ flowers

▲ ▼ fruit

Groundcherry:

·         three most common species are creeping perennial weeds in pastures, gardens, cultivated fields, waste areas; one species is summer annual

·         much branched stems, yellow-white flowers and small berry fruit enclosed in papery "chinese lantern" structure; plants not spiny

o        Virginia groundcherry (pp. 532-533, Weeds of the Great Plains; not in Weed of the Northeast)

§         Creeping perennial with creeping roots

§         is only slightly hairy

§         stems often more green, less purple than smooth groundcherry

§         yellow flowers have lighter brown to pale purplish gray centers, or yellow centers

§         leaves elongated, and less lobed than smooth groundcherry

§         fruit often more elongated than smooth groundcherry, but may be globe-shaped