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Clammy Ground-cherry - Physalis heterophylla
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State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Though uncommon and apparently native to the state, the species tolerates and even prefers disturbed habitats such as roadsides. As a result, the species does not appear to a suitable target for further tracking or conservation efforts.
General Description
Stems erect, simple or branched, 20–40 cm. Herbage pubescent; the stem with long, multicellular hairs and short, glandular hairs. Leaves: blades ovate, basally asymmetrical, entire to crenate, 2–6 cm long; petioles 1–4 cm long. Flowers: pedicels 8–15 mm long, calyx tube 7–12 mm long, longer than the lobes; corolla 12–18 mm long, limb 12–18 mm wide. Berry 1–2 cm long, the swollen calyx 3–4 cm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX ).
Phenology
Flowering and fruiting from May to October.
Diagnostic Characteristics
There is little information on the distribution of all three species of ground cherry in Montana, and their ranges are likely to overlap. The three species are differentiated in the Great Plains Flora (1986) by pubescence characteristics. Physalis heterophylla differs from P. virginiana var. hispida in that it has glandular hairs rather than non-glandular, reflexed hairs. It differs from P. hederifolia in having longer fruiting pedicels that are 10-15 mm (0.4-0.6 in) long vs. 3-10 mm (0.12-0.4 in) long, as well as a typically bigger leaf that is 5-10 cm (0.2-0.4 in) long vs. 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in) long.
Range Comments
MT to NS south to UT, TX and FL (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX ).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 7
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Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
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