Angular Winter Cherry, Balloon Cherry, Country Gooseberry, Cutleaf Groundcherry, Gooseberry, Hogweed, Mullaca, Sunberry, Wild Tomato, Winter Cherry, ETC.

Physalis angulata

fy-SAL-is  ang-yoo-LAY-tuh

Synonyms of Physalis angulata (37) (Updated on 12-27-23 from Plants of the World Online): Boberella angulata (L.) E.H.L.Krause, Physalis abyssinica Nees, Physalis angulata var. capsicifolia (Dunal) Griseb., Physalis angulata var. dubia Kuntze, Physalis angulata var. lanceifolia (Nees) Waterf., Physalis angulata f. linkiana (Nees) Stehlé, Physalis angulata var. linkiana (Nees) A.Gray, Physalis angulata var. normalis Kuntze, Physalis angulata var. pendula (Rydb.) Waterf., Physalis angulata f. ramosissima (Mill.) Stehlé, Physalis angulata var. ramosissima (Mill.) O.E.Schulz, Physalis angulata f. tenuis Hassl., Physalis angulata var. villosa Bonati, Physalis arenaria Nees, Physalis bodinieri H.Lév. & Vaniot, Physalis capsicifolia Dunal, Physalis ciliata Siebold & Zucc., Physalis cuneata Rusby, Physalis dubia Link, Physalis esquirolii H.Lév. & Vaniot, Physalis fauriei H.Lév. & Vaniot, Physalis glaberrima Colla, Physalis hermannii Dunal, Physalis ixocarpa Nees, Physalis lanceifolia Nees, Physalis linkiana Nees, Physalis linkiana var. arenaria Dunal, Physalis linkiana var. venosa Dunal, Physalis margaranthoides Rusby, Physalis micrantha Link, Physalis minima L., Physalis parviflora R.Br., Physalis pendula Rydb., Physalis ramosissima Mill., Physalis repens Nakai, Physalis surinamensis Miq., Saracha angulata M.Martens & Galeotti

Physalis angulata L. is the accepted scientific name for this species of Physalis. The genus and species were named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 12-27-23 when I am updating this page, Plants of the World Online lists 95 species in the Physalis genus. It is a member of the plant family Solanaceae with 101 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map for Physalis angulata is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native and purple is where it has been introduced. POWO gets their maps for North America from Flora of North America. However, FNA does not have data for the plant family Solanaceae yet. When they do, POWO will update their map. I wanted to use their map anyway to show where the species has been introduced.

The above distribution map for Physalis angulata is from the USDA Plants Database. As you can see, it has a much broader range… Well, we are all a work in progress. 🙂

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A POSITIVE ID.

On September 1, 2022, I found a good-sized colony of Sida spinosa (Prickly Fanpetals) in an area south of the barn. It was a new species for me, or at least I hadn’t noticed them before. I didn’t get very good flower photos because I think they had run their course, so I went back the next day to see if there were any more to photograph. Unfortunately, there wasn’t BUT I stopped dead in my tracks!

HOLY CRAP! I could hardly believe my eyes! Right there in the grass was a single Physalis species. I hadn’t seen any since 2019 when I found a Physalis longifolia (Smooth Ground Cherry) in a friend’s pasture. The one I found and couldn’t find again. Then, in November 2019, I found a plant here east of the chicken house that I supposed was, or had been, P. longifolia. Since it was November, all that was left were a few dead leaves and dried fruit. This plant had been very tall.

The Physalis longifolia looked like a horsenettle, but this new plant didn’t look like that at all. I took photos and uploaded them on iNaturalist for ID. Well, lo and behold, the new plant is a Physalis angulata… Now I am wondering if the dried-up plant that was north of the chicken house was actually the same species. Anyway, I have been looking for them to come up again in the same area, but none have come up. The seeds had to go somewhere. I figured unless they had been eaten, they would likely just fall on the ground. I should have picked the husked fruit and planted them myself… Live and learn!

I apologize for not writing descriptions when I published this page but I wanted to get the photos online. After I make updates during the winter, I go back and write descriptions as I have time. There are several links at the bottom of the page that can help you with a positive ID. The authors have done a great job!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I didn’t find any of these in 2023. The summer was very hot and dry and many wildflowers fizzled out by mid-summer. Hopefully, 2024 will be much better.

I live on a small farm in Windsor, Missouri where I enjoy gardening, collecting plants, and identifying wildflowers. The farm is in Pettis County but Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away. I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be variable from location to location, so that can be a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
Bio-NET EAFRINET-FACTSHEET
RAIN-TREE PUBLISHERS
MANUAL OF THE ALIEN PLANTS OF BELGIUM
WIKTROP

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂

More photos of Physalis angulata…