Solanaceae : Physalis longifolia
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Family Name
Solanaceae
Common Name
Longleaf ground cherry
Native American Name
Lakota: tȟamníoȟpi hú
Description
Physalis longifolia is a perennial herb from a deep caudex and spreading by shoots from lateral roots. The erect stems are erect, often branching, and typically covered with fine hairs, giving them a somewhat rough texture, 30-100 cm tall, often purplish, with a few sparse hairs, especially on younger shoots. The simple, alternate leaves have petioles 1-6 cm long and the blades are lanceolate to lance-linear or occasionally rounder approaching ovate, 3-13 cm long and 1-7 cm wide. The margins vary greatly from entire to wavey to unevenly toothed. Flowering occurs from late spring to late summer (May–August). The flowers are usually single on a slender pedicel, 5-15 mm long that increases as fruit develop. Flowers are axillary, solitary, nodding, about 1–2 cm wide. At flowering, the calyx consists of five green sepals 7-12 mm long, that are fused at the base with free lobes about half of the length, pointed at the tips and have fine hairs along their margins, giving the calyx a slightly fuzzy texture. The calyx forms a bell-shaped structure that surrounding the base of the corolla. The corolla has five yellow petals, 10-15 mm long, marked with brownish purple spots near the center. The petals are fused at the base forming a bell shape. There are 5 stamens with yellow anthers, the filaments flattened and nearly as wide as the anthers. The fruit is a globose berry, maturing from August through October, yellow when ripe, 8-15 mm in diameter, surrounded by the papery calyx that extends to 2-3 cm in length. Longleaf ground cherry is native to South Dakota and commonly found in dry, open habitats such as prairies, sandy soils, roadsides, and disturbed areas, mainly in the central and western parts of the state.
Horticulture Notes
Seed collection: Collect yellow fruit in late summer or fall. Remove the seeds from the flesh.
Germination: Seeds germinate in warm soils with light. Fall sow or start indoors 6 weeks before the last frost.
Vegetative propagation: Divide plants in the early spring.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Soil: Very adaptable, will grow in most garden soils.
Water: Mesic.
Additional Notes
Longleaf ground cherry fruits are edible when fully ripe and have been used traditionally for food and medicinal purposes. They are close relatives of the tomatillos sold in the grocery store. The fruits tend to be cloyingly sweet. They are easy to grow and once established they will spread and continue to produce fruit for many years.