Physalis spathulifolia
Physalis spathulifolia, commonly known as yellow ground-cherry or small-flower ground-cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It is a perennial or rhizomatous geophyte native to the Gulf Coastal Plain of southwestern Louisiana, coastal Texas, and northeastern Mexico. It grows in dunes, especially backdunes, coastal prairies, and sandy disturbed habitats near the Gulf Coast.
Description
Physalis spathulifolia is a perennial, rhizomatous ground-cherry. In the Flora of the Southeastern United States key, it is placed among perennial taxa with branched or dendroid-stelliform hairs that arise from deeply buried rhizomes. It is distinguished from related taxa by its entire leaf margins and corolla limbs that are not reflexed when fully open.
The species flowers from May to June, sometimes beginning in April. It may flower nearly year-round in areas without frost.
Taxonomy
Physalis spathulifolia was first described at varietal rank as Physalis lanceolata var. spathulifolia by John Torrey in 1859. It was raised to species rank by B.L. Turner in 2011, giving the accepted combination Physalis spathulifolia.
The taxon has been treated differently by different authorities. Plants of the World Online and the Flora of the Southeastern United States accept it as the distinct species Physalis spathulifolia. The Flora of North America and NatureServe treat it as Physalis cinerascens var. spathulifolia. NatureServe notes that Turner and Martínez considered the taxon to have the characteristics of a biological species because it is restricted to Gulf Coast dune sands and does not appear to intergrade with its presumed closest relative, Physalis cinerascens.
Synonyms include Physalis cinerascens var. spathulifolia, Physalis lanceolata var. spathulifolia, Physalis viscosa var. spathulifolia, and Physalis mollis var. parvifolia.
Distribution and habitat
Physalis spathulifolia is native to the Gulf Coastal Plain from southwestern Louisiana through coastal Texas to northeastern Mexico. NatureServe describes the taxon as occurring in south-central North America from southwestern Louisiana through coastal Texas and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico.
Its habitat includes Gulf dunes, especially backdunes, coastal prairies, and disturbed sandy habitats near the Gulf Coast. NatureServe gives its elevation as approximately .
Conservation
NatureServe ranks the taxon as G5T4, rounded to T4, under the name Physalis cinerascens var. spathulifolia. The status was last reviewed on 7 October 2025. NatureServe estimates approximately 100 occurrences rangewide and notes that the taxon may be threatened in some places by land development, rights-of-way maintenance, invasive species, storms, sea-level rise, and other threats. However, NatureServe considers the overall impact likely negligible because of the taxon's broad range and large number of occurrences. It has no status under the United States Endangered Species Act.
Toxicity
Unripe fruits and foliage of Physalis species contain solanine and other solanidine alkaloids and are toxic if ingested in large quantities.
References
spathulifolia Category:Flora of the United States Category:Flora of Northeastern Mexico Category:Flora of Tamaulipas Category:Plants described in 1859 Category:Taxa named by John Torrey