SP 37

Cutleaf Ground-cherry, angulata L.1

David W. Hall, Vernon V. Vandiver and Brent A. Sellers2 Classification Mature

Common Name: Cutleaf Ground-cherry Cutleaf Ground-cherry is an annual herb growing to 1 m in height (Figure 2). It is usually hairless; Scientific Name: Physalis angulata L. however, occasional have short appressed hairs Family: , Nightshade Family especially on the younger parts. The are ovate to lanceolate, 4-10 cm long and 3-6 cm wide. The Seedling petioles are up to 4 cm long or longer. The margin is usually irregularly toothed but may be The cotyledons are ovate with reddish petioles smooth. The leaf bases are unequal. The are and without a distinct midvein (Figure 1). The first borne on stalks from 5-40 mm in length. The corolla leaves are similar in shape to the cotyledons, but with is yellow, usually without spots or occasionally with an acute apex and evident venation. distinct spots, and is from 4-12 mm long and 6-12 mm wide. The anthers are bluish or violet, up to 2.5 mm long and are borne on stalks up to 5 mm long. The green outer layer is 4-7 mm long with triangular lobes about as long as the tube. The is enclosed in the outer layer. This outer layer (calyx) grows around and encloses the fruit and becomes 10-angled or ribbed, 20-35 mm long and from 15-25 mm wide; it is borne on a stalk 1-4 cm long. History

The genus name Physalis, a Greek word, means Figure 1. Seedling, Cutleaf Ground-cherry, Physalis bladder and refers to the inflated calyx, while the angulata L.

1. This document is an excerpt from Weeds in Florida, SP 37, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: May 1991. Revised: March 2006. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu. 2. David W. Hall, former extension botanist, Herbarium, Florida Museum of Natural History; Vernon V. Vandiver, associate professor emeritus, Agronomy Department; Brent A. Sellers, assistant professor, Agronomy Department, Range Cattle Research and Education Center--Ona, FL; Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville FL 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean Cutleaf Ground-cherry, Physalis angulata L. 2

Figure 2. Mature plant, Cutleaf Ground-cherry, Physalis angulata L.

Latin species name angulata means angled and refers to the stems. Habitat

This weed occurs in fields, pastures, roadsides and open woodlands throughout Florida to eastern Texas and northward to Pennsylvania. It prefers disturbed sites. Biology

Maximum germination occurred at 21¡C with 10 hours of alternating temperatures and 30¡C with 14 hours of alternating temperatures. Planting depth directly affected emergence with a decrease from 89 percent to 0 percent with a corresponding increase of depth from 0.0 cm-10.0 cm. The many-seeded fruit is edible when ripe.