Physalis mollis
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Physalis mollis, commonly known as field ground-cherry, is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. It is a perennial herb native to the south-central United States and Mexico.[2][1] It grows in sandy soils, prairies, roadsides, and disturbed habitats.[1]
| Physalis mollis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Physalis mollis in bloom | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Solanales |
| Family: | Solanaceae |
| Genus: | Physalis |
| Species: | P. mollis |
| Binomial name | |
| Physalis mollis Nutt. | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Description
Physalis mollis is a perennial herb.[1] It flowers from March to October.[3][1] Like other members of Physalis, it produces flowers followed by berries enclosed within an enlarged, papery calyx.
Physalis mollis is distinguished from related stellate-pubescent species by the undersurfaces of the mid-stem and upper leaves being densely white-tomentose, with the pubescence mostly obscuring the blade surface.[4]
Taxonomy
Physalis mollis was first described by Thomas Nuttall in 1836 in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society.[5] The original data cited Texas and northern Mexico.[5] Plants of the World Online accepts the species as Physalis mollis Nutt.[2]
Plants of the World Online recognizes two infraspecific taxa: Physalis mollis var. mollis and Physalis mollis var. variovestita.[2] NatureServe follows the broad Flora of North America treatment of P. mollis, including var. variovestita.[1] Other treatments, including Turner and Martínez and Weakley, exclude var. variovestita from P. mollis and treat it as a variety of Physalis cinerascens.[1][6]
Distribution and habitat
Physalis mollis is native from Oklahoma to Alabama and Mexico.[2] Plants of the World Online lists it as native to Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and parts of Mexico.[2] NatureServe describes it as occurring in the south-central United States from Arkansas and Oklahoma south to Louisiana and Texas, extending into Mexico.[1]
The species grows in sandy soil, prairies, roadsides, and disturbed habitats, at elevations of 0–200 m (0–656 ft).[1][3]
Infraspecific taxa
Plants of the World Online accepts two varieties:[2]
| Taxon | Common name | Distribution and habitat | Conservation status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physalis mollis var. mollis | Field ground-cherry | Occurs in the south-central United States from Arkansas and Oklahoma south to Louisiana and Texas, and south into Mexico. It grows in sandy soil, prairies, roadsides, and disturbed habitats.[7] | Ranked G5T5 by NatureServe.[7] |
| Physalis mollis var. variovestita (Waterf.) J.R.Sullivan | Field ground-cherry | Endemic to eastern Texas, where it occurs in open sands, other dry habitats, and disturbed sandy areas.[6] | Ranked G5T4 by NatureServe.[6] |
Var. mollis
Physalis mollis var. mollis is the typical variety of the species. It is a wide-ranging perennial taxon of sandy soil, prairies, roadsides, and disturbed habitats in the south-central United States and Mexico.[7] It is ranked G5T5 by NatureServe, indicating that the variety is secure.[7]
Var. variovestita
Physalis mollis var. variovestita was published by J.R. Sullivan in 1985, based on Physalis variovestita Waterf.[8] NatureServe and Plants of the World Online treat it as a variety of P. mollis, while Turner and Martínez and Weakley place it under Physalis cinerascens as Physalis cinerascens var. variovestita.[2][6] NatureServe describes it as endemic to eastern Texas, from the extreme southern part of the state north along the coast to Aransas County.[6] It grows in open sands, other dry habitats, and disturbed sandy areas, at elevations of 0–20 m (0–66 ft).[6]
Conservation
NatureServe ranks Physalis mollis as , indicating that it is globally secure.[1] The status was last reviewed on 9 October 2025.[1] NatureServe estimates more than 180 occurrences rangewide and notes that, although threats are not well documented, the species may be affected in some places by development, rights-of-way maintenance, agriculture and pasturage, invasive species, and other threats.[1] However, NatureServe considers the overall impact likely negligible because of the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and tolerance of light disturbance.[1] The species has no status under the United States Endangered Species Act.[1]