Physalis viscosa L.

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

General

Erect to decumbent, subdichotomously ± branched, perennial herb, (5)14–40 cm high (said to reach 80 cm elsewhere), arising from an elongated cord-like, flexuous, knotted, creeping rhizome, yellowish-green, viscid, ± clothed all over with stalked-stellate 2–3-branched and also somewhat dendritic, spreading hairs of varying size, short in the Flora Zambesiaca area, more dense on new growth, furnished with sessile glands too

Branches

Branches subterete-angular, striate, scabrid Branches subterete-angular, striate, scabrid.

Leaves

Leaves solitary or geminate; petiole 0.4–1. 8 cm long, slightly winged, rather sheathing at the base; lamina membranous or papyraceous, 0.9–4.2 × 0.4–2 cm, ovate to lanceolate, occasionally elliptic or obovate to spathulate, base cuneate or attenuate (or elsewhere sometimes ± cordate), and often oblique or unequal-sided, ± decurrent into the petiole, apex obtuse or somewhat acute, occasionally bluntly sub-acuminate, entire to coarsely sinuate-dentate distally (very rarely so in the Flora Zambesiaca area), the teeth unequal, obtuse, the sinuses rounded, densely viscid-hairy, glabrescent Leaves solitary or geminate; petiole 0.4–1.8 cm long, slightly winged, rather sheathing at the base; lamina membranous or papyraceous, 0.9–4.2 × 0.4–2 cm, ovate to lanceolate, occasionally elliptic or obovate to spathulate, base cuneate or attenuate (or elsewhere sometimes ± cordate), and often oblique or unequal-sided, ± decurrent into the petiole, apex obtuse or somewhat acute, occasionally bluntly sub-acuminate, entire to coarsely sinuate-dentate distally (very rarely so in the Flora Zambesiaca area), the teeth unequal, obtuse, the sinuses rounded, densely viscid-hairy, glabrescent.

Pedicel

Pedicel 10–20 mm long, hairy and glandular, in fruit elongated to 25 mm

Disc

Disk 0.2–0.3 mm high, fleshy, glabrous Disk 0.2–0.3 mm high, fleshy, glabrous.

Ovary

Ovary 1. 2–1. 7 × 1. 2–1. 6 mm, ovoid, glabrous.

Style

Style 7–9 mm long, filiform, straight or slightly bent

Fruits

Fruit greenish-yellow to orange, occasionally reddish, subsessile on the invaginated base of the drooping to pendulous calyx, 8 × 7 mm, turbinate or ± globose, viscid Fruit greenish-yellow to orange, occasionally reddish, subsessile on the invaginated base of the drooping to pendulous calyx, 8 × 7 mm, turbinate or ± globose, viscid.

Seeds

Seeds orange, 2 × 1. 8 mm, broadly ovate to suborbicular in outline, reticulate-foveate Seeds orange, 2 × 1.8 mm, broadly ovate to suborbicular in outline, reticulate-foveate.

Note

Common name: “Sticky Gooseberry” or “Sticky Physalis”.

Distribution

ZIM W, MOZ MS A large polymorphic species native to America from the south-eastern and south-central United States southwards throughout Central America and the Antilles to Argentina, occurring as an adventive in Europe and Africa. A weed of cultivation and in disturbe Zimbabwe Mozambique

Habit

Erect to decumbent, subdichotomously ± branched, perennial herb, (5)14–40 cm high (said to reach 80 cm elsewhere), arising from an elongated cord-like, flexuous, knotted, creeping rhizome, yellowish-green, viscid, ± clothed all over with stalked-stellate 2–3-branched and also somewhat dendritic, spreading hairs of varying size, short in the Flora Zambesiaca area, more dense on new growth, furnished with sessile glands too.

Flowers

Flowers solitary, axillary, drooping or nodding; pedicel 10–20 mm long, hairy and glandular, in fruit elongated to 25 mm. Flowers solitary, axillary, drooping or nodding.

Calyx

Calyx 6–8 mm long, 4–6(7) mm across at the base of the lobes, cylindric-campanulate, sub-angled, truncate or invaginated at the base, hairy, and glandular especially towards the base, glabrous inside apart from minute indumentum towards the lobe tips; lobes unequal, 1.8–3 × 1.8–3 mm, ovate or ± triangular, acute or acuminate, ciliate; in fruit ± yellowish when ripe, 17–23 × 15–20 mm, subglobose or ovoid, 10-angled and -ribbed, obtuse distally and acuminate at the summit, half to three-quarters filled by the fruit, with a few minute hairs along the ribs and more dense hairs towards the apex of the lobes, viscid, the lobes 3–5 × 2–3.5 mm and also hairy inside. Calyx 6–8 mm long, 4–6(7) mm across at the base of the lobes, cylindric-campanulate, sub-angled, truncate or invaginated at the base, hairy, and glandular especially towards the base, glabrous inside apart from minute indumentum towards the lobe tips; lobes unequal, 1. 8–3 × 1. 8–3 mm, ovate or ± triangular, acute or acuminate, ciliate; in fruit ± yellowish when ripe, 17–23 × 15–20 mm, subglobose or ovoid, 10-angled and -ribbed, obtuse distally and acuminate at the summit, half to three-quarters filled by the fruit, with a few minute hairs along the ribs and more dense hairs towards the apex of the lobes, viscid, the lobes 3–5 × 2–3.5 mm and also hairy inside

Corolla

Corolla yellowish or greenish-yellow, blotched with 5 dark purplish (or green) markings ± contrasting with the surrounding limb, 10–15 mm long, subrotate; tube glabrous, on the inside with dense felted indumentum from near the insertion of the stamens to the mouth; limb 10–15 mm across, sinuate or with 5 ± prominent angles, reflexed when fully expanded, hairy outside, glabrous inside, ciliate. Corolla yellowish or greenish-yellow, blotched with 5 dark purplish (or green) markings ± contrasting with the surrounding limb, 10–15 mm long, subrotate; tube glabrous, on the inside with dense felted indumentum from near the insertion of the stamens to the mouth; limb 10–15 mm across, sinuate or with 5 ± prominent angles, reflexed when fully expanded, hairy outside, glabrous inside, ciliate

Stamens

Stamens slightly exserted, one longer than the other 4, glabrous; filaments 3–5 mm long, filiform, attached to the corolla tube near the base; anthers yellow, 2.5–3 mm long, linear to narrowly ovate-oblong in outline, straight after anthesis. Stamens slightly exserted, one longer than the other 4, glabrous; filaments 3–5 mm long, filiform, attached to the corolla tube near the base; anthers yellow, 2.5–3 mm long, linear to narrowly ovate-oblong in outline, straight after anthesis

Pistil

Ovary 1.2–1.7 × 1.2–1.6 mm, ovoid, glabrous; style 7–9 mm long, filiform, straight or slightly bent.