
| Also known as: | |
|---|---|
| Genus: | Physalis |
| Family: | Solanaceae (Potato) |
| Life cycle: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Habitat: | part shade, sun; sandy soil, prairies, waste areas, along railroads |
| Bloom season: | June - August |
| Plant height: | 1 to 2 feet |
| USDA PLANTS database: | Minnesota county distribution map |
| Spotted in Ramsey County at: |
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Flowers hang down on stems that arise from a leaf axil. They are
about ¾ inch across, bell-shaped with 5 shallow lobes, pale yellow with
dark greenish to purple-brown spots on the inside at the base of the
throat. There are 5 creamy yellow stamens with yellow or purple tips.
The bract holding the base of the flower has 5 pointed lobes and very hairy. The outside of the flowers is also covered in short hairs.
One plant has a few to about a dozen flowers on branching stems.
Leaves are to 3 inches long and ¾ inch wide with a pointed tip and tapering at the base. The edges may have a few shallow teeth and/or be somewhat wavy. Leaves are covered in short hairs. The main stem and leaf stems are both covered in stiff hairs.
Fruit is a green berry that ripens to red-orange. The berry is covered in a hairy papery shell shaped like an inverted tear drop, indented at the stem end, that swells up as the fruit matures.
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Photos taken at Long Lake Regional Park, New Brighton, MN June-July 2008
Have you seen this plant in Minnesota, or have any other comments about it?
I am not an expert on edible plants (please see the links page for other references) but as I understand it, only the ripe fruits are edible. Regardless, you should never eat wild plants unless you know what you're doing.
i found this plant in bemidji, Minnesota on a road called blue mayflower rd nw. it was growing in a friends driveway.
Growing on the west end of Big Willow Park in Minnetonka.
on: 2010-08-01 16:30:54
i have several acres of property and these plants appear to be abundant. I remember growing up in this area that someone said they were poisonous and a member of the nightshade family. can they safely be eaten and made into jelly, etc.