Plains Chinese-Lantern (Physalis lobata )

JUNE-OCTOBER

Plains Chinese-Lantern (Physalis lobata ) Torr.

Plains Chinese-Lantern is a low-growing, prostrate, much-branched, perennial with rhizomes. Leaves elliptic to lance-elliptic, 1-3 in. long with a winged petiole and 1/2-1 in. wide, and have an acute to rounded apex. The leaf margins are coarsely toothed to wavy or nearly entire with minute inflated hairs. Flowers on threadlike pedicels 1/2-1 in. long. The flower is light purple to blue. The fruiting calyx 5-angled, 1/2-1 in. long and has the appearance of a Chinese Lantern.