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Physalis heterophylla

Nees

Clammy Ground-cherry

G5Secure Found in 13 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.144862
Element CodePDSOL0S0E0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilySolanaceae
GenusPhysalis
Other Common Names
clammy groundcherry (EN) Coqueret hétérophylle (FR)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic Comments
Sullivan's treatment in FNA (2023, vol. 14) does not recognize varieties of Physalis heterophylla, saying, "intergradation occurs among varieties and they often cannot be identified reliably."
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-08
Change Date1984-06-18
Edition Date2025-10-08
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Physalis heterophylla is a wide-ranging perennial forb found in openings in hardwood forests, dry rocky woodlands, edges of pine woods, hammocks, stream valleys, grasslands, prairies, fields, roadsides, and dis­turbed sites. It is widespread in eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Ontario, Canada, west to Montana and south to northern Florida and Texas in the United States. There are over 1,800 estimated occurrences. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Physalis heterophylla is widespread in eastern and central North America, from Quebec and Ontario, Canada, west to Montana and south to northern Florida and Texas in the United States (FNA 2023, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 5.4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 1,800 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, conversion to agriculture or pasture, logging, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, tolerance of light disturbance, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Physalis heterophylla grows in openings in hardwood forests, dry rocky woodlands, edges of pine woods, hammocks, stream valleys, grasslands, prairies, fields, roadsides, and dis­turbed sites at 10 to 400 m elevation (FNA 2023).

Reproduction

This species flowers from May to September (FNA 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - HardwoodForest EdgeWoodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedGrassland/herbaceousOld fieldCropland/hedgerowSuburban/orchard
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (2)
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
QuebecS3Yes
OntarioS4Yes
SaskatchewanSNANo
Nova ScotiaSNANo
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
West VirginiaS5Yes
North DakotaSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
GeorgiaSNRYes
PennsylvaniaS5Yes
Rhode IslandSNRYes
District of ColumbiaSNRYes
MichiganSNRYes
IllinoisSNRYes
New HampshireSNRYes
WisconsinSNRYes
KentuckyS5Yes
NebraskaSNRYes
VirginiaS5Yes
MarylandSNRYes
MissouriSNRYes
North CarolinaS3Yes
WyomingS2Yes
TennesseeSNRYes
MaineSNRYes
ArkansasSNRYes
IowaS5Yes
South CarolinaS4Yes
MississippiSNRYes
OhioSNRYes
MinnesotaSNRYes
AlabamaSNRYes
IndianaS5Yes
ColoradoS3Yes
MassachusettsSNRYes
DelawareS4Yes
FloridaS2Yes
New YorkS5Yes
KansasS5Yes
MontanaSUYes
UtahSNRYes
New JerseyS4Yes
ConnecticutSNRYes
LouisianaSNRYes
South DakotaSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
VermontS5Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (13)
Arkansas (2)
AreaForestAcres
Clifty CanyonOzark-St. Francis National Forest1,963
Pedestal RocksOzark-St. Francis National Forest21,957
Georgia (1)
AreaForestAcres
Pink KnobChattahoochee National Forest12,127
Illinois (1)
AreaForestAcres
Bay CreekShawnee National Forest120
North Dakota (2)
AreaForestAcres
SheyenneDakota Prairie Grasslands14,537
VenloDakota Prairie Grasslands5,317
Tennessee (1)
AreaForestAcres
Beaver Dam CreekCherokee National Forest5,070
Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Beaver Dam CreekJefferson National Forest1,135
Little RiverGeorge Washington National Forest27,292
Oliver MountainGeorge Washington National Forest13,090
West Virginia (3)
AreaForestAcres
Glady ForkMonongahela National Forest3,239
Mcgowan MountainMonongahela National Forest10,504
Seneca CreekMonongahela National Forest22,287
References (7)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 14. Magnoliophyta: Gentianaceae to Hydroleaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 505 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  6. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  7. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).