grey ground-cherry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• grey ground-cherry
• dwarf Cape-gooseberry
• hairy ground-cherry
• Strawberry Groundcherry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Physalis pubescens var. grisea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Solanales and the family Solanaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Physalis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across both Europe and North America. In Middle Europe, its presence is documented in countries such as Austria, Belgium, and Germany. Moving across the Atlantic, the species can also be found in the diverse landscapes of Canada. Within Western Canada, it is specifically located in the province of British Columbia. Finally, its range extends to Eastern Canada, where it is known to grow in Ontario.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Physalis grisea is characterized by its status as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire developmental cycle—from germination to seed production—within a single growing season. Following the germination of seeds in favorable soil conditions, the plant undergoes a rapid vegetative growth phase, establishing a root system and developing foliage to support its increasing biomass. As the season progresses, the plant transitions into its reproductive stage, producing flowers that are subsequently encased in characteristic bladder-like calyxes. Once fertilization occurs, the plant directs its metabolic energy toward the maturation of fruits and the production of viable seeds. Upon the completion of seed dispersal, the individual plant reaches the end of its biological life cycle, leaving the next generation to emerge from the soil at the onset of the subsequent growing season.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Physalis grisea is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor an epiphyte, maintaining a terrestrial existence rather than an aquatic or semiaquatic one. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting, lacking the characteristics of a liana, vine, or any other form of obligate or facultative climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Physalis grisea has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ANTHOCYANIN, CHI, CHS, Malondialdehyde, apigenin.

ANTHOCYANIN

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

CHI

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

CHS

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Malondialdehyde

1. Physiologia plantarum

apigenin

1. Physiologia plantarum

dihydrokaempferol

1. Physiologia plantarum

luteolin

1. Physiologia plantarum

proline

1. Physiologia plantarum

quercetin

1. Physiologia plantarum

Conditions

Physalis grisea has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include drought resistance, drought tolerance.

Drought resistance

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Drought tolerance

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB