Yellow Nightshade Groundcherry. Physalis crassifolia. Nightshade Family ( Solanaceae ), Yellow Nightshade Groundcherry. Also Called: Thick-leaf Ground-cherry, Groundcherry, Yellow Groundcherry, Desert Groundcherry, Tomatillo Del Desierto. We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the information on this page. We donate to, share images, and information with Wikipedia. Physalis crassifolia is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family ( Solanaceae ), known by the common names Yellow Nightshade Groundcherry, Thick-leaf Ground-cherry, Groundcherry, Yellow Groundcherry, Desert Groundcherry, & Tomatillo Del Desierto. Yellow Nightshade Groundcherry is a short-lived perennial, or annual herb, or subshrub, native to the southwestern United States, & northern Mexico, where it can be found in sandy, to rocky, dry deserts, and mountain habitats. Physalis crassifolia is a perennial herb producing a ridged, angular, branching stem about 80 centimeters long, taking on a clumped, matted, or erect form. Its fleshy triangular leaves are from about 1 to 3 centimeters long and they have smooth, wavy, or bluntly toothed edges. The herbage is glandular and coated in short hairs. The yellow flowers growing from the leaf axils are widely bell-shaped, vaguely five-lobed, and around 2 centimeters wide. The star-shaped calyx of sepals at the base of the flower enlarges as the fruit develops, becoming an inflated, angled lanternlike structure about 2 centimeters long which contains a berry. Well, we found several of these plants growing in a many of the burned over areas in Yarnell, Arizona. about two months after the infamous Yarnell Forest Fire that destroyed many homes in Yarnell, including our own. Note: The ripe berries of Physalis crassifolia are edible. But, do not consume the leaves, stems, flowers, or the lantern (calyx); on any Physalis crassifolia plants, as they are poisonous. When ripe, the fruit has the texture of a firm tomato, and tastes like either strawberries, or pineapple, with a mild acid taste. Quick Notes: Height: About 1 feet tall. Spreading out to about 18 to 30 inches wide. Flowers: Yellow flowers, a darker yellow, or greenish at the base, widely bell-shaped, growing from the leaf axils, widely bell-shaped, formed of five fused lobes, about 2 centimeters wide,.surrounding a group of short stamens and a style. The calyx is 4�7 mm, in fruit 20�25 mm, weak-angled; the corolla 15�20 mm diam, the anthers are about 2�3 mm, yellow in color. Hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects. Fruit: The star-shaped calyx of sepals at the base of the flower enlarges, & curls backwards to form a housing for the tomato-like fruit. As the fruit develops, it all becomes a lantern-like structure about 2 centimeters long, which contains the berry. When ripe, the berry is yellow & the husk is tan in color. It is said that it tastes like either strawberries, or pineapple, with a mild acid taste. We found it to have simply a bitter taste. It takes about 3 weeks from husks forming to ripening. The fruit is bitter, & harsh, when unripe! Flowering Time: Mid February to Mid October. Leaves: Leaves are green, to gray - green, alternate, & simple. They are generally ovate, fleshy, entire or wavy in shape, about 1 to 4 inches long and about � to 1 7/8 inches wide. Found: Native to Arizona, California, Nevada, & Utah. Found throughout different elevations in Arizona, in Mohave, La Paz, Yuma, Coconino, Yavapai, Maricopa, Pima, & Gila counties. Also found in Northern Mexico in the states of: Baja California, Sonora, & Coahuila. Found in the Sonora, & Mojave Deserts. Hardiness: It is frost tender. USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 �C (15 �F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 �C (20 �F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 �C (25 �F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 �C (30 �F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 �C (35 �F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 �C (40 �F) Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline) Sun Exposure: Full Sun Elevation: The above photos are at 4,886 feet in Yarnell. We have seen it at over 5,000 feet. It is said to only grow from 0 - 4,265 feet. Habitat:Sandy, gravelly, & rocky flats, washes, slopes, deserts, canyon floors, and rocky hillsides. Peninsular Ranges. Cultivated Beds. Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken September 09, 2013.Unripe Fruit Photos Taken September 19, 2013. Yarnell, Arizona. 4,886 feet. You can cultivate or grow this plant in light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. It prefers well-drained soil. Soil can be; acid, neutral, or basic (alkaline). It will not grow in the shade. It grows in either dry, or moist soil.

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