Physalis angulata L.

Bernal, R., G. Galeano, A. Rodríguez, H. Sarmiento y M. Gutiérrez. 2017. Nombres Comunes de las Plantas de Colombia. http://www.biovirtual.unal.edu.co/nombrescomunes/

Vernacular

ajenje, ají, huilla, mullaca, tofetorofe, topotopo, topotoropo, uchuva, uva, uvilla, uvillas, uvita de monte, vejigón

George R. Proctor (2012). Flora of the Cayman Isands (Second Edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Morphology General Habit

A tender, branched herb to 50 cm tall or more, glabrous or with scattered minute hairs on the young parts; leaves long-petiolate, the blades lance-ovate to broadly ovate, mostly 2.5–9 cm long, shortly acuminate, the margins nearly entire to irregularly incised- or undulate-toothed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale yellow, indistinctly spotted at the base within, or unspotted, 6–12 mm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Fruiting calyces 10-angled or 10-ribbed, 2–3.5 cm long, on slender stalks 1–2.5 long; berry 10–12 mm in diameter.

Distribution

Grand Cayman. Southern U. S. A., West Indies and continental tropical America.

Ecology

A frequent weed of fields, clearings and waste places.

Bernal, R., Gradstein, S.R. & Celis, M. (eds.). 2015. Catálogo de plantas y líquenes de Colombia. Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá. http://catalogoplantasdecolombia.unal.edu.co

Distribution

Nativa en Colombia; Alt. 0 - 1780 m.; Amazonia, Andes, Islas Caribeñas, Llanura del Caribe, Orinoquia, Pacífico, Valle del Magdalena.

Morphology General Habit

Hierba, subarbusto

Conservation

Preocupación Menor

Flora Zambesiaca. Vol. 8, Part 4. Solanaceae. Gonçalves AE. 2005

Type

Type: Linnean specimen 247.9 (LINN, lectotype, IDC microfiche neg. 137.II.!) of a plant cultivated in the “Hortus Botanicus Upsaliensis”, Uppsala, Sweden, probably from Central America.

Morphology General

Erect to procumbent or prostrate, weak to ± robust, often diffusely much branched, sometimes dichotomously so, annual (or rarely ?short-lived perennial) herb, sometimes ± tinged purple, glabrous or sparsely clothed with simple, ± appressed, short and minute, usually eglandular hairs, more abundant especially on new growth, furnished also with ± sessile glands

Morphology Branches

Branches angular or angular-ribbed, striate, drying ± sulcate, glabrous or puberulous Branches angular or angular-ribbed, striate, drying ± sulcate, glabrous or puberulous.

Morphology Leaves

Leaves usually solitary; petiole (0.5)1–5(7) cm long; lamina (1. 5)2–8(10) × (0.5)1. 5–4.5(6) cm, ovate to lanceolate, sometimes elliptic or ± oblong, rarely subrotund, obovate or oblanceolate, base cuneate or attenuate, sometimes obtuse, rounded, truncate or subcordate, and often oblique or unequal-sided, ± decurrent into the petiole, apex acute or acutely acuminate, sometimes sub-acute or obtuse, deeply or coarsely dentate to entire, the teeth unequal, very acute to rather obtuse, the sinuses rounded, ± glabrous or sparsely puberulous on the nerves and sometimes also near the margins mainly beneath Leaves usually solitary; petiole (0.5)1–5(7) cm long; lamina (1.5)2–8(10) × (0.5)1.5–4.5(6) cm, ovate to lanceolate, sometimes elliptic or ± oblong, rarely subrotund, obovate or oblanceolate, base cuneate or attenuate, sometimes obtuse, rounded, truncate or subcordate, and often oblique or unequal-sided, ± decurrent into the petiole, apex acute or acutely acuminate, sometimes sub-acute or obtuse, deeply or coarsely dentate to entire, the teeth unequal, very acute to rather obtuse, the sinuses rounded, ± glabrous or sparsely puberulous on the nerves and sometimes also near the margins mainly beneath.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary, axillary, erect to nodding. Flowers solitary, axillary, erect to nodding; pedicel greenish, violaceous or purplish, (5)6–12(16) mm long, glabrous or rarely with scattered, minute hairs, usually with ± sessile glands, in fruit elongating to 22(25) mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicel greenish, violaceous or purplish, (5)6–12(16) mm long, glabrous or rarely with scattered, minute hairs, usually with ± sessile glands, in fruit elongating to 22(25) mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx (2.5)3–5(7) mm long, (2)2.5–3.5(4) mm across at the base of the lobes, campanulate, sub-angled or ribbed, truncate or invaginated at the base, puberulous sometimes only along the nerves or subglabrous, usually with ± sessile glands more abundant towards the base, on the inside glabrous except for the lobes with ± dense, minute indumentum on the upper half or only near the apex and the margins; lobes unequal or subequal, (1. 2)1. 5–3(3.5) × 1–2 mm, ovate-triangular or deltoid to triangular-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, occasionally sub-acute or obtuse, ciliate; in fruit green to greenish-yellow, often darker veined, sometimes purple towards the base or also with purplish venation, 20–30(35) × 15–25(30) mm, ovoid or subglobose slightly 10-angled or 10-ribbed, sometimes ± terete, shortly acuminate or slightly apiculate at the summit, half to three-quarters filled by the fruit, ± glabrous, often scabrid near or at the margins and apex of the lobes, the lobes 3–7(8) × 2–4(5) mm Calyx (2.5)3–5(7) mm long, (2)2.5–3.5(4) mm across at the base of the lobes, campanulate, sub-angled or ribbed, truncate or invaginated at the base, puberulous sometimes only along the nerves or subglabrous, usually with ± sessile glands more abundant towards the base, on the inside glabrous except for the lobes with ± dense, minute indumentum on the upper half or only near the apex and the margins; lobes unequal or subequal, (1.2)1.5–3(3.5) × 1–2 mm, ovate-triangular or deltoid to triangular-lanceolate, acute or acuminate, occasionally sub-acute or obtuse, ciliate; in fruit green to greenish-yellow, often darker veined, sometimes purple towards the base or also with purplish venation, 20–30(35) × 15–25(30) mm, ovoid or subglobose slightly 10-angled or 10-ribbed, sometimes ± terete, shortly acuminate or slightly apiculate at the summit, half to three-quarters filled by the fruit, ± glabrous, often scabrid near or at the margins and apex of the lobes, the lobes 3–7(8) × 2–4(5) mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow or greenish-yellow to whitish, usually unmarked, sometimes red-brown to greyish-brown or mauve at the mouth or also so towards the base, more rarely blotched with 5 fuscous or purplish markings slightly or not contrasting with the surrounding limb, (4)5–9(10) mm long, infundibular-rotate or tubular-campanulate; tube ± glabrous, with a few, sessile glands, on the inside somewhat hairy with minute hyaline hairs, also with ± sessile glands, with a ring of hyaline hairs at the mouth; limb (4)6–11(12) mm across, shortly 5-lobed, erect or spreading, occasionally reflexed when fully expanded, with dense, ± appressed, short hairs and also sessile glands on the parts not folded in bud, glabrous inside, ciliate Corolla yellow or greenish-yellow to whitish, usually unmarked, sometimes red-brown to greyish-brown or mauve at the mouth or also so towards the base, more rarely blotched with 5 fuscous or purplish markings slightly or not contrasting with the surrounding limb, (4)5–9(10) mm long, infundibular-rotate or tubular-campanulate; tube ± glabrous, with a few, sessile glands, on the inside somewhat hairy with minute hyaline hairs, also with ± sessile glands, with a ring of hyaline hairs at the mouth; limb (4)6–11(12) mm across, shortly 5-lobed, erect or spreading, occasionally reflexed when fully expanded, with dense, ± appressed, short hairs and also sessile glands on the parts not folded in bud, glabrous inside, ciliate.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens included or exserted, subequal or unequal, glabrous; filaments (1. 5)2–4(5) mm long, filiform, attached to the corolla tube near the base; anthers bluish or violaceous, sometimes fading yellowish, 1. 5–2.5 mm long, oblong or narrowly ovate-oblong in outline, straight after anthesis Stamens included or exserted, subequal or unequal, glabrous; filaments (1.5)2–4(5) mm long, filiform, attached to the corolla tube near the base; anthers bluish or violaceous, sometimes fading yellowish, 1.5–2.5 mm long, oblong or narrowly ovate-oblong in outline, straight after anthesis.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Disc

Disk 0.2–0.3 mm high, fleshy, glabrous Disk 0.2–0.3 mm high, fleshy, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary 1. 2–2 × 1–1. 8 mm, subglobose or ± ovoid, glabrous.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Style

Style (3)3.5–5(6) mm long, filiform, straight or curved upwards

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit green to yellow, sessile on the invaginated base of the pendulous calyx, (10)11–15(16) mm in diameter, ± globose, viscid Fruit green to yellow, sessile on the invaginated base of the pendulous calyx, (10)11–15(16) mm in diameter, ± globose, viscid.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds yellowish to pale brown or rufescent, 1. 3–1. 8 × 1–1. 5 mm, ovate, elliptic or ± orbicular in outline, sometimes reniform, reticulate-foveate Seeds yellowish to pale brown or rufescent, 1.3–1.8 × 1–1.5 mm, ovate, elliptic or ± orbicular in outline, sometimes reniform, reticulate-foveate.

Note

Chromosome number: 2n=48

Distribution

Native to tropical America (probably Central America), now extending northwards into Canada (Manitoba) and southwards throughout Central America and the Antilles to southern Argentina. Mozambique BOT N, ZAM W, ZAM S, ZIM N, ZIM W, ZIM S, MOZ Z, MOZ T, MOZ GI, MOZ M Zambia Zimbabwe Botswana.

Morphology General Habit

Erect to procumbent or prostrate, weak to ± robust, often diffusely much branched, sometimes dichotomously so, annual (or rarely ?short-lived perennial) herb, sometimes ± tinged purple, glabrous or sparsely clothed with simple, ± appressed, short and minute, usually eglandular hairs, more abundant especially on new growth, furnished also with ± sessile glands.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil

Ovary 1.2–2 × 1–1.8 mm, subglobose or ± ovoid, glabrous; style (3)3.5–5(6) mm long, filiform, straight or curved upwards.

Cytology

Chromosome number: 2n=48.

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/19241191/106128043

Conservation

LC - least concern

Distribution

Biogeografic region: Amazonia, Andean, Caribbean, Orinoquia, Pacific. Elevation range: 0–1780 m a.s.l. Native to Colombia. Colombian departments: Amazonas, Antioquia, Arauca, Atlántico, Bolívar, Caldas, Cauca, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca, La Guajira, Magdalena, Meta, Nariño, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, Quindío, San Andrés y Providencia, Santander, Sucre, Tolima, Valle del Cauca.

Habit

Herb, Subshrub.

Conservation

IUCN Red List Assessment (2021): LC. National Red List of Colombia (2021): Potential LC.

Ecology

Habitat according IUCN Habitats Classification: forest and woodland, savanna, shrubland, wetlands (inland), artificial - terrestrial.

Vernacular

Topotoropo, Uchuva, Uva, Vejigón

Solanaceae, H. heine. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

Erect glabrous annual up to 3 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers cream.

Solanaceae, Jennifer M Edmonds. Oliganthes, Melongena & Monodolichopus, Maria S. Vorontsova & Sandra Knapp. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 2012

Type

Type: “Habitat in India utraque”, Herb. Linnaeus 247.9 (LINN!, lecto.) designated by Fernandes in Bol. Soc. Brot., Ser. 2, 44: 352 (1970) [rather than the different lectotype designated by D’Arcy in Woodson & Schery in Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. 60: 662 (1974), fide Jarvis Order out of Chaos: 741 (2007)]

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb up to 60 cm (rarely to 1 m) high.

Morphology Stem

Main stems erect, branched, greenish-brown or purple-tinged, sparsely pilose on young parts with short simple hairs, becoming glabrescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves soft, dull green, alternate, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, rarely linear-lanceolate, 4.8–8.4 × 2.2–5.3 cm, bases cuneate, often oblique, sometimes decurrent, margins irregularly serrate with antrorse acute, often deep teeth, rarely sinuate or sinuate-dentate, apices acute, sparsely pilose, denser on veins, midribs and lower surfaces, becoming glabrescent; petioles 1.5–5 cm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers solitary, in leaf or branch axils; pedicels filiform, (4–)9–12 mm long, erect in flower, (7–)10–26 mm long, erect to recurved in fruit

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx cupulate, 3–4.5 mm long, shortly pilose, with 5 narrowly triangular acute lobes 1.2–2.5 × 0.6–1.5 mm, margins ciliate, enlarged, persistent and glabrescent in fruit with lobes 3–6.5 × 2–2.2 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla yellow, sometimes with pale purple markings, campanulate, 0.6–1 × 0.5–1.2 cm diameter, unpleasantly aromatic, margin ciliate with five broadly triangular obtuse lobes 1–2 × 2.5–6 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens

Stamens sometimes visible in corolla throat; filaments free for 2.6–3.5 mm; anthers purple or yellow and purple, oblong, bilobed, 1.2–2 × 0.4–0.7 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary

Ovary brownish, ovoid, 1.5–2 × 1–2 mm, smooth, glabrous; disc ± 2 mm diameter; style sometimes exserted, 4.1–5 mm long; stigma 0.2–0.4 × 0.4–0.8 mm

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit pale green to yellow, usually globose but distinctly 5-angled, 0.7–1.1 cm diameter, smooth, subsessile or on inverted gynobase of enlarged and inflated reticulately-veined, glabrescent, pale green, ovoid calyx, 2.2–3 × 1.8–1.9 cm, the mouth closed by connivent lobes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seeds yellow-orange, discoid to orbicular, 1.2–1.8 × 1.1–1.4 mm, compressed

Figures

Fig 15/12–15, p 72

Ecology

Ruderal of waste places, damp areas, swamp edges, riverine sand banks or weed of cultivated crops (e.g. rice); 90–1600 m

Conservation

Widespread; least concern (LC)

Note

This is often known as the “cut-leaved ground cherry”; the berries are eaten or made into preserves and pies and it is used as a vegetable in T 3. Specimens collected in Zanzibar ( Faulkner 2937 & 3129) were considered by Brenan & Meikle in 1965 to be the first African specimens of true P. minima – which is now considered to be a synonym of P. angulata. Agnew (1994) included P. minima as a distinct species, but in his first edition (1974) he mentioned that it might only be a variety of P. angulata, distinguishable by being more hairy and having smaller fruits. In his second edition he recorded that “ P. minima” occurred in K 3 –5 up to 2170 m; the variation that he noted could be partly associated with higher altitude plants. No herbarium specimens of typical P. angulata from Kenya were seen during this revision.

Distribution

Flora districts: T3 T6 T8 Z Range: Native to tropical America, now a common weed of temperate and tropical areas, including most of Africa

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit

Annual herb, up to c. 0.5 m tall, sparsely and shortly pubescent or glabrescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves petiolate; blade ovate to elliptic, 3–8 x 1.5–5 cm, cuneate at the base, acute or acuminate at the apex, with entire to dentate margins

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels c. 1–2.5 cm long

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx 3–5 mm long in flower, up to c. 30 mm in fruit, lobed almost halfway into lanceolate lobes

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla pale yellow or white, spotted in throat, 0.6–0.8 cm in diam. Berry c. 1.2 cm in diam. Seeds c. 2 mm in diam.

Distribution

S2 native to tropical America, now widespread in the tropics and subtropics.

Ecology

Low altitude

Note

First record for Somalia (from Buulo Warbe at 44°10´E, 1°35´N).

Solanaceae, H. heine. Flora of West Tropical Africa 2. 1963

Morphology General Habit

A very variable annual, stems more or less prostrate or sometimes erect up to 3 ft. high

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers cream

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Calyx in fruiting state bladder-like.