Family: Solanaceae
Physalis viscosa
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 183 (1753).
Synonymy: Not Applicable Common name: Sticky Cape gooseberry, sticky ground-cherry.
Description:
An herbaceous perennial to c. 30 cm high, with an extensive rhizomatous root system; sparsely pubescent with minute forked hairs; a few plants have bluntly conical hairs but then usually have a few forked hairs on the calyx margins; lower leaves to 5 x 3 cm, ovate-lanceolate, upper leaves c. 3 x 1 cm, lanceolate, apex acute, base cuneate, often oblique; petiole 0.5-2 cm long, narrowly winged above.
Flowers solitary, pedunculate from leaf axils and stem forks; peduncle c. 1 cm long; calyx 9-10 mm long; corolla c. 2-2.5 cm diam., rotate-pentagonal, pale-yellow with dark olive-yellow spots towards the base, densely pubescent below the spots; filaments 3-5 mm long, unequal, glabrous, white; anthers 3-3.5 mm long, unequal, glabrous, white; anthers 3-3.5 mm long, oblong, creamy-white, pollen white; ovary c. 2 mm diam., bluntly conical, disk conspicuous, fleshy, a pale orange-yellow; style c. 9 mm long, erect; stigma capitate.
Fruiting calyx to 2 x 1.5 cm, enclosing the berry; berry c. 1 cm diam., finally greenish-yellow; seeds 2-2.25 mm long, discoidal, light-brown.
| Flowering branch, flower and opened corolla
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Image source: fig. 572B in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, p. 264 as P. lanceolata.
Distribution:
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W.Aust.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic. Native to North and South America.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Nov. — March.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
This species has become widely naturalised and weedy in south-eastern Australia and may be difficult to eradicate because of its vigorous rhizomatous root system.
Author:
Not yet available
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