Anza Borrego State Park, San Diego Co., CA. 3-13-10 . © Joan Avise.

Thick-leaved Ground-cherry

Physalis crassifolia

A sticky, shrubby 8-20 in. tall perennial, uncommon in coastal sage scrub of the San Joaquin Hills and southern foothills (Roberts). It often grows in the cracks of rocks in dry chaparral (Clarke). Flowering: Mar-May

The coastal Orange County, San Diego and NW Baja CA plants, although ascribed to Physalis crassifolia are more likely an undescribed taxon. Among other traits, true P. crassifolia of the CA desert areas has yellow flowers, as seen here in the Anza-Borrego photos. But our taxon has pale creamy flowers with noticeable dark portions toward the middle of each fused petal of the corolla. Uncommon and quite patchy in Orange County, growing in coastal sage scrub.

Back to Solanaceae of Orange County, California
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Anza Borrego State Park, San Diego Co., CA. 3-13-10. © Joan Avise.

Anza Borrego State Park, San Diego Co., CA. 3-13-10. © Joan Avise.

Anza Borrego State Park, San Diego Co., CA. 3-13-10. © Joan Avise.

Leaves are alternate, ovate, up to 1 1/4 in. long with entire or wavy margins. Anza Borrego State Park, San Diego Co., CA. 3-13-10. © Joan Avise.

The yellow 5-parted bell-shaped flowers are produced singly in leaf axils, with 5 often greenish 'spots' near the throat.  The 5 exerted stamens are unequal. Anza Borrego State Park, San Diego Co., CA. 3-13-10. © Joan Avise.

Ridged stems are often branched in a zigzag pattern. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 1-16-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Unripe fruit. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 1-17-12. © Peter J. Bryant

Ripe fruit - a lantern-like structure containing the berry. James Dilley Preserve, Laguna Beach, Orange County, CA. 1-17-12. © Peter J. Bryant

E end Center Street, 5.5 mi MW Moreno Valley, 12-8-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.

E end Center Street, 5.5 mi MW Moreno Valley, 12-8-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.

E end Center Street, 5.5 mi MW Moreno Valley, 12-8-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.

E end Center Street, 5.5 mi MW Moreno Valley, 12-8-13. © Ron Vanderhoff.

San Mateo Crk. 1.15 to 2.7 air mi. fr mouth, 10-18-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.

San Mateo Crk. 1.15 to 2.7 air mi. fr mouth, 10-18-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.

San Mateo Crk. 1.15 to 2.7 air mi. fr mouth, 10-18-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.

San Mateo Crk. 1.15 to 2.7 air mi. fr mouth, 10-18-15. © Ron Vanderhoff.