Physalis angulata L. - SOLANACEAE - Dicotyledon

Common name : cut-leaved ground cherry.

Habit - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006 Fertile axis - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006 Fruits are pendulous - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006 The fruit is enclosed in the calyx - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006 Solitary flowers - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006 Flowers with fused petals - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006 Interior base of petals often brownish - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006 Open calyx showing the fruit - © Pierre GRARD - CIRAD 2005 - 2006

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Botany Biology Phenology Ecology Distribution Agricultural importance Chemical control

Botany :

Description : Terrestrial, annual, erect herb. Roots fibrous, brown or white. Stems quadrangular, hollow, hairy. Stipules absent. Leaves simple, lobed or entire, alternate spiral, stalked, ovate, more than 2 cm long/wide, hairy on both sides, margin entire, undulate or coarsely dentate, apex acute, base acute, pinnately veined. Flowers bisexual, solitary, axillary, petals 5, white or yellow. Fruits a berry, surrounded by calyx.

Biology :

Reproduction by seeds.

Phenology :

Flowering and fruiting throughout the year.

Ecology :

Sunny to somewhat shaded, not too dry, fertile spots in fields, gardens, wastelands, dunes, fallow fields, along roads, in open forests, forest margins; from 0-1500 m alt. Upland rice fields.

Distribution :

Pantropical.

Agricultural importance :

A weed of minor importance.

Chemical control :

Pre-emergence application of diuron, simazine (in sugarcane, USA); post-emergence aapplication of 2.4-DB (S.Africa); 2.4.5-T (USA); in E.Africa both 2.4-D and MCPA were found to be ineffective.

Uses :
The fruits are edible, but poisonous when they are consumed in large quantities.

References :
-Soerjani M., Kostermans A. J. G. H., Tjitrosoepomo G. 1987. Weeds of rice in Indonesia. Balai Pustaka. Jakarta.

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