Physalis lobata Torrey, Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 2: 226. 1827

Stems 2–30 cm. Leaf blades oblanceolate to spatulate, (2–)4–6(–7.5) (including petiole) × (0.5–)1.5–2.5 cm, slightly fleshy. Flowering pedicels (5–)10–25(–30) mm. Flowers: calyx (2.5–)3–6(–7) mm, lobes 1–2(–3) mm; corolla 11–26(–28) mm diam., with 5 darker purple patches along main veins and mat of white hairs in throat; filaments filiform; anthers yellow, rarely purple-tinged, 1–2(–2.5) mm. Fruiting pedicels (16–)20–30(–39) mm. Fruiting calyces green, occasionally with purple along main veins, tri­angular overall, 15–20(–25) × 15–20 mm, very sharply 5-angled and invaginated at base. Berries green, 0.5–1 cm diam. 2n = 22, 44.

Flowering Mar–Oct (sporadically year-round). Road­sides, grasslands, grazed areas, prairies, disturbed habi­tats, stream bottoms, washes, sand, gravel, clay, silt, loam; 300–1900 m; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Kans., Nev., N.Mex., Okla., Tex.; Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo León, Sonora, Tamaulipas).

Forms of Quincula lobata with purple and white corollas can be found in the same population. In some publications, the forms have been recognized taxono­mically as Physalis lobata forma lobata and forma albiflora Waterfall. Occasional aneuploidy was reported by M. Y. Menzel (1950).