Physalis lanceolata Michaux var. spathulifolia Torrey in W. H. Emory, Rep. U.S. Mex. Bound. 2(1): 153. 1859 (as spathulaefolia); P. spathulifolia (Torrey) B. L. Turner; P. viscosa Linnaeus var. spathulifolia (Torrey) A. Gray

Leaf blades elliptic to spatulate, 1–4 cm wide, base attenuate, margins entire. Pedicels 25–60 mm in fruit. Corollas: limbs not reflexed when fully open. Fruiting calyces 25–45 × (15–)20–35 mm. 2n = 24.

Flowering year-round in areas without frost. Gulf dunes, disturbed habitats near Gulf Coast in sand; 0 m; La., Tex.; Mexico (Tamaulipas).

In the past, var. spathulifolia was considered to be more closely related to Physalis walteri (as varieties of P. viscosa subsp. maritima). Both are plants of coastal sand dunes and have similar vegetative morphology. Relationships among the taxa with dendroid-stelliform hairs were examined in detail by J. R. Sullivan (1985).