Physalis virginiana Miller var. hispida Waterfall, Rhodora 60: 154. 1958; P. hispida (Waterfall) Cronquist; P. longifolia Nuttall var. hispida (Waterfall) Steyermark; P.≈pumila subsp. hispida (Waterfall) W. F. Hinton

Herbs pubescent, hairs on stem simple, rarely with a few branched hairs, jointed, antrorse, 0.5–1 mm, on pedicels and calyx spreading-hispid, simple, jointed, 0.5–1.5 mm. Stems erect to decumbent. Pedicels 8–15(–22) mm, 15–35 mm in fruit. Flowers: calyx 6–10 mm; corolla 9–14 mm; anthers yellow, 2–3 mm. Fruiting calyces 20–30 mm. 2n = 24.

Flowering May–Aug (mostly Jun). Sandhills, dunes, sandy floodplains, sandy prairies and roadsides; 500–2000 m; Colo., Kans., Mo., Nebr., Okla., Tex., Wyo.

Variety hispida is morphologically distinguishable by the lack or rarity of branched hairs. It is found in sandy soil in the Great Plains. The name Physalis lanceolata Michaux has been misapplied to var. hispida (W. F. Hinton 1976).