Roadless Areas
Home/Species/ Ivyleaf Ground-chery

Physalis hederifolia

Gray

Ivyleaf Ground-chery

G5Secure Found in 10 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1334457
Element CodePDSOL0S5B0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilySolanaceae
GenusPhysalis
Concept Reference
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 14. Magnoliophyta: Gentianaceae to Hydroleaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 505 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
This record is for the narrow treatment of Physalis hederifolia that excludes P. fendleri as a distinct species, as recognized by Sullivan's treatment in FNA (2023, vol. 14). Kartesz (1994, 1999) recognized P. fenderli as a variety of P. hederifolia. In addition, the treatment in FNA does not recognize var. comata or var. palmeri as distinct from typical P. hederifolia.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-08
Change Date2025-10-08
Edition Date2025-10-08
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
Physalis hederifolia is a wide-ranging perennial herb found in dry open gravelly sites, sandy or rocky prairies, rocky ledges, open plains, and stream valleys. It occurs in central and southwestern North America from western South Dakota and southern Montana, south to eastern Oklahoma and west to southern California in the United States and south through much of Mexico. There are over 550 estimated occurrences. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, abundant habitat, and broad habitat preferences, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent Comments
Physalis hederifolia occurs in central and southwestern North America from western South Dakota and southern Montana, south to eastern Oklahoma and west to southern California in the United States and Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, and Zacatecas in Mexico (FNA 2023, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Range extent was estimated to be approximately 4 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 550 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, conversion to agriculture or pasture, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and affinity for typically abundant habitats.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Physalis hederifolia grows in dry open gravelly sites, sandy or rocky prairies, rocky ledges, open plains, and stream valleys 200 to 2600 m elevation (FNA 2023, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025).

Reproduction

This species flowers from April to August (FNA 2023).
Terrestrial Habitats
Grassland/herbaceousBarrensBare rock/talus/screeCliff
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
WyomingS2Yes
ColoradoS3Yes
South DakotaS4Yes
ArizonaSNRYes
TexasSNRYes
CaliforniaSNRYes
NebraskaSNRYes
UtahSNRYes
OklahomaSNRYes
NevadaSNRYes
New MexicoSNRYes
KansasS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
Unknown/undetermined———

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (10)
Arizona (1)
AreaForestAcres
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Eagle PeakCleveland National Forest6,481
Nevada (3)
AreaForestAcres
Charleston - CarpenterHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest17,828
La Madre - TroutHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,101
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
New Mexico (5)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Apache MountainGila National Forest17,506
GallinasSanta Fe National Forest13,208
LemitasSanta Fe National Forest8,129
Sierra Negra Rare II Study AreaCarson National Forest9,470
References (8)
  1. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2023. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 14. Magnoliophyta: Gentianaceae to Hydroleaceae. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxiv + 505 pp.
  2. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2025. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2025).
  3. iNaturalist. 2025. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2025).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1999. A synonymized checklist and atlas with biological attributes for the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. First edition. In: Kartesz, J.T., and C.A. Meacham. Synthesis of the North American Flora, Version 1.0. North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill, N.C.
  6. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  7. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2025. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2025).
  8. Weakley, A.S., and Southeastern Flora Team. 2025. Flora of the southeastern United States Web App. Edition of February 18, 2025. University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), North Carolina Botanical Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Online. Available: https://fsus.ncbg.unc.edu (accessed 2025).