L.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.141806
Element CodePDSOL0S030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderSolanales
FamilySolanaceae
GenusPhysalis
Other Common Namescutleaf groundcherry (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, 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.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-07
Change Date1990-01-16
Edition Date2025-10-07
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2025)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsPhysalis angulata is a wide-ranging annual herb found in open hardwood and pine woods, longleaf pine sandhills, woodland borders, stream margins, floodplains, marshy areas, fields, pastures, agricultural fields, and waste places. It occurs natively in North America, Central America, South America, the West Indies, and Bermuda, and it is adventive in northern North America and introduced in Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, and Australia. In North America, it can be found natively from southeastern Virginia, south to Florida, and west to Kansas and California in the United States, and nonnative in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, United States, and Ontario, Canada. There are over 1,500 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 CommentsPhysalis angulata occurs natively in North America, Central America, South America, the West Indies, and Bermuda, and it is adventive in northern North America and introduced in Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, and Australia (FNA 2023, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). In North America, it can be found natively from southeastern Virginia, south to Florida, and west to Kansas and California in the United States, and nonnative in Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, United States, and Ontario, Canada (FNA 2023, Weakley and the Southeastern Flora Team 2025). Native range extent was estimated to be over 35 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Occurrences CommentsBy 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 1,500 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, iNaturalist 2025, RARECAT 2025, SEINet 2025).
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance, logging, herbicide, 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 no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.