Quincula
{{Short description|Genus of flowering plants}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Physalis lobata1SHSU.jpg
| display_parents = 3
| genus = Quincula
| parent_authority = Raf.
| species = lobata
| authority = (Torr.) Raf.
| synonyms = Physalis lobata Torr.{{GRIN | Quincula lobata | 316919 | access-date = 2010-03-02}}
}}
Quincula is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. The sole species it contains, Quincula lobata, is commonly known as Chinese lantern, lobed groundcherry, or purple groundcherry.
This plant is also classified as Physalis lobata in genus Physalis.[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Physalis+lobata Calflora: Physalis lobata] accessed 5.16.2016.
Distribution
It is native to the southwestern United States as far east as Kansas and Oklahoma, as well as northern Mexico, where it grows in many types of open, dry habitat, including disturbed areas.
Description
It is a perennial herb producing ridged, spreading stems up to half a meter long. The lance-shaped leaves are up to 7 centimeters long, smooth or lobed on the edges. The flowers blooming from the leaf axils are up to 2 centimeters wide, widely bell-shaped or flat-faced with five vague, pointed lobes, not drooping like those of many Physalis species. They are purple in color, sometimes with white deep in the throats. The bell-shaped calyx of sepals at the base of the flower enlarges as the fruit develops, becoming an inflated, lanternlike structure up to 2 centimeters long which contains the berry.
Phylogenetic studies suggest that Quincula is closely related to the small North American genus Chamaesaracha.{{Cite journal |doi = 10.1002/ajb2.1242|title = Repeated evolution of a morphological novelty: A phylogenetic analysis of the inflated fruiting calyx in the Physalideae tribe (Solanaceae)|journal = American Journal of Botany|volume = 106|issue = 2|pages = 270–279|year = 2019|last1 = Deanna|first1 = Rocío|last2 = Larter|first2 = Maximilian D.|last3 = Barboza|first3 = Gloria E.|last4 = Smith|first4 = Stacey D.|pmid = 30779447|doi-access = free|hdl = 11336/109233|hdl-access = free}}
The plant's berries have been used by the Kiowa tribe to make jam.{{cite book |last1=Moerman |first1=Daniel |title=Native American Ethnobotany}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Wikispecies-inline|Quincula lobata}}
- [http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Physalis+lobata Calflora Database: Physalis lobata (Lobed ground cherry)] — formerly Quincula lobata.
- [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/eflora/eflora_display.php?tid=38100 Jepson Manual eFlora treatment] — formerly Quincula lobata.
- [http://www.kswildflower.org/details.php?flowerID=212 Kansas Wildflowers]
- [http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?rel-taxon=begins+with&where-taxon=Physalis+lobata|Quincula+lobata UC Photos gallery of Physalis lobata (Quincula lobata)]
{{Commons category-inline|Quincula}}
{{Taxonbar|from1=Q15935873|from2=Q142352}}
{{Clear}}
Category:Monotypic Solanaceae genera
Category:Flora of Northwestern Mexico
Category:Flora of the Southwestern United States
Category:Flora of the South-Central United States
Category:Flora of Baja California
Category:Flora of the California desert regions
Category:Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque
Category:Flora without expected TNC conservation status
{{Solanales-stub}}