A plant unusual to the area

According to U. S. Department of Agriculture's Plants Database, the longleaf ground-cherry [physalis longifolia Nutt] is a plant native to most of the lower 48 states. Their distribution map shows that in Missouri the longleaf ground-cherry has been reported in most of the western counties, but in none in Southeast Missouri.

I found the plant shown here growing wild in Scott County.

The longleaf groundcherry is a low-growing annual plant that can tolerate partial shade or open sunshine. It has a pretty yellow flower with a purplish center. Each of the lantern-like seed pods will hold a marble-sized fruit that looks a lot like a cherry tomato and has many small seeds like a tomato.

Predictably, the longleaf groundcherry is a distant relative of the tomato plant.

Through the Woods is a weekly nature photo column by Aaron Horrell. Find this column at semissourain.com to order a reprint of the photo. Find more work by him at the Painted Wren Gallery.