Longleaf Ground Cherry is a native perennial of prairies, fields, and open disturbed ground across the central and western United States. Its yellow flowers with dark purple-brown centers give way to papery inflated husks enclosing small yellowish berries. It is one of the more widespread native ground cherries and was an important food plant for Plains Indigenous peoples who ate the ripe fruits raw or dried. Ground cherries are closely related to tomatillos and share a similar culinary potential.
Best time to see a Longleaf Ground Cherry
The best time to see a Longleaf Ground Cherry is June–August, when about 67% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 6,659 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
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