Perennials, with entire to pinnatifid leaves, the blades decurrent on the petioles. Peduncles solitary, or in fascicles of 2-4 in the axils. Calyx campanulate, 5-lobed, in fruit somewhat enlarged, but not bladdery-inflated, close-fitting to the berry, thin, not angled nor ribbed, and faintly if at all veiny, open at the mouth, not exceeding the berry. Corolla rotate, white or cream-colored, often tinged with purple, the limb plicate. Stamens inserted near the base of the corolla; filaments long and slender; anthers oblong, opening by longitudinal slits; style and stigma as in Physalis. Seeds kidney-shaped, flattened, rugose-favose or punctate. [Ground-Sarac/io, the latter a genus named in honor of Isidore Saracha, a Spanish Benedictine botanist.]

An American genus, consisting of half a dozen species, natives of Mexico and the southwestern United States. Type species: Chamaesaracha Coronopus (Dunal) A. Gray.

Pubescence dense, puberulent and hirsute.

1. C. conioides.

Pubescence sparse, puberulent or stellate, hirsute (if at all) only on the calyx.

2. C. Coronopus.

1. Chamaesaracha Conioides (Moricand) Brit-Ton. Hairy Chamaesaracha

Fig. 3715

Solatium conioides Moric.; Dunal in DC. Prodr. 13: Part 1, 64. 1852. Withania (?) sordida Dunal, loc. cit., 456. 1852. Chamaesaracha sordida A. Gray, Bot. Cal. 1: 540. 1876. Chamaesaracha conioides Britton, Mem. Torr. Club 5:

287. 1895.

Much branched from a perennial base, at first upright, at length spreading, cinereous-puberulent with short branched somewhat glutinous or viscid hairs, generally also viscidly hirsute or villous with long and branched hairs, especially on the calyx; leaves oblan-ceolate to obovate-rhombic, usually acutish and tapering into a short petiole, generally deeply lobed, but varying from subentire to pinnatifid; calyx-lobes triangular, generally acutish; corolla about 1/2' in diameter, white, cream-colored or sometimes violet-purplish; berry 2i"-4" in diameter.

In dry clayey soil, southern Kansas to California and Mexico. May-Sept.

2. Chamaesaracha Coronopus (Dunal) A. Gray. Smoothish Chamaesaracha

Fig. 3716

Solarium Coronopus Dunal in DC. Prodr. 13: Part 1, 64. 1852. C. Coronopus A. Gray, Bot. Cal. 1: 540. 1876.

Branched and diffuse from a perennial base; stem obtusely angled; pubescence on the stem and leaves more or less roughish pruinose or stellate, often scarcely any; on the calyx stellate or sometimes hirsute. Leaves linear or lanceolate, tapering at the base, more or less sinuately lobed, occasionally subentire, sometimes pinna-tifid; calyx-lobes triangular, acute; corolla white or ochroleucous, the appendages of the throat often protuberant; berry 2 1/2"- 4" in diameter, nearly white.

In clayey soil, Kansas to Utah, California and Mexico. May-Sept.