Quincula facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Quincula
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Solanales
Family:	Solanaceae
Subfamily:	Solanoideae
Tribe:	Physaleae
Genus:	Quincula Raf.
Species:	Q. lobata
Binomial name
Quincula lobata (Torr.) Raf.
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Synonyms
Physalis lobata Torr.

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Quincula lobata is a special kind of flowering plant. It belongs to the nightshade family, called Solanaceae. This plant is the only species in its group, known as the Quincula genus.

People often call it the Chinese lantern, lobed groundcherry, or purple groundcherry. Sometimes, you might also see it called Physalis lobata.

Where Does the Chinese Lantern Plant Grow?

This plant naturally grows in the southwestern United States. You can find it as far east as Kansas and Oklahoma. It also grows in northern Mexico.

It likes to live in open, dry places. This includes areas where the ground has been disturbed, like roadsides or fields.

What Does the Chinese Lantern Plant Look Like?

The Chinese lantern plant is a perennial herb. This means it's a plant that lives for more than two years and has soft, green stems. Its stems can spread out up to half a meter long. They have ridges along them.

Leaves and Flowers

The leaves are shaped like a spear, called "lance-shaped." They can grow up to 7 centimeters long. Their edges can be smooth or have small rounded parts, which are called lobes.

The flowers grow from where the leaves meet the stem. They can be up to 2 centimeters wide. These flowers are shaped like a wide bell or are flat. They have five small, pointed parts. Unlike some other plants in its family, these flowers do not hang down. They are usually purple, sometimes with white inside their throats.

Fruit and Calyx

At the bottom of each flower, there's a bell-shaped part made of sepals. This part is called the calyx. As the fruit grows, this calyx gets much bigger. It turns into a puffy, lantern-like shape. This "lantern" can be up to 2 centimeters long. Inside this structure, you will find the plant's berry.

Scientists have studied Quincula and found it is closely related to another small plant group. This group is called Chamaesaracha, which also grows in North America.