Artificial key to the Physalidinae genera

including Cataracta gen. nov

1. Fruiting calyx not expanded or similar in size to flowering calyx .................................................................................... Witheringia

- Fruiting calyx expanded .....................................................................................................................................................................2

2. Fruiting calyx somewhat expanded, larger than the flowering calyx, but smaller than the mature fruit ...........................................3

- Fruiting calyx highly expanded, as large as or larger than the mature fruit .......................................................................................5

3. Corolla purple, tubular............................................................................................................................................................. Oryctes

- Corolla whitish, yellow or yellow green, purple, lobed or rotate.......................................................................................................4

4. Inflorescence with (3) 5–10 (15) flowers, corolla lobed, growing in wet forest in the mountains of Mexico and Central America .. ............................................................................................................................................................................................. Brachistus

- Inflorescence with 1–2 flowers, corolla rotate, growing in the arid regions of SW USA and N Mexico ................. Chamaesaracha

5. Fruiting calyx inflated around the fruit or reflexed............................................................................................................................6

- Fruiting calyx tightly covering entire berry or loosely surrounding berry, but open at the apex .....................................................12

6. Fruiting calyx with reflexed lobes......................................................................................................................................................7

- Fruiting calyx inflated, closed at the apex of the lobes ......................................................................................................................8

7. 1–2 flowers in axillary fascicles, corolla less than 3 cm wide, with or without maculations in the throat ............... Capsicophysalis

- 6–8 flowers in axillary fascicles, corolla 4–5 cm wide, green maculations consisting of small dots in the throat.... Schraderanthus

8. Flowers solitary .................................................................................................................................................................. Physalis ss

- Flowers fasciculate .............................................................................................................................................................................9

9. Corolla unlobed, pentagonal to round when flattened and viewed from the front...........................................................................10 - Corolla stellate, distinctly star-shaped, lobes longer than the corolla ..............................................................................................11

10. Corolla yellow with five dark maculations, growing in coastal plains of the SE of USA .............................................. Calliphysalis

- Corolla purple, without maculations, growing in SW USA and N Mexico .......................................................................... Quincula

11. Fruiting calyx red at maturity of the fruit, membranaceous aspect...................................................................................... Alkekengi

- Fruiting calyx purple at maturity, papyraceous or leathery aspect............................................... Physalis sugbgen. Physalodendron

12. Corolla rotate, slightly lobed, fruiting calyx tightly enveloping the fruit ........................................................................................13

- Fruiting calyx loosely surrounding berry, open at the apex .............................................................................................................14

13. Fruiting calyx not ribbed nor angled, without ornamentations, plants of North America............................................. Leucophysalis

- Fruiting calyx with veins obscure or thickened into angles or ribs, mostly muricate with soft emergences that appear scale-like when dry, plants of Asia ................................................................................................................................................ Physaliastrum

14. Perennial herb, plants of N of Mexico .................................................................................................................. Cataracta gen. nov.

- Shrub with soft stems, reclining, fruiting calyx always green, plants of wet forest of S Mexico and Central America........ Tzeltalia