Hi, Dr. Hill,
This small plant is growing in a mostly shady, open-wooded area of the fall line and was photographed on April 29. Thank you for your time.
Diane
Hi Diane,
this is one of the so-called ground cherries, Physalis virginiana. It is native. It is in the nightshade family, Solanaceae, and not related to tree cherries, and it produces a berry inside an inflated balloon-like husk.
I apologize for the delay in my reply. I had software issues that only now have been fixed. Thank you for your patience.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven Hill, Botanist, SCNPS