Physalis alkekengi

Taxobox
name = "Physalis alkekengi"

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Physalis alkekengi" fruit with the red husk
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Solanales
familia = Solanaceae
genus = "Physalis"
species = "P. alkekengi"
binomial = "Physalis alkekengi"
binomial_authority = L.

"Physalis alkekengi" (Bladder cherry, Chinese lantern, Japanese lantern, or Winter cherry; Japanese: "hōzuki"), is a relative of "P. peruviana" (Cape Gooseberry), easily identifiable by the larger, bright orange to red papery covering over its fruit, which resemble Chinese lanterns. It is native from southern Europe east across southern Asia to Japan.

It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing to 40-60 cm tall, with spirally arranged leaves 6-12 cm long and 4-9 cm broad. The flowers are white, with a five-lobed corolla 10-15 mm across, with an inflated basal calyx which matures into the papery orange fruit covering, 4-5 cm long and broad.

Cultivation

It is a popular ornamental plant, though can be invasive with its wide-spreading root system sending up new shoots some distance from where it was originally planted. It has food and medicinal uses, but because its side effects include miscarriage and abdominal pain, it must be used in moderation.