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Difference between revisions of "Physalis alkekengi - Bladder cherry"
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Revision as of 14:04, 11 January 2017
Physalis alkekengi (bladder cherry, Chinese lantern,[1] Japanese-lantern, strawberry groundcherry,[2] or winter cherry;) is a relative of P. peruviana (Cape gooseberry). It is easily identifiable by the large, bright orange to red papery covering over its fruit, which resembles paper lanterns.
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Description
It grows naturally in the regions covering Southern Europe to South Asia and Japan. It is a perennial herbaceous 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.
It is a popular ornamental plant, though it can be invasive with its wide-spreading root system sending up new shoots some distance from where it was originally planted. In various places around the world, it has escaped cultivation.[3]
Uses
The dried fruit of P. alkekengi is called the golden flower in the Unani system of medicine, and used as a diuretic, antiseptic, liver corrective, and sedative.
