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October 23, 2008 : Physalis alkekengi
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Plant Family / Families: Solanaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Physalis alkekengi L.
Thanks to Ruth for providing both today's photograph and write-up:
The holidays are upon us! 'Tis the season to carve pumpkins, cook up old family recipes and throw a few logs in the fireplace. As a little girl, my father and I would harvest the Chinese lanterns (Physalis alkekengi) from our garden to decorate the house for the holidays. We would buy gourds and straw flowers (Helichrysum bracteatum) to make a festive centerpiece for the table and fireplace mantles.
As a garden specimen, Chinese lanterns are fairly easy to grow (do note the immature fruits are reputedly poisonous, though!). They have a moderately aggressive root system and will spread. We grew them in a shady area with only filtered light but I understand they will do well in a sunny spot as well. Chinese lanterns seem like such a special and exotic plant but the genus Physalis is common all over the Americas (particularly Mexico), Europe and Asia. They are also called winter berry and alkekengi.
Daniel adds: For a little bit of extra reading today, you might want to see what Alex Waterhouse-Hayward has to say about UBC Botanical Garden.
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at October 23, 2008 5:46 PM
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Comments
Posted by: lavender at October 24, 2008 12:05 AM
Thanks to Ruth too !
Posted by: lavender at October 24, 2008 12:09 AM
I never knew their name until now. Thank you Ruth.
Posted by: Carole Miller at October 24, 2008 3:25 AM
memories are made of this
the wonders of fall bitter sweet
dried silver dollars and the lanterns
and yes straw flowers babys breath
so many dried flowers hanging from
the rafters of way side stores
thank for the memories and driveing
down under miles of red and gold leaves
and the wonders of the white montains
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at October 24, 2008 6:39 AM
Physalis alkekengi - Z6 - RHS Index of Garden Plants, Griffiths
Physalis alkekengi - Z5-8 - A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, Brickell, Cole, Zuk
Physalis fi-sa-lis From Gk. physa [a bladder] referring to the bladder-like fruits. alkekengi al-ke-ken-jee - from al kakendi the Arabic name. Dictionary of Plant Names, Coombes
Posted by: Beverley at October 24, 2008 8:33 AM
It is lovely to see the orange color; the species here in Hawaii does not turn such a vibrant color. The variety here is known as Poha. Its tasty fruit is edible when the outer husk surrounding it has turned brown. Poha is much sought after for jam, and is a tasty treat taken right off this rambling, loosely upright bush.
Thanks.
Posted by: Jasmine at October 24, 2008 12:42 PM
These Chinese Lantemes bring back nice memories. Next year I will have to grow them again. Very nice photograph.
Thank you,
Margaret-Rae
Posted by: Margaret-Rae Davis at October 24, 2008 4:24 PM
These are also invasive...
Posted by: Sam at December 4, 2008 6:14 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
what a lovly flower ! chinese lantern ! its call me remember when i was young, my dad taken me walk in street in new year eve . there was a lot chinese lantern . but dad past away in 2001 year. i am very miss dad veryday ...
thank you daniel , wonderful photo let me miss my dad more and more . but i was happy !
i see a this flower in street but was know what's name by this flower , so thank you let me know it is call chinese lantern !
such beautiful name !
thank you very much daniel !
lavender