Chinese lantern

The Chinese lantern plant, scientifically known as Physalis alkekengi, is a perennial Old World ground cherry. It is widely cultivated for its distinctive, inflated calyxes, which turn a brilliant orange-red when mature and are often used for decoration.1

The genus Physalis includes about 80 species of herbaceous plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Many of these plants are native to the Americas. Some Physalis species produce edible berries and are important food crops, such as the Cape gooseberry and tomatillo. The genus name Physalis itself comes from the Greek word for bladder or bubble, referring to the inflated calyx that encloses the fruit. The Japanese lantern plant is another name for the Chinese lantern plant.234