Chinese-lantern (Physalis alkekengi) is an outdoor ornamental grown for its lantern-shaped fruit cover (pericarp). The enclosed immature fruits contain sufficient quantities of solanine (the same substance in green potatoes exposed to light) to cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea in children. The mature fruits are apparently edible (Lampe and McCann 1985). http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?XBOMU Reference. http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?GDQEI 15 August 2008 Chinese-lantern (Physalis alkekengi) This plant is grown as an oranmental. I have never eaten the fruit, but apparently it is acceptable when ripe.
