Alien Pod plant?! So a coworker on my Mom's gave her a clipping of a very strange plant and called it a Chinese lantern (Physalis alkekengi). I did a little research... Its not a Chinese lantern, though it still may be a different kind of Physalis. Now I don't have a picture so I'll describe it as best as I can. A long thin stem with large sack-like pouches hanging out of it. Now they kind of look like the kind of pouches that a lantern would have except that they are pale green and have spiney things all over it. I know that plants from genus Physalis bear a fruit in their pouches, so when one of the pouches broke open and their was just a bunch of seeds with white cotton wood like fibers attached to them I was surprised. Unfortnatly, the clipping didn't have any leaves so I can't tell you what they look like. Does anyone have any clue what it is? My Mom is enamored with this strange, alien like plant (its pretty cool looking) and was thinking about planting the seeds in a pot to grow indoors for the winter, I decided I'd find out what the heck it is before we did that. I'd greatly appreciate any hints, clues or ideas. Even just guesses may help! Thanks a ton.
This sounds very like the one saltcedar has identified several times recently as Gomphocarpus physocarpa syn. with Asclepia physocarpa . Common name Balloon Plant. Hope this helps.
