Day 281/20. Chinese Lantern Season.

The Chinese Lantern Plant (Physalis alkekengi) is a hardy perrenial plant when grown in the UK. The season of interest first occurs when the plant produces light green fruit cases in August. These turn to a very attractive deep orange in September. The cases then rot away leaving this fine lattice structure. This one is mid-rotting.

The name "Chinese Lantern" has been commonly given because the orange pods which encase the fruits look like Chinese Lanterns which are paper cases with small candles in them. Physalis alkekengi is native to Southern Europe, Southern Asia and Japan.