WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and scattered in South Central England. Very Sparse elsewhere. Habitat includes: Garden escape, rubbish tips, railway banks, wasteland etc. Growing habit: Rhizomatous Perennial. Height: Up to 80 cm. Chromosomes: 2n=24. Previously called Physalis alkekengi it has now moved genre to Alkenengi. Other names include: Japanese-lantern, Bladder-cherry, Strawberry Ground-cherry, Winter-cherry. Introduced from Southern Europe by 1548. It is often cultivated for its ornamental fruits. It was known from the wild by 1650.