16th August 2025

Physalis alkekengi

A lovely splash of colour along the track beside the church. These Chinese Lantern plants (Physalis alkekengi) are most definitely not native but commonly escape gardens and colonise suitable areas. The colourful, papery calyx contains a single fruit which is edible when fully ripe. Beware though, Physalis is a member of the nightshade family, Solonaceae, and all parts of the plant are poisonous, including the fruit when unripe.