physalis
/ˈfʌɪsəlɪs
/ /ˈfɪsəlɪs/ /fʌɪˈseɪlɪs /noun
A plant of a genus that includes the Cape gooseberry and Chinese lantern, which has an inflated lantern-like calyx.
- Genus Physalis, family Solanaceae: many species.
- Sow physalis in heated propagator; plant out shallots; mulch blackcurrants and raspberries; tidy strawberry bed; finish compost trenches on allotment where squash will grow; weed incessantly.
- I've also been cheered up by the unexpected emergence of some physalis plants I'd convinced myself had died when I transplanted them.
Origin
Modern Latin, from Greek phusallis 'bladder' (because of the inflated calyx).