Little Husk Lanterns??

[Old John]

What are the little orange Husk Lanterns, I've found growing in abundance,
in an old flower bed I mowed off last Fall. There were just a few last year.
This year there are a hundred or two.
They are a bright red-orange. They have a little berry inside. Are they
Poison? I think maybe not.
What are they good for. What do they look like when they are ripe.
They are pretty, if nothing else.

The old couple that use to own our place had all sorts of blossoms, shrubs, trees, vines and perennials planted out here. We have something blooming nearly all through the Spring, Summer & Fall.
Thanks for answers.

[Cabin Fever]

Ground cherries? If so, they are very edible.

[MELOC]

i think there is a plant similar to ground cherries some folks call "japanese lanterns". my mom always talked about them. if that is true, they are probably different than ground cherries and i am not sure if they are edible or not. i have ground cherries and they don't seem to have any color other than the brown/tan husk around the fruit inside. i kind of remember the japanese lanterns growing here when i was a child, but i have not seen them for many years.

[Paquebot]

As WIHH reported, the bright red-orange ones are Japanese lantern, Physalis alkekengi. Despite being closely related to ground cherrries, the fruit is edible but doesn't taste good.

Martin

[Old John]

Originally Posted by Wind in Her Hair

Chinese lantern...

http://www.horizonherbs.com/images/p...i-seed-pod.jpg

Thanks. They are right pretty. Guess pretty will have to be good enough.
They do look nice in the flower bed, even if they are not palatable.
Just enjoy what they are, hunnh.

[diane]

Well, I guess you won't be needing the ground cherry pie recipe. Those are pretty though.....the Chinese Lanterns.