Chinese Lanterns

 I have some Chinese Lanterns that I started from seed this year.  I
noticed that after the "lantern" part dries up & falls away, there
appears to be a small tomato-like fruit inside.  Are these edible
(either for me or the birds)?  Are they related to the tomato family?
The orange lanterns remind me a bit of tomatillos.  Thanks

Jacqueline  

 japacah@gmail.com wrote:

Is this the one you mean?

http://www.botany.wisc.edu/garden/db/speciesdetail.asp?genus=Physalis&species=alkekengi

According to a couple of sources the fruits are edible. But if you eat
some and die don't come blaming me. Personally, I always thought that
the fruits looked something like tomatillos of salsa fame.
--
John McGaw
[Knoxville, TN, USA]
http://johnmcgaw.com

 I was served these once as part of dessert on a luxury cruise ship.  They
were fine.

(When the waiter explained what they were, he was astonished that I knew
what he was talking about, and had even grown them. Apparently many people
asked about them, but no one else had heard of them.)

 On Sat, 8 Oct 2005 11:19:06 -0500

] I was served these once as part of dessert on a luxury cruise ship.  They
] were fine.
]
] (When the waiter explained what they were, he was astonished that I knew
] what he was talking about, and had even grown them. Apparently many people
] asked about them, but no one else had heard of them.)
]

In Europe these are readily available in good outdoor markets, in season.
They're very expensive, though.  I've been served them a few times in
restaurants and thought them good, and always wondered why mine
are bitter.  (They're attractive but quite invasive, so be careful!  I had
a real plague of them in the vegetable garden for awhile.)

It turns out there are (at least) two varieties, the truly edible ones
have a yellow, not orange lantern.  A friend planted them this year,
they are an annual (or tender in EU zone 8) and she hasn't yet
harvested them.  Anyway the other, perennial kind appears not to
be poison, as I am still around to report.

Sorry don't recall the true names of the varieties.

-E

] > I have some Chinese Lanterns that I started from seed this year.  I
] > noticed that after the "lantern" part dries up & falls away, there
] > appears to be a small tomato-like fruit inside.  Are these edible
] > (either for me or the birds)?  Are they related to the tomato family?
] > The orange lanterns remind me a bit of tomatillos.  Thanks
] >
] > Jacqueline
]
]

 they are edible but have very little flavor. supermarket cherry
tomatoes in february best describes their flavor. I eat lots of wild
things but even i can not get worked up about them. I have several
hundred plants along a fencerow and I do not touch them.