bladder cherry
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A perennial plant, native to the Old World, cultivated for its ornamental fruit: The term "bladder cherry" refers specifically to a plant species (Physalis alkekengi) known for its distinctive, inflated, papery, orange-red covering (the calyx) that encloses its fruit. This covering resembles a small, lantern-like bladder.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The garden's autumn border was brightened by the vibrant orange of the bladder cherry.
- She carefully harvested the bladder cherry branches for a dried floral arrangement.
- The bladder cherry, also known as the Chinese lantern plant, is prized for its decorative pods.
Advanced Usage
- The term is primarily used in botanical, horticultural, and gardening contexts.
- The defining characteristic is the "bladder" or "lantern" formed by the calyx, which persists and changes color long after the flower has bloomed.
Variants and Related Words
- Chinese lantern (plant): A common alternative name for the same species (), emphasizing the shape and appearance of its calyx.
- Winter cherry: Another synonym, highlighting that the bright, papery husks often remain on the plant into the winter months.
- Physalis: The botanical genus name, which includes other species like the Cape gooseberry ().
Synonyms
- Chinese lantern plant
- Winter cherry
- (scientific name)
Notes on Different Meanings
- The term "bladder cherry" refers exclusively to the ornamental plant . It is not typically used for its edible relatives within the same genus, such as the ground cherry or Cape gooseberry, which are cultivated for their fruit.
Noun
- Old World perennial cultivated for its ornamental inflated papery orange-red calyx