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

1. Old World perennial cultivated for its ornamental inflated papery orange-red calyx