fruit Alkekengi

The alkekengi is a perennial plant with erect stem, with leaves in groups of two, long-stalked, oval, slightly toothed, have a wavy edge. The flowers, visible from May to October, are quite large and are found in the leaf axils. They give a fruit, a kind of fleshy and globose berry, enclosed in the calyx very enlarged, leathery and a beautiful orange-red, forming a very decorative lantern. Plant stem angular, of 0m70 to 1 meter high, very branchy, leaves heart-shaped or oval, soft, hairy, slightly sticky, solitary flowers, small, yellowish, marked the center of a brown spot; calyx vesicular, very wide , containing a juicy fruit, orange yellow, the size of a cherry. Seed small, lenticular, smooth, pale yellow; one gram contains about 1000; weighs 650 grams per liter; duration of germination is usually eight years. CULTURE. - In the South, the Alkekengi succeeds in the ground without claiming any special care, under the climate of Paris, it is good to sow it on film and gives it the culture of the Eggplant and Tomatoes. PURPOSE. - In southern countries, the result being sought because of its slightly acid taste. It is eaten raw or candied, made into jams also. We still sometimes cultivated for their fruit, Physalis barbadensis Jacq. first and Physalis pubescens L. The Alkekengi known as Petite Mexican tomato (Ph. philadelphica Lamk., Ph. violacea CARR.) Is an annual species frankly and rapid growth, which ripens its fruit perfectly under the climate of Paris. It must be considered as a medicinal plant rather than food. The officinal Alkekengi (Physalis Alkekengi L.), perennial, is cultivated as an ornamental plant sometimes known as Winter Cherry, Love in a cage; although edible, the fruit of this species should be consumed only very moderately . The Physalis Francheti, of relatively recent introduction, is a Japanese variety of Alkekengi pharmacy. It is remarkable for the size of its fruits, especially its chalices, numerous and very persistent, reaching 20 and 25 centimeters in circumference and are colored dark yellow through bright orange to red. -Father Francheti is perennial, hardy in nature and fescue. In a culture very easy it is interesting to decorate gardens or apartments for consumption. According to the vegetables, description and culture of the main vegetables of temperate climates - and Vilmorin Andrieux - 1925