12315 Nicandra Physaloides – Apple of Peru

Description

Nicandra Physaloides is a species of flowering plant in subfamily Solanoideae of the nightshade family. This annual, and amply blooming outdoors plant reaches a height of 1.5 metres. It is known by the common name apple-of-Peru. It is thought originally to have been native to western South America, including Peru, and is known elsewhere as an introduced species in tropical, subtropical and, to a lesser extent, temperate areas all over the world. It has also long been cultivated as an ornamental plant for its attractive pale blue, bell-shaped flowers and curious fruits like ornamental papery Chinese lanterns.