Chinese-lantern
General poisoning notes:
Chinese-lantern (Physalis alkekengi) is an outdoor ornamental grown for its lantern-shaped fruit cover (pericarp). The enclosed immature fruits contain sufficient quantities of solanine to cause gastroenteritis and diarrhea in children. The mature fruits are apparently edible (Lampe and McCann 1985).
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Physalis alkekengi L.
Vernacular name(s): Chinese-lantern
Scientific family name: Solanaceae
Vernacular family name: nightshade
Physalis alkekengi L.
Geographic Information
Plant or plant parts used in or around the home.
Toxic parts:
immature fruit
Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:
Solanine, a bitter glycoalkaloid, is found in the immature berries. Ripe fruit is apparently edible (Lampe and McCann 1985, Fuller and McClintock 1986).
Toxic plant chemicals:
solanine
Chemical diagram(s) are courtesy of Ruth McDiarmid, Biochemistry Technician, Kamloops Range Station, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Kamploops, British Columbia, Canada.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.
Humans
General symptoms of poisoning:
Diarrhea, fever, gastroenteritis
Notes on poisoning:
Symptoms include diarrhea, gastroenteritis, fever, and a scratchy feeling at the back of the throat a few hours after ingestion (Lampe and McCann 1985).
