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Bladder Cherry

Cherri Khaera | เชอร์รี่แคระ | Physalis alkekengi

Family: Solanaceae - Genus: Physalis

The bladder cherry has been seen in the Paksong area alongside the roads.

 

It is an herbaceous plant of the nightshade family and its fruit, which is a well flavored berry, the size of a cherry, loosely enclosed in a enlarged leafy calyx; -- also called winter cherry, ground cherry, and strawberry tomato.


The Bladder Cherry is in the Nightshade family (Solanaceae - tomato, potato, chilli peppers, and tobacco) and the genus Physalis, this small bush offers a wonderfully tasty treat during the late dry season in Thailand. Once ripe, they taste like a very sweet Cherry Tomato.


Bladder Cherry can be harvested when they change color to dark orange to red, at the end of the dry season (March/April).


 

The papaya is a small, sparsely branched tree, usually with a single stem growing from 5 to 10 meter tall, with spirally arranged leaves confined to the top of the trunk. The lower trunk is usually scarred where leaves and fruit were borne. All parts of the plant contain latex.
Vine

THE SHRUB/VINE

This species is native to Asia. It is easily identifiable by the bright orange to red papery covering over its fruit, which resembles paper lanterns. It grows naturally and it is a perennial herbaceous plant growing to 40–60 centimeter tall.





 

The leaves of the papaya are large, 50-70 cm in diameter, with seven lobes.
Leaf

THE LEAVES

Leaves of the Bladder Cherry are spirally arranged or 6–12 centimeter long and 4–9 cm broad.





 


The flowers are five-parted; the male flowers have the stamens fused to the petals. The female flowers have a superior ovary and five contorted petals loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night, and wind- or insect-pollinated.
FLOWER

THE FLOWERS

Tiny, creamy-white flowers followed by bright orange-scarlet berries enclosed by papery, red lanterns.







 
The flowers are five-parted; the male flowers have the stamens fused to the petals. The female flowers have a superior ovary and five contorted petals loosely connected at the base. The flowers are sweet-scented, open at night, and wind- or insect-pollinated.
FRUIT

THE FRUIT

The fruit is edible.   The fruit has twice the Vitamin C of lemons and resembles a blonde-red cherry tomato with a sweeter taste than its relative, the tomatillo.



NOTE: The unripe green fruits can be toxic and therefore caution needs to be exercised while eating this fruit.



 

CULINARY USES

NOTE: The unripe green fruits can be toxic and therefore caution needs to be exercised while eating this fruit.


The ripe fruits are edible and surprisingly, are higher in vitamin C than lemons.

The fruit can be used like the tomato. Once extracted from its husk, it can be eaten raw and used in salads. Some varieties are added to desserts, used as flavoring, made into fruit preserves, or dried and used like raisins.

 

NUTRITION

Physalis fruit are rich in cryptoxanthin. The fruit can be used like the tomato. Once extracted from its husk, it can be eaten raw and used in salads. Some varieties are added to desserts, used as flavoring, made into fruit preserves, or dried and used like raisins.


 

TRADITIONAL MEDICINAL USE


NOTE: please take advice from a doctor if you are planning to use herbal medicine.


This plant is said to speed up excretion of uric acid and is used for renal and urinary tract diseases, gout, and rheumatism. Other properties of this plant include anti-gout, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic, laxative, diuretic, antimitotic, and malaria-treating properties.


In Chinese medicine it's used to treat sore throats, coughs, and a fever.

 

INTO THE WILD: a down to earth experience

For guests and visitors to Paksong we organize weekly tours "The Edible Forest" and Foraging weekends: Into the Wild. We work with local guides to take you in the jungle of Paksong. After foraging, we will cook a meal with the ingredients, using bamboo together with you!


Come and join and learn about the abundance of food that nature gives us!


INTO THE WILD!

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