Common Name: Winter Cherry

General Information

Alkekengi officinarum franchetii is a herbaceous perennial plant spreading by means of a rhizomatous rootstock to form a clump it can grow up to 45cm tall.
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.

Known Hazards

The unripe fruits and foliage of Physalis species contain solanine and other solanidine alkaloids and are toxic if ingested in large quantities. The ripe fruiys are usually edible, and several species are cultivated for these fruits[].
All parts of the plant, except the ripe fruit, are poisonous[, , ].

Botanical References

Range

Asia - entral Asia to Russian Far East, Korea and eastern China

Habitat

Cultivated ground and vineyards[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.45 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any well-drained soil in full sun or light shade[, ].
The fully dormant plant is hardy in most of Britain, though the young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts.
A very ornamental plant[] though it can be invasive[]. This sub-species, which is sometimes treated as a separate species, is a more vigorous form of P. alkekengi with larger fruits[].
Slugs are very fond of the new growth in spring and can destroy even quite large clumps[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[, , , , ]. The plant conveniently wraps up each fruit in its own 'paper bag' (botanically, the calyx) to protect it from pests and the elements. This calyx is toxic and should not be eaten[, ]. Rich in vitamins[], with twice the vitamin C of lemons[], but not much taste[]. We have found them to be bitter and rather unpleasant[].

Young leaves - cooked[, , ]. Caution is advised, the leaves are almost certainly poisonous, at least when raw.

Medicinal

The plant has a long history of herbal use, and an interesting chemistry, but it is seldom used in modern practice[]. The whole plant is antiphlogistic, antipyretic, antitussive and expectorant[, , , , ]. An overdose of the plant is said to easily precipitate an abortion[].

The fruit is aperient, strongly diuretic and lithontripic[, , , ]. It is used internally in the treatment of gravel, suppression of urine etc and is highly recommended in fevers and in gout[, ].
The fruit is harvested when fully ripe and can be used fresh, juiced or dried[]. The calyx should be removed[].

The leaves and stems are febrifuge and slightly tonic[]. They are used in the treatment of the malaise that follows malaria, and for weak or anaemic people[].
The fresh leaves have been used externally in the treatment of skin inflammations[].

The seed is used to promote early labour[].

A homeopathic remedy is made from the fruit. It is used in the treatment of kidney and bladder disorders[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Plants spread rapidly by their roots and can be grown as a ground cover[]. They are best spaced about 1 metre apart each way[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse only just covering the seed. Germination usually takes place quickly and freely. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of fairly rich soil when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in early summer. Diurnal temperature fluctuations assist germination[].
Division in spring[]. Very easy, larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is better to pot up the smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a cold frame until they are well established before planting them out in late spring or early summer.
Basal cuttings in early summer[]. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.