Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Nicandra
Species: N. physaloides
Binomial name: Nicandra physaloides
Common names: Apple of Peru. Shoo-fly plant
This plant is poisonous
Visit Phil Bendle Collection:Poisonous Plants in New Zealand
Nicandra is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family containing the single species Nicandra physaloides. It is a poisonous foul-smelling annual native to Peru, and it is known elsewhere as an introduced species and sometimes a weed. It is also kept as an ornamental plant.
In New Zealand, it is found as a weed in waste places and arable land.
Plants grow to 1 metre tall and are vigorous with spreading branches and ovate, mid-green, toothed and waved leaves.
The flowers are bell-shaped and 5 centimetres or more across. They can be lavender white or blue with white throats. The flower becomes lantern-like towards the end of its bloom.
It has brown berries (1-2 cm) in a five-sided net-veined fruit capsule, similar to a Cape Gooseberry (Physalis peruviana).
The plant is thought to have insect repellent properties. The genus is named for Greek poet Nicander, who wrote about plants.
Flower of the Apple of Peru
The flower has becomes lantern-like towards the end of its bloom.
The net viened swollen sepals containing a berry
Sepal opened up to show berry
Dry mature berry
The leaf of the Apple of Peru
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
