Apple-of-peru (Nicandra physalodes, Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 237 (1791))

Family: Solanaceae

Author: (L.) Gaertn.

Bibliography: Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 237 (1791)

Year: 1791

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Nicandra

Vegetable: False

Observations: Peru to NW. Argentina

Description

Apple-of-peru, scientifically known as Nicandra physalodes, is a fascinating plant belonging to the Solanaceae family. Originally described by the author (L.) Gaertn., this species was first documented in the seminal botanical literature Fruct. Sem. Pl. 2: 237 in the year 1791.

Native to the regions stretching from Peru to Northwestern Argentina, the Apple-of-peru thrives in these diverse climates. The plant is characterized by its distinctive, bell-shaped flowers and its unique, inflated, lantern-like calyx that surrounds the fruit, giving it a striking appearance that makes it easily recognizable.

As part of the Solanaceae family, Nicandra physalodes shares a lineage with other notable plants such as tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. This family is known for its economic and culinary significance, although the Apple-of-peru itself is primarily appreciated for its ornamental value rather than for consumption.

In its native habitat, the Apple-of-peru is adapted to grow in a variety of conditions, demonstrating a commendable level of hardiness. Gardeners outside its natural range often cultivate it for its attractive and unusual flowers, as well as for the intriguing shape of its seed pods.

Although not as widely known as some of its Solanaceae relatives, the Apple-of-peru holds a unique place in the botanical world. Its history, vibrant appearance, and adaptability make it a plant of interest both for botanical studies and for gardening enthusiasts.

Common Names

Eng: apple of peru, apple-of-peru, broadleaf-nightshade, shooflyplant, shoo-fly plant, shoo fly plant
Lit: dumplūninė nikandra
Deu: giftbeere
Dan: kantbæger
Heb: nicandra buanit, ניקנדרה בוענית
Ita: nicandra faloso alchechengi
Fra: nicandre faux coqueret, nicandra, nicandre faux-coqueret
Spa: tomatera de culebra, capulí cimarró
Nld: zegekruid
Por: afasta-moscas, balão, bexiga, joá-de-capote, macieira-do-peru
Swe: ballongblomma
Ces: lilík mochyňovitý, nikandra machovkovitá
Est: peruu nikandra
Lav: pūslīšu nikandra, spuldzeņu nikandra
Hun: szilkesark
Cym: afal periw, afalau periw
En: Apple-of-Peru, Broadleaf-nightshade, Shooflyplant, Apple of Peru, Shoo-fly, Shoo-fly plant, Shoo fly plant, Shoofly Plant
Af: Baster appelliefie
Zh: 假酸漿, 大本炮仔草
Cs: Lilík mochyňovitý, Nikandra machovkovitá
Da: Kantbæger
Nl: Zegekruid
Et: Peruu nikandra
Fi: Perunkoiso
Fr: Nicandra, Nicandre faux Coqueret, Nicandre faux-coqueret, Poc-poc fleur bleue
De: Giftbeere
He: Nicandra buanit, ניקנדרה בוענית
Hu: Szilkesark
It: Nicandra, Nicandra faloso alchechengi
Kk: Бүркеншік
Lv: Pūslīšu nikandra, Spuldzeņu nikandra
Lt: Dumplūninė nikandra
No: Giftbær
Os: Уадсис
Fa: سیب پرویی
Pl: Nikandra miechunkowa
Pt: Joá-de-capote, Afasta-moscas, Balão, Bexiga, Macieira-do-peru
Qu: K’ita ch’illtu
Sd: گل سرمون
Es: Capulí cimarró, Tomatera de culebra, Manzana del Perú, Capulí cimarron, Puza-puza
Sv: Ballongblomma
Zh-tw: 大本炮仔草
Cy: Afal Periw, Afalau Periw
: Apple of peru

Synonyms

• Nicandra physalodes var. immaculata (Wender.)
• Nicandra minor (Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.)
• Pentagonia physalodes ((L.) Hiern)
• Nicandra macrocalyx (Bitter)
• Nicandra nebulosa (Bitter)
• Nicandra nana (Bitter)
• Physaloides physalodes ((L.) Britton ex Small & Vail)
• Atropa physaloides (L.)
• Atropa physalodes (L.)
• Nicandra parvimaculata (Bitter)
• Physalodes peruvianum (Kuntze)
• Nicandra physalodes var. crispa (Baguet)
• Nicandra violacea (André ex H.Lemoine)
• Nicandra undulata (Bitter)
• Physalodes physalodes ((L.) Britton)
• Nicandra brevicorollata (Bitter)
• Nicandra physalodes var. violacea ((André ex H.Lemoine) P.D.Sell)
• Physalis peruviana (Mill.)
• Physalis spectabilis (Salisb.)
• Boberella nicandra (E.H.L.Krause)
• Physalis daturifolia (Lam.)
• Atropa daturifolia (Thore)
• Calydermos erosus (Ruiz & Pav.)

Distribution

• Argentina Northwest (native)
• Bolivia (native)
• Chile Central (native)
• Chile North (native)
• Peru (native)
• Alabama (introduced)
• Amur (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bermuda (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Burundi (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Colorado (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Costa Rica (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Djibouti (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• El Salvador (introduced)
• Eritrea (introduced)
• Ethiopia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Galápagos (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Greece (introduced)
• Guatemala (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Honduras (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Iran (introduced)
• Jawa (introduced)
• Kazakhstan (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Kriti (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mexico Central (introduced)
• Mexico Northwest (introduced)
• Mexico Southwest (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Myanmar (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Nicaragua (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Oman (introduced)
• Palestine (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Réunion (introduced)
• Socotra (introduced)
• Somalia (introduced)
• South Australia (introduced)
• South European Russi (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Swaziland (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Turkmenistan (introduced)
• Uzbekistan (introduced)
• Venezuela (introduced)
• Vermont (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)
• Xinjiang (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)
• Zambia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Oct 4, 2020 by Jeannette Hartung (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2017 by randomslaps (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2017 by randomslaps (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 19, 2018 by Carlos Henriquez (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Sep 9, 2020 by Detlef Heise (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 26, 2018 by Mihajlo Tomić (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 23, 2022 by FELY NEY (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 18, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Paul CARLI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 19, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Serge FORESTIER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 18, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Jean-Paul CARLI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 1, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Annick Petitdemange (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2017 by rhorbas (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Oct 11, 2019 by cody54 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2022 by Anne Rode (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2021 by Korslind Henrik (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 4, 2021 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Feb 21, 2021 by Cristina (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2020 by Detlef Heise (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 14, 2021 by philoup (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2019 by Petra Züger (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2019 by Richard Wishaupt (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Oct 15, 2022 by Ernst Fürst (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 10, 2006 by Tela Botanica − Liliane ROUBAUDI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2020 by Tinus Tinus (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2019 by Richard Wishaupt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 2, 2021 by Alexander Seeck (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5341754)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:816832-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Nicandra physalodes (L.) Gaertn.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 8

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 7