On Sat, 8 Oct 2005 11:19:06 -0500
"Andrew Ostrander" wrote:

] I was served these once as part of dessert on a luxury cruise ship. They
] were fine.
]
] (When the waiter explained what they were, he was astonished that I knew
] what he was talking about, and had even grown them. Apparently many people
] asked about them, but no one else had heard of them.)
]

In Europe these are readily available in good outdoor markets, in season.
They're very expensive, though. I've been served them a few times in
restaurants and thought them good, and always wondered why mine
are bitter. (They're attractive but quite invasive, so be careful! I had
a real plague of them in the vegetable garden for awhile.)

It turns out there are (at least) two varieties, the truly edible ones
have a yellow, not orange lantern. A friend planted them this year,
they are an annual (or tender in EU zone 8) and she hasn't yet
harvested them. Anyway the other, perennial kind appears not to
be poison, as I am still around to report.

Sorry don't recall the true names of the varieties.

-E

] wrote in message
] ...
] I have some Chinese Lanterns that I started from seed this year. I
] noticed that after the "lantern" part dries up & falls away, there
] appears to be a small tomato-like fruit inside. Are these edible
] (either for me or the birds)? Are they related to the tomato family?
] The orange lanterns remind me a bit of tomatillos. Thanks
]
] Jacqueline
]
]