1. Name for several plants of the nightshade tribe (N. O. Solanaceæ) with cherry-like fruit which is ripe in winter; also, the fruit itself. a. The common English name of ALKEKENGI, a European herb bearing a round scarlet fruit inclosed in a red bladder-like envelope formed of the enlarged calyx; also of other species of Physalis, as the Cape Gooseberry, P. edulis.
1548. Turner, Names of Herbes (E.D.S.), 75. Solanum vesicarium … in englishe Alcakeng or wynter cheries.
1575. J. Banister, Chyrurg., 96 b. Alcakengi, Winter cherie, a kynde of nightshade.
1640. Parkinson, Theat. Bot., 462. Halicacabum sive Alkakengi. Winter Cherries.
1721. Mortimer, Husb., II. 178. Winter Cherries are increased from the Roots by Sprouts or Runners.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Alkekengi, The common medicinal Winter-Cherry.
1840. F. D. Bennett, Whaling Voy., II. 328. Physalis edulis—Cape Gooseberry or Winter Cherry.
b. Applied to species of Solanum with cherry-like fruit, as S. Pseudo-capsicum, also called Jerusalem Cherry.
1629. Parkinson, Parad., 431. Amonum Plinij seu Pseudo-capsicum, Tree Night shade or the Winter Cherry tree.
1731. Miller, Gard. Dict., s.v. Solanum.
1850. Glenny, Handbk. Flower-Garden, 129. Solanum pseudu-capsicum is the Winter Cherry, a greenhouse bush, grown for its red cherry-like berries in winter.
2. Applied to species of Cardiospermum or Heart-seed (N. O. Sapindaceæ), having fruit inclosed in an inflated calyx like that of Physalis (see 1); esp. C. Halicacabum, also called Balloon Vine.
1597. Gerarde, Herbal, II. lii. § 2. 270. The blacke winter Cherrie hath weake and slender stalkes somewhat crested, and like vnto the tendrels of the Vine.
1866. [see heart-pea, HEART sb. 56 b].
