Flowers: Chinese Lanterns

I was in someone's private garden in Auckland. I had never seen them before, but read about Chinese lanterns. It is the end of spring here and the flower is now dried up like paper.

Abutilons or Chinese lanterns are closely related to hibiscus, and most of the hundred or so species have pendulous, hibiscus-like flowers. Cultivars produced by hybridising some of the South American abutilons have all been placed in one group known as Abutilon x hybridum, and these are the ones most commonly grown in Australian gardens. They have a wispy, delicate form and colourful, lantern-shaped flowers. For gardeners who prefer plants with a more dense habit, new compact varieties are also available. Another popular abutilon is Abutilon megapotamicum, which is a prostrate ohttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifr ground covering species with small orange flowers. There is also a variegated leaf form, Abutilon megapotamicum 'Variegatum'. Megapotamicum means 'from the big river' referring to the Rio Grande in Brazil.

I have since found out this may be Chinese goose berry.
http://capegooseberry.com/


I recall when I was in Singapore, as a professor/faculty wife, once a month, we went for lunches or high teas at the Shangrila Hotel. They had these little pods as part of the decor.



http://capegooseberry.com/

Physalis peruviana - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis_peruvianaShare

The cape gooseberry is also grown in northeastern China,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physalis_peruviana

http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Chinese-Lanterns/868


http://blueberrycraftandhobbytime.blogspot.com/p/join-my-photo-challenge-flowers-on.html