 The flowers are bell-shaped and 5 centimeters or more across, pale violet with white throats (occasionally pure white), opening only for a few hours in the day.The flower becomes lantern-like towards the end of its blooming period, the inflated calyces somewhat resembling those of certain "Physalis" spp., although in "Nicandra" (unlike in "Physalis") the fruiting calyx is deeply lobed, (the sepals cordate) and not a single, undivided, bladder-like structure.The plant is thought to have insect repellent properties, particularly in relation to whitefly.