Apples of Sodom

an orange-like fruit of fair appearance, that crumbles in the grasp into a mere handful of ashes; hence the figurative use of the expression, Apples of Sodom, or Dead Sea Apples, to describe that which attracts by outward beauty but is really worthless. The apples of Sodom belong to the nightshade family, and are related, therefore, to the ground cherry, the eggplant, the tomato, and other well known plants.