| Platycodon | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Campanulaceae |
| Subfamily: | Campanuloideae |
| Genus: | Platycodon A.DC. |
| Species: | P. grandiflorus |
| Binomial name | |
| Platycodon grandiflorus | |
| Synonyms | |
Campanula gentianoidesLam. | |
Platycodon grandiflorus (fromAncient Greekπλατύς "wide" andκώδων "bell") is aspecies ofherbaceous floweringperennial plant of thefamilyCampanulaceae, and the only member of thegenusPlatycodon. It isnative toEast Asia (China,Korea,Japan, and theRussian Far East).[1] It is commonly known asballoon flower (referring to the balloon-shaped flower buds),[2][3]Chinese bellflower,[2] orplatycodon.[2]
Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in) wide, it is anherbaceousperennial with dark green leaves and blue flowers in late summer. A notable feature of the plant is the flower bud, which swells like a balloon before fully opening.[4] The five petals are fused together into a bell shape at the base, like its relatives, thecampanulas.
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Platycodon grandiflorus is a perennial plant which is commonly grown in mountains and fields. It is 40 to 100 centimeters (16 to 39 in) high and has thick roots, and white juice comes out when the stem is cut. Leaves are 5 to 12 centimeters (2.0 to 4.7 in) long, with narrow ends and teeth on the edges.
Flowers bloom purple or white in July and August, with one or several running upward at the end of the circle. The flower crown is divided into five branches in the shape of an open bell.
It lives throughout Japan, China, and eastern Siberia, including the Korean Peninsula.
This plant is hardy down to −40 °C (−40 °F), and can be cultivated in USDA zones 3A to 9b. It dies down completely in winter, reappearing in late spring and flowering in summer. However, plants are widely available from nurseries in full flower from April onwards.
Though the species has blue flowers, there are varieties with white, pink, and purple blooms.[5] In Korea, white flowers are more common. This plant,[6] together with itscultivars 'Apoyama group'[7] and 'Mariesii',[8] have gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.[9]
InKorea, the plant as well as its root are referred to asdoraji (도라지). The root, fresh or dried, is one of the most commonnamul vegetables. It is also one of the most frequent ingredients inbibimbap. Sometimes, rice is cooked with balloon flower root to makedoraji-bap. Preparation of the root always involves soaking and washing (usually rubbing it withcoarse sea salt and rinsing it multiple times), which gets rid of the bitter taste.
The root is also used to make desserts, such asdoraji-jeonggwa. Syrup made from the root, calleddoraji-cheong (balloon flower root honey), can be used to makedoraji-cha (balloon flower root tea). The root can be used toinfuse liquor calleddoraji-sul, typically using distilledsoju or other unflavoredhard alcohol that has anABV higher than 30% as a base.
In addition, other ingredients include calcium, fiber, iron, minerals, proteins and vitamins.[10]
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The extracts and purified platycoside compounds (saponins) from the roots ofPlatycodon grandiflorum may exhibit neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, improved insulin resistance, and cholesterol-lowering properties.[11] Evidence for these potential effects was mainly observedin vitro, with the exception of cholesterol lowering effects documentedin vitro and in rats. The lack of efficacy and limited safety data in humans, however, necessitate further research.
The Chinese bellflower (called桔梗 in Chinese) is also used intraditional Chinese medicine.
In China, they are used as acough suppressant andexpectorant forcommon colds,cough,sore throat,tonsillitis, and chest congestion.[11]
In Korea, the roots are commonly used for treating bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases.[citation needed]
The bellflower is calledkikyō (桔梗) in Japanese. Traditionally, it is one of theSeven Autumn Flowers. In addition, the "Bellflower Seal" (桔梗紋,kikyōmon) is the crest (kamon) of some clans.
![Seimei Kikyō / Seimei Kikyō (晴明紋, lit. "Clearest/Brightest Crest", or the "Seal of Abe-no-Seimei") is a pentagram used by Abe no Seimei[12] as the symbol of the Onmyōryō (Bureau of Taoist Geomancy) and Onmyōdō-itself, given its association with the Five Chinese Elements.](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aJapanese_Crest_Seimei_Kikyou.svg)
Doraji taryeong (Korean:도라지타령) is one of the most popular folk songs in bothNorth andSouth Korea, and inChina among theethnic Koreans. It is also a well known song inJapan, by the nameToraji (Japanese:トラジ).[13]
It is a folk song originated fromEunyul inHwanghae Province. However, the currently sung version is classified as aGyeonggi minyo (Gyeonggi Province folk song), as the rhythm and the melody have changed to acquire those characteristics.[14]
well-known Korean folk melody, "Toraji T'aryŏng" (known simply as "Toraji" in Japanese)
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