Bastard ginseng
Codonopsis pilosula

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A twining herb. It climbs 2 m high. It has milky sap. It keeps growing from year to year. The stems are slender. The leaves are hairy and pale green. They are oval and 4 cm long. The flowers occur singly and are bell shaped. They are 2.5 cm long. They grow on leafy side branches.

There are about 30 Codonopsis species. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It is native to northern and western China. It grows between 900-3,900 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China (country/location of origin), Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Slovenia, Tasmania, Tibet

How it is used for food

The roots are roasted with millet or eaten raw, baked, or pickled in miso. It is used in tonic teas and soups. The dried root is used to prepare soup with spare ribs, Astragalus roots, sliced Chinese yam, dried jujube and Lycium berries. It is used as a substitute for ginseng.

It is a cultivated food plant. It is sold in Chinese stores in Australia.

Edible parts

Root

How it is grown

It is grown by seed. It can be grown by cuttings. Seedlings need care when transplanting not to damage the taproot.

Its other names

Local names

Dangshen, Dang Shen, Tangshen

Synonyms

Campanumoea pilosula Franchet;