Chicken feet tonic, Mandarin platanthera
Platanthera mandarinorum

Family: Orchidaceae

What it is like

An orchid that grows in the soil. It keeps growing from year to year and forms tubers. It grows 15-25 cm high. It has long fleshy tubers. There is one leaf on each stem. These are sword shaped and do nto have a leaf stalk. They are 4-6 cm long by 1.4 cm wide. The flowers are small and yellow-green.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows among grasses on hillsides. It occur in Yunnan in China. It grows between 300-3,200 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, Korea, Taiwan

How it is used for food

The fleshy roots and attached crowns are cooked and eaten.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ji zhua shen

Synonyms

Platanthera delavayi Schlechter; and several others