Codonopsis javanica

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A twining herb. It grows 2 m high. It keeps growing from year to year. The roots are thickened. The stems are twining and branched. The leaves are opposite. They are heart shaped and 3-8 cm long by 2-8 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge. The flowers are in the axils of leaves. They are white or yellow-green. The fruit is a red round berry.

There are about 30-40 Codonopsis species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows along the edges of forests. It grows between 900-2,200 m altitude. In Yunnan, China it grows between 700-1500 m altitude. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw. The dried root is used to prepare soup with spare ribs, Astragalus roots, sliced Chinese yam, dried jujube and Lycium berries. The leaves and stems are used as a potherb.

It is sold in local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, root, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Amixiagu, Dang sam, Dang shen, Ma gong gui, Nian bao biu, Ya li bo me

Synonyms

Campanula javanica (Blume) D. Dietr.; Campanumoea cordata (Hassk.) Maxim.; Campanumoea javanica Blume; Campanumoea labordei H. Lev.; Codonopsis cordata Hassk.; Codonopsis cordifolia Kom.;