Cyclocodon lancifolius

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A sprawling herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It can grow 3 m tall. It can be hairy. It is branched and has hollow stems and a tuberous root. The leaves are opposite. The leaf stalks are 3-15 mm long. The leaf blade is oval and 3-14 cm long by 1-4 cm wide. There are teeth along the edge of the leaf. The flowers are 7-15 mm across. They bare white or pale pink and in the axils of leaves. There can be 1-3 flowers together. The fruit is a flattened berry. It is 1 cm across. It is white. There are many small seeds with marks on them.

There are about 30 Codonopsis species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in wet places on the edge of forests and near streams. It is usually between 300-1500 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Pacific, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The starchy rhizome, stems and leaves are used cooked when food is scarce.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Fruit, root, stems, leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Caay gai, Emlapagar, Gordang-gordang, Lakoronbolan, May-om-kaeo, Ruwfng, Tiao-lo kue

Synonyms

Campanula lancifolia Roxb.; Campanumoea celebica Blume; Campanumoea lancifolia (Roxb.)Merrill; Codonopsis celebica (Blume)Thuan; Codonopsis lancifolia (Roxb.) Moeliono; and others