Sichuan tangshen
Codonopsis pilosula subsp. tangshen

Family: Campanulaceae

What it is like

A climber. It keeps growing from year to year. The roots are fleshy and cylinder shaped. They are 15-30 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. They are smooth and greyish-yellow. There are a few lines on the upper end. The annual shoots emerge from the rough short stem. They are 1-3 m long and have side branches 15-50 cm long. The flowers occur singly and are pale green or yellow. The fruit are flattened capsules 2-3 cm across. There are several seeds.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in the mountains of Sichuan in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, China

How it is used for food

The dried root is used to make a soup.

Edible parts

Roots

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Wu bu shi gu

Synonyms

Codonopsis tangshen Oliv.;