Campanulaceae FAMILY

Codonopsis pilosula

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Codonopsis pilosula is a herbaceous perennial climbing plant with a tuberous rootstock; it produces a cluster of branched stems from 1 - 2 metres long - the stems scrambling over the ground and twining into nearby vegetation for support[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].. The plant, especially the subspecies Codonopsis pilosula tangshen, is an important herb in Chinese Traditional Medicine. It is commonly harvested from the wild and also cultivated on a large scale for local use and trade.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeN.E. Asia - Mongolia, Russian Far East, China, Korea

HabitatForests, thickets, meadows or scrub at forest margins; at elevations from 900 - 3,900 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. Dense shrubby thickets, the shade of trees at forest edges, streambanks etc[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].