Platycodon

Growing to {{convert|60|cm|0|abbr=on}} tall by {{convert|30|cm|0|abbr=on}} wide, it is an herbaceous perennial with dark green leaves and blue flowers in late summer. A notable feature of the plant is the flower bud, which swells like a balloon before fully opening.{{cite web |url=http://platycodon.net/ |title = Balloon Flower (Platycodon grandiflorus) › Balloon Flower}} The five petals are fused together into a bell shape at the base, like its relatives, the campanulas.

Platycodon nudiflorus0.jpg|Swelling balloon-shaped buds

Afbeelding-074-Platycodon grandiflorus.tif|Platycodon grandiflorus by Abraham Jacobus Wendel, 1868

{{unreferenced section|date=February 2021}}

Platycodon grandiflorus is a perennial plant which is commonly grown in mountains and fields. It is {{Convert|40 to 100|cm|sp=us}} high and has thick roots, and white juice comes out when the stem is cut. Leaves are {{Convert|5 to 12|cm|sp=us}} long, with narrow ends and teeth on the edges.

Flowers bloom purple or white in July and August, with one or several running upward at the end of the circle. The flower crown is divided into five branches in the shape of an open bell.

It lives throughout Japan, China, and eastern Siberia, including the Korean Peninsula.

File:Platycodon grandiflorus 2.jpg

This plant is hardy down to {{convert|-40 |C|F|abbr=on}}, and can be cultivated in USDA zones 3A to 9b. It dies down completely in winter, reappearing in late spring and flowering in summer. However, plants are widely available from nurseries in full flower from April onwards.

Though the species has blue flowers, there are varieties with white, pink, and purple blooms.{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}} In Korea, white flowers are more common. This plant,{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector - Platycodon grandiflorus|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/13246/Platycodon-grandiflorus/Details | access-date = 6 February 2021}} together with its cultivars 'Apoyama group'{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector – Platycodon grandiflorus 'Apoyama group'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/243408/Platycodon-grandiflorus-Apoyama-Group/Details | access-date = 6 February 2021}} and 'Mariesii',{{cite web|title=RHS Plant Selector – Platycodon grandiflorus 'Mariesii'|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/98942/Platycodon-grandiflorus-Mariesii/Details | access-date = 6 February 2021}} have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants – Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 79 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 2 May 2018}}

In Korea, the plant as well as its root are referred to as {{transl|ko|doraji}} ({{lang|ko|도라지}}). The root, fresh or dried, is one of the most common {{transl|ko|namul}} vegetables. It is also one of the most frequent ingredients in bibimbap. Sometimes, rice is cooked with balloon flower root to make {{transl|ko|doraji-bap}}. Preparation of the root always involves soaking and washing (usually rubbing it with coarse sea salt and rinsing it multiple times), which gets rid of the bitter taste.

The root is also used to make desserts, such as {{transl|ko|doraji-jeonggwa}}. Syrup made from the root, called {{transl|ko|doraji-cheong}} (balloon flower root honey), can be used to make {{transl|ko|doraji-cha}} (balloon flower root tea). The root can be used to infuse liquor called {{transl|ko|doraji-sul}}, typically using distilled soju or other unflavored hard alcohol that has an ABV higher than 30% as a base.

In addition, other ingredients include calcium, fiber, iron, minerals, proteins and vitamins.{{Cite web|url=http://www.newscj.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=322178|title=[제철 힐링푸드] 기관지·폐에 특효 '도라지'|date=2015-12-09|website=천지일보|language=ko|access-date=2019-04-19}}

File:Root of platycodon grandiflorus.jpg|{{transl|ko|Doraji}} (balloon flower root)

File:Korean.cuisine-Doraji oi muchim-01.jpg|{{transl|ko|Doraji-muchim}} (seasoned balloon flower root)

File:Doraji-jeonggwa.jpg|{{transl|ko|Doraji-jeonggwa}} (balloon flower root sweets)

File:Doraji-cha.jpg|{{transl|ko|Doraji-cha}} (balloon flower root tea)

{{more medical citations needed|section|date=July 2015}}

The extracts and purified platycoside compounds (saponins) from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum may exhibit neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, improved insulin resistance, and cholesterol-lowering properties.Nyakudya E.; Jeong JH.; Lee NK.; Jeong YS. (2014) “Platycosides from the Roots of Platycodon grandiflorum and Their Health Benefits.” Preventative Nutrition and Food Science 19 (2): 59–68. {{PMID|25054103}}. Evidence for these potential effects was mainly observed in vitro, with the exception of cholesterol lowering effects documented in vitro and in rats. The lack of efficacy and limited safety data in humans, however, necessitate further research.

The Chinese bellflower (called {{lang|zh|桔梗}} in Chinese) is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.

In China, they are used as a cough suppressant and expectorant for common colds, cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, and chest congestion.

In Korea, the roots are commonly used for treating bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases.{{citation needed|date=July 2015}}

The bellflower is called {{transl|ja|kikyō}} ({{lang|ja|桔梗}}) in Japanese. Traditionally, it is one of the Seven Autumn Flowers. In addition, the {{nihongo|"Bellflower Seal"|桔梗紋|kikyōmon}} is the crest ({{transl|ja|kamon}}) of some clans.

File:Kikyo.svg|{{transl|ja|Kikyō}} is a plain Kikyōmon.

File:Tokikikyo.svg|{{transl|ja|Toki Kikyō}} is a variant used by the Toki clan, the Akechi clan, among others.

File:Japanese_crest_Oota_Kikyou.svg|{{transl|ja|Ōta Kikyō}} is another variant used by the Ōta clan.

File:Japanese Crest Seimei Kikyou.svg|{{transl|ja|Seimei Kikyō}} / {{nihongo|Seimei Kikyō|晴明紋||lit. "Clearest/Brightest Crest", or the "Seal of Abe-no-Seimei"}} is a pentagram used by Abe no Seimei{{cite book|author=Alan Scott Pate|title=Ningyo: The Art of the Japanese Doll|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EzzRAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT215|date=12 February 2013|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn=978-1-4629-0720-5|pages=215–}} as the symbol of the Onmyōryō (Bureau of Taoist Geomancy) and Onmyōdō-itself, given its association with the Five Chinese Elements.

{{Main|Doraji taryeong}}

{{transl|ko|Doraji taryeong}} ({{Langx|ko|도라지타령}}) is one of the most popular folk songs in both North and South Korea, and in China among the ethnic Koreans. It is also a well known song in Japan, by the name {{transl|ja|Toraji}} ({{langx|ja|トラジ}}).{{Cite book|url=http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520266742|title=Primitive Selves: Koreana in the Japanese Colonial Gaze, 1910‒1945|last=Atkins|first=E. Taylor|publisher=University of California Press|year=2010|isbn=9780520266742|location=Berkeley, CA|pages=163–164|language=en|quote=well-known Korean folk melody, "Toraji T'aryŏng" (known simply as "Toraji" in Japanese)}}

It is a folk song originated from Eunyul in Hwanghae Province. However, the currently sung version is classified as a Gyeonggi minyo (Gyeonggi Province folk song), as the rhythm and the melody have changed to acquire those characteristics.{{Cite web|url=http://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Contents/Index?contents_id=E0015578|title=도라지타령|last=Han|first=Manyǒng|website=Encyclopedia of Korean Culture|publisher=Academy of Korean Studies|language=ko|trans-title=Doraji taryeong|access-date=7 January 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons|Platycodon grandiflorus}}

• [http://www.robsplants.com/plants/PlatyGrand.php Platycodon grandiflorus at Robsplants]
• {{PFAF|Platycodon grandiflorus}}

{{Taxonbar|from1=Q16054387|from2=Q805322}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Campanuloideae

Category:Flora of China

Category:Flora of Eastern Asia

Category:Flora of Siberia

Category:Garden plants of Asia

Category:Korean vegetables

Category:Medicinal plants

Category:Monotypic Campanulaceae genera