Platycodon grandiflorus

Balloon flower ( Platycodon grandiflorus )

The balloon flower ( Platycodon grandiflorus, Syn: .. Campanula glauca Thunb, Campanula grandiflora Jacq ( basionym ), Platycodon glaucus ( Thunb. ) Nakai, Platycodon grandiflorum ), also known as Large-flowered Balloon flower or Chinese bellflower, is the only species of the monotypic genus Platycodon from the family of the bellflower family ( Campanulaceae ). The German name derives from the fact that the flower buds swell before they rise.

Description

Platycodon grandiflorus grows as branched above, perennial, herbaceous plant, reaching heights of growth of 50 to 70 cm. Are formed taproots. The blue- green, pointed serrated leaves are slightly glaucous whitish and oval - lanceolate; the bottom is from 2.5 to 3.4 cm long and 2-3 cm wide.

Are formed zymöse inflorescences. The most five petals have a diameter of 5 to 7 cm. The blue to rare white petals are fused broadly bell-shaped. There is only one stamen circle with five stamens present. Bloom time is from July to August.

Fourfold flowers

Fivefold flowers

Sixfold bloom

The egg-shaped capsule containing fruit ovoid, compressed, only purple and later brown seeds.

The chromosome number is ( n = 18) 2n = 36

Occurrence

The home of the balloon flower lies in Northeast Asia in China, Siberia, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. In many areas, this species is wild world.

Preferred locations are dry grasslands and stony soil between bushes or forest clearings.

Use and pharmacological properties

Varieties of this species are used as conditioned hardy ornamental plants. There a number of varieties have been bred with different flower colors and sizes.

Their roots ( radix Platycodi ) are used in traditional Chinese and Korean medicine and Korean cuisine ( Kor. doraji ) for immune stimulation and against cancer. In animal studies, extracts from the plant enhance the activity of B cells and cytokine production. Saponins from the root ( platycodin AE) show anti-inflammatory effects in the laboratory. In addition, it is planted as an ornamental plant.

Only young leaves are eaten cooked; it is said that the older leaves are poisonous. Older leaves are dried and used as a spice. Roots are eaten cooked in soups as fortifying vegetables. The roots are leavened shelled or preserved in sugar. Especially in Korean cuisine, the roots come as " bellflower roots" before.

The roots are often referred to as toxic in its raw state.