Platycodon grandiflorus (from Ancient Greek ?????? "wide" and ????? "bell") is a species of herbaceous flowering perennial plant of the family Campanulaceae, and the only member of the genus Platycodon. It is native to East Asia (China, Korea, Japan, and the Russian Far East). It is commonly known as balloon flower (referring to the balloon-shaped flower buds), Chinese bellflower, or platycodon.
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Description
Growing to 60 cm (24 in) tall by 30 cm (12 in) 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. The five petals are fused together into a bell shape at the base, like its relatives, the campanulas. There are varieties with white, pink and purple blooms in cultivation. In Korea, white flowers are more common. This plant together with its cultivars 'Apoyama group' and 'Mariesii' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.
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Uses
Culinary
Korea
In Korea, the plant as well as its root is referred to as doraji (???). The root, fresh or dried, is one of the most common namul vegetables. It is also one of the most frequent ingredients in bibimbap. In Korean cuisine, the preparation of doraji always involve soaking and washing, which gets rid of the bitter taste of it. To wash doraji, one may rub it with coarse sea salt, and rinse it multiple times.
Condiments
- dorajicheong - doraji honey, made by boiling peeled, soaked, washed, and ground doraji and honey together. It can also be made with pear and doraji, in which case the name becomes baedorajicheong (literally "pear doraji honey").
Dishes
- dorajibap - a type of bap (cooked rice), made by cooking rice with peeled, sliced, soaked, and washed doraji
- dorajimuchim - a type of namul, made by julienning and seasoning peeled, soaked, and washed doraji with minced garlic, chopped scallions, gochujang (chilli paste), gochutgaru (chilli powder), maesilcheong (plum syrup), vinegar, sesame oil, and toasted sesame seeds
- dorajinamul - a type of namul, made by julienning and seasoning peeled, soaked, and washed doraji with minced garlic, ground ginger, salt, rice wine, and sugar, then frying it in sesame oil, before pouring anchovy broth and reducing it. The dish is served with toasted sesame seeds sprinkled on top.
Drinks
- dorajicha - doraji tea, made by mixing hot water with dorajicheong
- dorajisul - doraji liquor, made by soaking peeled and washed doraji in distilled soju or other hard alcohol that has an ABV higher than 30%, for at least six months
Medicinal
The Chinese bellflower (called ?? in Chinese) is also used in traditional Chinese medicine.
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. 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, necessitates further research.
In Korea, the roots are commonly used for treating bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, diabetes, and other inflammatory diseases. In China, they are used as a cough suppressant and expectorant for common colds, cough, sore throat, tonsillitis, and chest congestion.
Cultural
Japan
The bellflower is called kiky? (??) in Japanese. Traditionally, it is one of the Seven Autumn Flowers. In addition, the "Bellflower Seal" (???, kiky?mon) is the crest (kamon) of some clans.
Korea
Doraji taryeong (Korean: ?????) 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 Toraji (Japanese: ???).
It is a folk song originated from Eunyul in Hwanghae Province. However, the currently sung version is classified as Gyeonggi minyo (Gyeonggi Province folk song), as the rhythm and the melody have changed to acquire the characteristics of it.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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