kikyo
Campanulaceae (bellflower family)
Platycodon grandiflorus
- Physical characteristics:
- This perennial grows to approximately 50 cm in height. The leaves are narrowly ovate and pointed at the tip, with sharp serrations. They alternate along the stem. The flowers are large for the plant’s height.
- Blooming period:
- late July to early August
- Habitat:
- the fifth stage
- Other information:
- The population has drastically decreased due to illegal digging and damage caused by deer. The plant can also be found on sea cliffs. In gardening stores, it is sold under the name apoigikyo.
- Japanese name origin:
- It is said that the name kikyo evolved from kichiko, the Chinese-derived reading of the characters for kikyo.