National Council for The Conservation of Plants and Gardens
National Collection of the Genus Codonopsis and Allied Genera
Pseudocodon graminifolius
Another of the Pseudocodonopsis group with rounded pale tubers. Clearly related to C. forrestii etc this beauty rises to 5 feet or so but only the leafless upper part of the stem twines. The leaves are long and very thin giving the plant its name but we think graminifolia (grass leaved) rather than pinifolia (pine leaved) would be a better name! The open flowers are about the same size as C. vinciflora and a similar blue but with a very dark maroon ring in the centre, quite striking.
As the plant emerges in spring the leaves are all pressed back against the main stem.
The seed is small and brown.
China, South Sichuan and Northern Yunnan
©Bob Armstrong
©Bob Armstrong