Species in the genus Platycodon:

Platycodon grandiflorus / Kikyou キキョウ

Platycodon grandiflorus is a perennial herb found in sunny grasslands in hilly districts; the stems grow to 0.5-1m in height, with 4-7cm-in-length oblong-ovate leaves with alternate phyllotaxis. A few blue-purple flowers come on a shoot apex in July-September. The Ministry of the Environment designates this species as a VU, and the Shimane Red Data Book lists it as a CR+EN. Bloom time: July-September.