わが国の各地をはじめ、台湾や朝鮮半島、中国に分布しています。山地にふつうに生え、高さは60〜100センチほどになります。茎葉は卵状楕円形で鋸歯があり、3〜4個が輪生まれに対生します。8月から10月ごろ、茎の上部に薄紫色または白色をした釣鐘状の小さな花を輪状に咲かせます。萼片には鋸歯があります。若芽は「ととき」と呼ばれ、春の山菜です。和名は、根のかたちが「ちょうせんにんじん」に似ていることから。台湾華語では「輪葉沙參」、中国語では「輪葉沙参(lun ye sha shen)」と呼ばれます。
The Ladybells (Adenophora triphylla) belongs to Campanulaceae (the Bellflower family). It is a perennial herb that is native to Japan, Taiwan, the Korean Peninsula, and China. This herb is common in mountainous areas and can reach 60-100 cm in height. The cauline leaves are ovate-elliptic, serrated, and 3-4 whorled or rarely opposite. Ladybells produces pale purple or white bell-shaped small flowers in whorls on the upper stems from August to October. The sepals have toothed edges. The young shoots are used as a wild vegetable. (edit by Greg Brockelbank)
The Japanese name is derived from the root's shape, which resembles a "Korean ginseng". In Taiwanese Chinese, it is called "輪葉沙參", and in Chinese, "輪葉沙参" (lun ye sha shen).