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Post by stevil on Feb 27, 2012 6:00:14 GMT -5
I've been helping a Korean woman who was adopted to Norway as a child, but still remembers foraging with her gran and is trying to identify some of the plants so that she can grow them and relive her fond taste memories. This one has me stumped. This is what she wrote: "Was wondering if you could help me identify a plant from Korea. What I remember regarding this plant are: The foliage is small and in a rosette. Grows in porous / sandy soils. What is special about this plant is that it is the roots which are edible. The roots are long, even and shiny, and are yellowish white. No side “hairs” on the roots. (almost long like spaghetti but somewhat thicker). There are several long roots on a plant. Do not remember the Korean name unfortunately. The roots do not grow down into the soil, but sideways. It is easy to pull them up. If you find out what it's called, be sure I’ll knit some fine socks for you!!" Hope someone here can help as I'd like the socks.  I'll tip our Korean friend who's been active here recently.. Stephen |
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Post by stevil on Feb 27, 2012 6:06:30 GMT -5
She also says that the taste is wonderful!
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Post by heidela on Feb 27, 2012 9:32:32 GMT -5
Korean burdock ?
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Post by orflo on Feb 27, 2012 15:31:45 GMT -5
Stephen, has she got any idea if the plant flowers, and what colors the flowers have. Are the leaves divided or not? My first guess was argentina anserina, but that really forms small tubers, so that doesn't fit exactly, and roots are not exactly spaghetti-like. What's a sock worth...? |
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Post by canadamike on Feb 27, 2012 15:43:09 GMT -5
Looks like some kind of edible stolon to me....
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Post by stevil on Feb 27, 2012 17:10:37 GMT -5
Stephen, has she got any idea if the plant flowers, and what colors the flowers have. Are the leaves divided or not? My first guess was argentina anserina, but that really forms small tubers, so that doesn't fit exactly, and roots are not exactly spaghetti-like. What's a sock worth...?  That's what I thought initially or the Pacific subspecies egedii. However, she knew that plant and knew that the roots weren't as she described! Note that the roots grow sideways. Could it perhaps be a Stachys/Lycopus species or something else in that family? |
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Post by castanea on Feb 28, 2012 0:08:33 GMT -5
Platycodon grandiflorus?
Known in Korea as "Doraji".
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Post by stevil on Feb 28, 2012 2:51:24 GMT -5
Platycodon grandiflorus? Known in Korea as "Doraji". She's familiar with that one, so not Platycodon... Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! |
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Post by heidela on Feb 28, 2012 8:15:10 GMT -5
I am sorry I do not know the true name, but I eat Korean food Many times a week. Could it be sweet potato stems? I buy them dry and rehydrate them, cook them and use for banchan?
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Post by jbl4430 on Feb 28, 2012 16:57:56 GMT -5
Maybe I know that. Kind of morning glory.
The root is kind of spageti, long and easy to break. crispy and edible.white.
When I was child,I follow my parents to rice field or garden,mom dig and gave me. Here in Canada my garden have a lot of them as weed. very easy grow and flower is same as morning glory. When spring come, I will dig and take photo,post with flower.Mom said MA.
But not chinese yam.Actually chinese yam's Korean name is MA.
The root size is same as normal spaghetti boiled size.
Spread ground or same as morning glory style but short .
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Post by jbl4430 on Feb 28, 2012 17:07:20 GMT -5
I am sorry I do not know the true name, but I eat Korean food Many times a week. Could it be sweet potato stems? I buy them dry and rehydrate them, cook them and use for banchan? Potato's leaf stem is good for banchan(?). First slightly boil and dry----this is important. if you don't boil or steam before dry,maybe hard to eat---not soft. Remember not stem,only leaf's stem. |
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Post by stevil on Feb 29, 2012 4:38:58 GMT -5
Maybe I know that. Kind of morning glory. The root is kind of spageti, long and easy to break. crispy and edible.white. When I was child,I follow my parents to rice field or garden,mom dig and gave me. Here in Canada my garden have a lot of them as weed. very easy grow and flower is same as morning glory. When spring come, I will dig and take photo,post with flower.Mom said MA. But not chinese yam.Actually chinese yam's Korean name is MA. The root size is same as normal s paghetti boiled size. Spread ground or same as morning glory style but short . Many thanks, this sounds promising. Perhaps it's Calystegia arvensis as you describe it growing as a weed? I'll pass this suggestion to my friend... Yes, please take a photo in spring! |
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Post by stevil on Feb 29, 2012 4:40:13 GMT -5
Wood-N-Stake: I've also posted the same question on the Korean site. Thanks!
Stephen
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Post by jbl4430 on Feb 29, 2012 8:06:50 GMT -5
Maybe I know that. Kind of morning glory. The root is kind of spageti, long and easy to break. crispy and edible.white. When I was child,I follow my parents to rice field or garden,mom dig and gave me. Here in Canada my garden have a lot of them as weed. very easy grow and flower is same as morning glory. When spring come, I will dig and take photo,post with flower.Mom said MA. But not chinese yam.Actually chinese yam's Korean name is MA. The root size is same as normal s paghetti boiled size. Spread ground or same as morning glory style but short . Many thanks, this sounds promising. Perhaps it's Calystegia arvensis as you describe it growing as a weed? I'll pass this suggestion to my friend... Yes, please take a photo in spring! Yes,exactly Calystegia arvensis.you don't need any more my photo. Only one thing you must understand----even same kind(a lot of fish), the taste is too much different. |
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Post by heidela on Feb 29, 2012 17:23:35 GMT -5
Try asking Maangchi at www.maangchi.com Maybe your friend can ask in Korean. Anyone wanting to cook Korean food need to watch Maangchi's YouTube videos. I highly recommend the Emergency Kimchi recipe. Ditto on maangchi I am working my way through her recipes as we eat a lot of Korean food, and her food is the real deal, Korean food is food for any home grower, green spirited. Post on her site as Mentioned above Also she will answer anything you ask |
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