Ligularia fischeri

Ligularia fischeri, known as gomchwi, Fischer's ragwort, or Fischer's leopard plant, is a species in the genus Ligularia. It is native to east Asia. Part of the plant's name commemorates the late 19th century German explorer of East Africa Gustav Fischer.

Description

Ligularia fischeri is a clump-forming herbaceous perennial and can grow up to tall. It has coarsely toothed, kidney-shaped light green basal leaves, up to across, on long stalks, the stem leaves smaller and on shorter stalks. The in midsummer, it has racemes of up to long of yellow flowerheads, across. Later after it has bloomed, it produces a seed capsule, with seeds with downy hairs which are tinged brown or purple.

Culinary use

Korea

In Korean cuisine, the leaves of gomchwi along with other chwinamul varieties are often used as the main ingredient of herbal side dishes called namul. Gomchwi can be eaten pickled as jangajji or kimchi, and eaten fresh as a ssam vegetable.