桔梗(geng)(geng)(geng)是(shi)多年生草本植物,莖高20~120厘(li)米(mi),通常(chang)無毛(mao),偶密(mi)被(bei)短毛(mao),不分枝(zhi),極少上(shang)部分枝(zhi)。葉全(quan)部輪生,部分輪生至全(quan)部互生,無柄或有極短的柄,葉片卵(luan)形(xing),卵(luan)狀橢圓(yuan)形(xing)至披針形(xing),葉子(zi)卵(luan)形(xing)或卵(luan)狀披針形(xing),花暗藍色或暗紫(zi)白色,可(ke)作觀賞(shang)花卉;其根可(ke)入藥(yao)(yao),有止(zhi)咳祛痰、宣(xuan)肺、排膿等作用(yong)(yong)(yong),中(zhong)醫常(chang)用(yong)(yong)(yong)藥(yao)(yao)。在中(zhong)國東北地區常(chang)被(bei)腌制為咸菜(cai),在朝鮮(xian)半島被(bei)用(yong)(yong)(yong)來制作泡菜(cai),當(dang)地民謠《桔梗(geng)(geng)(geng)謠》所描(miao)寫的就是(shi)這種(zhong)植物。單憑名稱,有人會誤以為桔梗(geng)(geng)(geng)乃桔子(zi)的梗(geng)(geng)(geng),但實(shi)際上(shang)與桔子(zi)或柑橘屬沒有直(zhi)接關系。