a campanulaceous plant, Campanula rapunculus, native to Europe and Asia, that has clusters of bluish flowers and an edible white tuberous root used in salads
2.
any of several plants of the related genus Phyteuma that are native to Europe and Asia and have heads of blue flowers
Word origin
C16: probably from Old French raiponce, from Old Italian raponzo, from rapa turnip, from Latin rāpum turnip; see rape2
rampion in American English
(ˈræmpiən)
noun
a European bellflower (Campanula rapunculus) with thick, fleshy, white roots that are used with the leaves in salads or cooked, esp. formerly, as a vegetable
Word origin
altered < ? Fr raiponce, It raponzolo < ML rapunculus, dim. < L rapum, turnip: see UNRESOLVED CROSS REF