Common Chinese Materia Medica: Volume 3 (Common Chinese Materia Medica, 3) 981165879X, 9789811658792

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Common Chinese Materia Medica Volume 3 Huagu Ye Chuyuan Li Wencai Ye Feiyan Zeng Editors

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Common Chinese Materia Medica

Huagu Ye • Chuyuan Li • Wencai Ye Feiyan Zeng Editors

Common Chinese Materia Medica Volume 3

Editors Huagu Ye South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, Guangdong, China Wencai Ye Coll Pharm Jinan Univ Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

Chuyuan Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited

Guangzhou, China Feiyan Zeng South China Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

ISBN 978-981-16-5879-2    ISBN 978-981-16-5880-8 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8 Jointly published with Chemical Industry Press The print edition is not for sale in China (Mainland). Customers from China (Mainland) please order the print book from: Chemical Industry Press. © Chemical Industry Press 2021, corrected publication 2022 B&R Book Program This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights of reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology now known or hereafter developed. The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use. The publishers, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication. Neither the publishers nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied, with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have been made. The publishers remain neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. This Springer imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. The registered company address is: 152 Beach Road, #21-01/04 Gateway East, Singapore 189721, Singapore

Participating Units

SOUTH CHINA BOTANICAL GARDEN, THE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES GUANGZHOU PHARMACEUTICAL HOLDINGS LIMITED JINAN UNIVERSITY Honorary Editor-in-Chief: Changxiao Liu Associate Honorary Editor-in-Chief: Hai Ren Editor-in-Chief: Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng Associate Editor-in-Chief: Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, Jianrong Li Editorial Board Members: Ling Ma, Faguo Wang, Guoping Wang, Jun Wang, Xiyong Wang, Linke Yin, Ye Lu, Wencai Ye, Huagu Ye, Yushi Ye, Yun Ye, Mingliang Shen, Shaozhi Fu, Lin Fu, Guohua Bai, Jibin Zhu, Qiang Zhu, Jian Quan, Fangfang Liu, Xiaofeng Liu, Mei Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Shangchuan Sun, Shiquan Ling, Xiaojie Li, Shuyuan Li, Shiyu Li, Ruliang Li, Chengwen Li, Zexian Li, Jianrong Li, Haitao Li, Cehong Li, Chuyuan Li, Yi Yang, Xiaoling Yu, Bo Xiao, Haiyan Gu, Bin Zou, Fengqiu Zhang, Shupeng Zhang, Qiuying Zhang, Xiaoqi Zhang, Huiye Zhang, Yushun Chen, Hongyuan Chen, Haishan Chen, Xiaojing Fan, Chunlin Fan, Sirong Yi, Shimin Duan, Xinsheng Qin, Han Jia, Lei Xu, Jing Xia, Zhihai Huang, Ya Huang, Xiujuan Tang, Ning Kang, Song Lu, Feiyan Zeng, Jingjin Cai, Kaiyun Guan, Wenbo Liao, Xueying Wei, Yujie Liao, Liyun Nie, Xueying Wei, Minghui Cai

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Preface

Traditional Chinese medicine, a generic term for all medicines used by Chinese ethnic groups, including Han and minority races, reflects the Chinese nation’s understanding of life, health, and diseases. Also, it is a pharmaceutical system that has a long tradition of unique theories and technical methods. Traditional Chinese medicine is the cream of the crop of the Chinese culture, which has played a very important role in the reproduction and prosperity of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. With the research and development of traditional Chinese medical resources, many folk drugs are also added into the inventory of traditional Chinese medicine, making it encompass microbes, plants, animals, and minerals used for the prevention and treatment of diseases on the basis of Chinese traditional medical theories as well as other substances processed from them. Either produced in China or foreign lands, medications commonly used in traditional medical therapies and circulated in the market of medicinal materials are collectively called traditional Chinese medicine, but those folk medicines which are not expansively acknowledged are commonly referred to as herbal medicines. In recent years, owing to the changes in health concepts and medical models, the effects of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of common, frequent, chronic, and major diseases have been progressively acknowledged and accepted by the international community. At present, Chinese medicines have spread to 183 countries and regions. The discovery of artemisinin by Professor Youyou Tu, winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, is a good indicator of the outstanding contribution made by traditional Chinese medicine to human health. Traditional Chinese medications are time-honored, widely distributed, tremendously diverse, and complex in origins. These factors, coupled with the uneven quality of medical works in history, as well as different conventions in drug use contributed to the common phenomena that several drugs are namesakes and the same drug is given many names. What adds to the complication is that novel drug varieties are emerging, resulting in contentions among professionals and unassured qualities of traditional Chinese medications.

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Preface

In an effort to fully demonstrate the growing environment and attributes of the original plants and animals contained in this series of books, systematically introduce their origins, and clarify main differences between approximate species and the easily confused species, compilers visited places throughout China, against unimaginable hardships. A large number of unedited color pictures were taken in plant habitats, which vividly reflected the original appearance of the plants in different growing periods. Thousands of high-resolution pictures of commonly used traditional Chinese medications were taken, which remarkably and scientifically presented distinguishing features of medicinal materials. Experts in the application of Chinese herbal medicines have scoured a colossal number of materials to carefully codify exhaustive information related to the medicines, including the alias, sources, morphology, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods, medicinal properties, tastes, functions, use and dosages, cautions in use, and prescription samples and notes. This series of books is arranged in a systematic way—from algae, fungi, ferns, gymnosperms, angiosperms, resins, and animals to minerals. For the convenience of readers, the book will be published in 10 volumes. This book series seeks to describe the habitat distributions and historical evolution of traditional Chinese medicine from a global perspective. In combination with contemporary scientific research results, this book series provides reference for the protection and scientific use of traditional Chinese medical resources. Due to reasons like the large assortment of traditional Chinese medications and the editors’ knowledge limitations, errors and incompleteness are inevitable. We welcome critical remarks from readers in the medical arena both at home and abroad. Editorial committee of Common Chinese Materia Medica (I–X). Guangdong, China August 2019  

Huagu Ye Chuyuan Li Wencai Ye Feiyan Zeng

The original version of this book was revised. An correction to this book can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8_11

Abstract

This volume describes 226 species of 32 families of medicinal plants, mainly including Aquilaria sinensis and Daphne genkwa of Thymelaeaceae; Benincasa hispida, Siraitia grosvenorii, Trichosanthes kirilowii and Trichosanthes rosthornii of Cucurbitaceae; Camellia sinensis of Theaceae; Cleistocalyx operculatus, Eugenia caryophyllata, and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa of Myrtaceae; Osbeckia chinensis of Melastomataceae; Quisqualis indica and Terminalia chebula of Combretaceae; Hypericum japonicum of Hypericaceae; Microcos paniculata of Tiliaceae; Hibiscus mutabilis of Malvaceae; Croton crassifolius, C. lachnocarpus, C. tiglium, Euphorbia humifusa, E. lathyris, E. pekinensis, Phyllanthus emblica, and Sauropus spatulifolius of Euphorbiaceae.

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Contents

1 Medicinal Angiosperms of Onagraceae, Trapaceae, Haloragidaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Proteaceae, Dilleniaceae, and Pittosporaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������    1 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 1.1 Family: Onagraceae��������������������������������������������������������������������������    3 1.1.1 Epilobium hirsutum��������������������������������������������������������������    3 1.2 Family: Onagraceae��������������������������������������������������������������������������    5 1.2.1 Epilobium pyrricholophum ��������������������������������������������������    5 1.3 Family: Onagraceae��������������������������������������������������������������������������    7 1.3.1 Ludwigia adscendens������������������������������������������������������������    7 1.4 Family: Onagraceae��������������������������������������������������������������������������    9 1.4.1 Ludwigia hyssopifolia ����������������������������������������������������������    9 1.5 Family: Onagraceae��������������������������������������������������������������������������   11 1.5.1 Ludwigia octovalvis��������������������������������������������������������������   11 1.6 Family: Onagraceae��������������������������������������������������������������������������   12 1.6.1 Ludwigia prostrata����������������������������������������������������������������   12 1.7 Family: Trapaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������   15 1.7.1 Trapa bispinosa��������������������������������������������������������������������   15 1.8 Family: Haloragidaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������   17 1.8.1 Haloragis chinensis��������������������������������������������������������������   17 1.9 Family: Haloragidaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������   20 1.9.1 Haloragis micrantha ������������������������������������������������������������   20 1.10 Family: Thymelaeaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������   22 1.10.1 Aquilaria sinensis ����������������������������������������������������������������   22 1.11 Family: Thymelaeaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������   26 1.11.1 Daphne genkwa��������������������������������������������������������������������   26 1.12 Family: Thymelaeaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������   29 1.12.1 Daphne papyracea����������������������������������������������������������������   29

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1.13 Family: Thymelaeaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������   30 1.13.1 Edgeworthia chrysantha ������������������������������������������������������   30 1.14 Family: Thymelaeaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������   33 1.14.1 Wikstroemia indica ��������������������������������������������������������������   33 1.15 Family: Nyctaginaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   35 1.15.1 Boerhavia diffusa������������������������������������������������������������������   35 1.16 Family: Proteaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������   37 1.16.1 Helicia cochinchinensis��������������������������������������������������������   37 1.17 Family: Proteaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������   38 1.17.1 Helicia reticulata������������������������������������������������������������������   38 1.18 Family: Dilleniaceae ������������������������������������������������������������������������   40 1.18.1 Tetracera asiatica������������������������������������������������������������������   40 1.19 Family: Pittosporaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   42 1.19.1 Pittosporum brevicalyx ��������������������������������������������������������   42 1.20 Family: Pittosporaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   44 1.20.1 Pittosporum glabratum ��������������������������������������������������������   44 1.21 Family: Pittosporaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   46 1.21.1 Pittosporum pauciflorum������������������������������������������������������   46 1.22 Family: Pittosporaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   48 1.22.1 Pittosporum tobira����������������������������������������������������������������   48 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������   50 2 Medicinal Angiosperms of Flacourtiaceae, Tamaricaceae, Passifloraceae, and Cucurbitaceae ��������������������������������������������������������   51 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 2.1 Family: Flacourtiaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   53 2.1.1 Flacourtia rukam������������������������������������������������������������������   53 2.2 Family: Flacourtiaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   55 2.2.1 Hydnocarpus hainanensis����������������������������������������������������   55 2.3 Family: Flacourtiaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   57 2.3.1 Idesia polycarpa�������������������������������������������������������������������   57 2.4 Family: Flacourtiaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   59 2.4.1 Xylosma controversa������������������������������������������������������������   59 2.5 Family: Flacourtiaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   62 2.5.1 Xylosma longifolia����������������������������������������������������������������   62 2.6 Family: Flacourtiaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   64 2.6.1 Xylosma racemosum ������������������������������������������������������������   64 2.7 Family: Tamaricaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������   66 2.7.1 Tamarix chinensis ����������������������������������������������������������������   66 2.8 Family: Passifloraceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   69 2.8.1 Adenia chevalieri������������������������������������������������������������������   69 2.9 Family: Passifloraceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   71 2.9.1 Passiflora caerulea����������������������������������������������������������������   71

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2.10 Family: Passifloraceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   73 2.10.1 Passiflora cupiformis������������������������������������������������������������   73 2.11 Family: Passifloraceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   76 2.11.1 Passiflora foetida������������������������������������������������������������������   76 2.12 Family: Passifloraceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   78 2.12.1 Passiflora kwangtungensis����������������������������������������������������   78 2.13 Family: Passifloraceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   80 2.13.1 Passiflora moluccana var. teysmanniana������������������������������   80 2.14 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   83 2.14.1 Actinostemma tenerum����������������������������������������������������������   83 2.15 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   85 2.15.1 Benincasa hispida ����������������������������������������������������������������   85 2.16 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   88 2.16.1 Gynostemma pentaphyllum��������������������������������������������������   88 2.17 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   90 2.17.1 Lagenaria siceraria��������������������������������������������������������������   90 2.18 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   93 2.18.1 Luffa acutangula ������������������������������������������������������������������   93 2.19 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������   97 2.19.1 Luffa aegyptiaca��������������������������������������������������������������������   97 2.20 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  100 2.20.1 Momordica charantia������������������������������������������������������������  100 2.21 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  103 2.21.1 Momordica cochinchinensis��������������������������������������������������  103 2.22 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  105 2.22.1 Neoalsomitra integrifoliola��������������������������������������������������  105 2.23 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  108 2.23.1 Siraitia grosvenorii ��������������������������������������������������������������  108 2.24 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  111 2.24.1 Solena amplexicaulis������������������������������������������������������������  111 2.25 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  113 2.25.1 Thladiantha longifolia����������������������������������������������������������  113 2.26 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  115 2.26.1 Thladiantha nudiflora ����������������������������������������������������������  115 2.27 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  117 2.27.1 Trichosanthes kirilowii, Trichosanthes rosthornii����������������  117 2.28 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  123 2.28.1 Trichosanthes laceribractea��������������������������������������������������  123 2.29 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  125 2.29.1 Zehneria indica ��������������������������������������������������������������������  125 2.30 Family: Cucurbitaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  128 2.30.1 Zehneria maysorensis ����������������������������������������������������������  128 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  130

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3 Medicinal Angiosperms of Begoniaceae, Cactaceae, and Theaceae����  131 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 3.1 Family: Begoniaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  132 3.1.1 Begonia cavaleriei����������������������������������������������������������������  132 3.2 Family: Begoniaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  135 3.2.1 Begonia crassirostris������������������������������������������������������������  135 3.3 Family: Begoniaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  137 3.3.1 Begonia evansiana����������������������������������������������������������������  137 3.4 Family: Begoniaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  140 3.4.1 Begonia fimbristipula������������������������������������������������������������  140 3.5 Family: Begoniaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  143 3.5.1 Begonia palmata ������������������������������������������������������������������  143 3.6 Family: Begoniaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  145 3.6.1 Begonia pedatifida����������������������������������������������������������������  145 3.7 Family: Cactaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  147 3.7.1 Opuntia stricta var. dillenii ��������������������������������������������������  147 3.8 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  149 3.8.1 Adinandra millettii����������������������������������������������������������������  149 3.9 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  151 3.9.1 Anneslea fragrans ����������������������������������������������������������������  151 3.10 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  153 3.10.1 Camellia japonica����������������������������������������������������������������  153 3.11 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  156 3.11.1 Camellia oleifera ����������������������������������������������������������������  156 3.12 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  158 3.12.1 Camellia sinensis������������������������������������������������������������������  158 3.13 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  161 3.13.1 Eurya chinensis��������������������������������������������������������������������  161 3.14 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  163 3.14.1 Eurya distichophylla ������������������������������������������������������������  163 3.15 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  166 3.15.1 Eurya impressinervis������������������������������������������������������������  166 3.16 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  167 3.16.1 Eurya nitida��������������������������������������������������������������������������  167 3.17 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  169 3.17.1 Schima argentea��������������������������������������������������������������������  169 3.18 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  171 3.18.1 Schima superba��������������������������������������������������������������������  171 3.19 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  173 3.19.1 Ternstroemia gymnanthera ��������������������������������������������������  173 3.20 Family: Theaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  175 3.20.1 Ternstroemia kwangtungensis ����������������������������������������������  175 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  177

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4 Medicinal Angiosperms of Actinidiaceae, Saurauiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Melastomataceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  179 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 4.1 Family: Actinidiaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  181 4.1.1 Actinidia callosa var. henryi ������������������������������������������������  181 4.2 Family: Actinidiaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  183 4.2.1 Actinidia chinensis����������������������������������������������������������������  183 4.3 Family: Actinidiaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  185 4.3.1 Actinidia eriantha ����������������������������������������������������������������  185 4.4 Family: Actinidiaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  187 4.4.1 Actinidia latifolia������������������������������������������������������������������  187 4.5 Family: Saurauiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  189 4.5.1 Saurauia tristyla��������������������������������������������������������������������  189 4.6 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  192 4.6.1 Baeckea frutescens����������������������������������������������������������������  192 4.7 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  194 4.7.1 Cleistocalyx operculatus ������������������������������������������������������  194 4.8 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  197 4.8.1 Eucalyptus citriodora������������������������������������������������������������  197 4.9 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  199 4.9.1 Eucalyptus robusta����������������������������������������������������������������  199 4.10 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  203 4.10.1 Eugenia caryophyllata����������������������������������������������������������  203 4.11 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  205 4.11.1 Melaleuca leucadendron������������������������������������������������������  205 4.12 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  207 4.12.1 Psidium guajava�������������������������������������������������������������������  207 4.13 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  210 4.13.1 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa��������������������������������������������������������  210 4.14 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  213 4.14.1 Syzygium buxifolium ������������������������������������������������������������  213 4.15 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  215 4.15.1 Syzygium grijsii��������������������������������������������������������������������  215 4.16 Family: Myrtaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  218 4.16.1 Syzygium jambos������������������������������������������������������������������  218 4.17 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  219 4.17.1 Blastus cochinchinensis��������������������������������������������������������  219 4.18 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  221 4.18.1 Fordiophyton faberi��������������������������������������������������������������  221 4.19 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  224 4.19.1 Fordiophyton fordii ��������������������������������������������������������������  224 4.20 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  226 4.20.1 Melastoma affine������������������������������������������������������������������  226

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4.21 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  229 4.21.1 Melastoma candidum������������������������������������������������������������  229 4.22 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  232 4.22.1 Melastoma dodecandrum������������������������������������������������������  232 4.23 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  234 4.23.1 Melastoma intermedium�������������������������������������������������������  234 4.24 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  236 4.24.1 Melastoma normale��������������������������������������������������������������  236 4.25 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  238 4.25.1 Melastoma sanguineum��������������������������������������������������������  238 4.26 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  240 4.26.1 Osbeckia chinensis����������������������������������������������������������������  240 4.27 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  243 4.27.1 Osbeckia opipara������������������������������������������������������������������  243 4.28 Family: Melastomataceae ����������������������������������������������������������������  246 4.28.1 Sonerila cantonensis ������������������������������������������������������������  246 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  248 5 Medicinal Angiosperms of Combretaceae, Rhizophoraceae, and Hypericaceae ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  249 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 5.1 Family: Combretaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  250 5.1.1 Combretum alfredii ��������������������������������������������������������������  250 5.2 Family: Combretaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  252 5.2.1 Quisqualis indica������������������������������������������������������������������  252 5.3 Family: Combretaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  255 5.3.1 Terminalia catappa ��������������������������������������������������������������  255 5.4 Family: Combretaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  257 5.4.1 Terminalia chebula����������������������������������������������������������������  257 5.5 Family: Rhizophoraceae ������������������������������������������������������������������  260 5.5.1 Carallia longipes������������������������������������������������������������������  260 5.6 Family: Rhizophoraceae ������������������������������������������������������������������  261 5.6.1 Ceriops tagal������������������������������������������������������������������������  261 5.7 Family: Rhizophoraceae ������������������������������������������������������������������  263 5.7.1 Kandelia candel��������������������������������������������������������������������  263 5.8 Family: Rhizophoraceae ������������������������������������������������������������������  264 5.8.1 Rhizophora mucronata����������������������������������������������������������  264 5.9 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  266 5.9.1 Cratoxylum cochinchinense��������������������������������������������������  266 5.10 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  268 5.10.1 Hypericum ascyron ��������������������������������������������������������������  268 5.11 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  271 5.11.1 Hypericum attenuatum����������������������������������������������������������  271 5.12 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  273 5.12.1 Hypericum chinense��������������������������������������������������������������  273

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5.13 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  275 5.13.1 Hypericum erectum ��������������������������������������������������������������  275 5.14 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  277 5.14.1 Hypericum japonicum����������������������������������������������������������  277 5.15 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  280 5.15.1 Hypericum patulum��������������������������������������������������������������  280 5.16 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  282 5.16.1 Hypericum perforatum����������������������������������������������������������  282 5.17 Family: Hypericaceae ����������������������������������������������������������������������  284 5.17.1 Hypericum sampsonii�����������������������������������������������������������  284 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  287 6 Medicinal Angiosperms of Guttiferae, Tiliaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Bombacaceae��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  289 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 6.1 Family: Guttiferae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  290 6.1.1 Garcinia multiflora ��������������������������������������������������������������  290 6.2 Family: Guttiferae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  293 6.2.1 Garcinia oblongifolia������������������������������������������������������������  293 6.3 Family: Tiliaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  296 6.3.1 Corchoropsis tomentosa��������������������������������������������������������  296 6.4 Family: Tiliaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  298 6.4.1 Corchorus aestuans��������������������������������������������������������������  298 6.5 Family: Tiliaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  300 6.5.1 Corchorus capsularis������������������������������������������������������������  300 6.6 Family: Tiliaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  301 6.6.1 Grewia biloba ����������������������������������������������������������������������  301 6.7 Family: Tiliaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  304 6.7.1 Grewia eriocarpa������������������������������������������������������������������  304 6.8 Family: Tiliaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  307 6.8.1 Microcos paniculata ������������������������������������������������������������  307 6.9 Family: Tiliaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������������  310 6.9.1 Triumfetta rhomboidea ��������������������������������������������������������  310 6.10 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  312 6.10.1 Ambroma augusta ����������������������������������������������������������������  312 6.11 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  314 6.11.1 Byttneria aspera��������������������������������������������������������������������  314 6.12 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  316 6.12.1 Firmiana simplex������������������������������������������������������������������  316 6.13 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  318 6.13.1 Helicteres angustifolia����������������������������������������������������������  318 6.14 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  321 6.14.1 Helicteres isora ��������������������������������������������������������������������  321

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6.15 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  324 6.15.1 Pterospermum heterophyllum ����������������������������������������������  324 6.16 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  327 6.16.1 Pterospermum lanceifolium��������������������������������������������������  327 6.17 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  330 6.17.1 Sterculia nobilis��������������������������������������������������������������������  330 6.18 Family: Sterculiaceae������������������������������������������������������������������������  332 6.18.1 Waltheria indica��������������������������������������������������������������������  332 6.19 Family: Bombacaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  334 6.19.1 Bombax ceiba������������������������������������������������������������������������  334 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  337 7 Medicinal Angiosperms of Malvaceae and Malpighiaceae������������������  339 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 7.1 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  340 7.1.1 Abelmoschus esculentus��������������������������������������������������������  340 7.2 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  343 7.2.1 Abelmoschus moschatus��������������������������������������������������������  343 7.3 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  345 7.3.1 Abelmoschus sagittifolius������������������������������������������������������  345 7.4 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  348 7.4.1 Abutilon indicum������������������������������������������������������������������  348 7.5 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  350 7.5.1 Abutilon theophrasti ������������������������������������������������������������  350 7.6 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  352 7.6.1 Althaea rosea������������������������������������������������������������������������  352 7.7 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  355 7.7.1 Gossypium herbaceum����������������������������������������������������������  355 7.8 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  357 7.8.1 Hibiscus mutabilis����������������������������������������������������������������  357 7.9 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  360 7.9.1 Hibiscus rosa-sinensis����������������������������������������������������������  360 7.10 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  362 7.10.1 Hibiscus syriacus������������������������������������������������������������������  362 7.11 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  364 7.11.1 Hibiscus tiliaceus������������������������������������������������������������������  364 7.12 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  366 7.12.1 Malva sinensis����������������������������������������������������������������������  366 7.13 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  369 7.13.1 Malva verticillata������������������������������������������������������������������  369 7.14 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  372 7.14.1 Sida chinensis������������������������������������������������������������������������  372 7.15 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  374 7.15.1 Sida cordifolia����������������������������������������������������������������������  374

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7.16 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  376 7.16.1 Sida rhombifolia ������������������������������������������������������������������  376 7.17 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  379 7.17.1 Sida szechuensis��������������������������������������������������������������������  379 7.18 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  382 7.18.1 Urena lobata ������������������������������������������������������������������������  382 7.19 Family: Malvaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������������  384 7.19.1 Urena procumbens����������������������������������������������������������������  384 7.20 Family: Malpighiaceae����������������������������������������������������������������������  387 7.20.1 Hiptage benghalensis������������������������������������������������������������  387 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  390 8 Medicinal Angiosperms of Euphorbiaceae��������������������������������������������  391 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 8.1 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  394 8.1.1 Acalypha australis����������������������������������������������������������������  394 8.2 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  396 8.2.1 Acalypha brachystachya ������������������������������������������������������  396 8.3 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  399 8.3.1 Alchornea trewioides������������������������������������������������������������  399 8.4 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  401 8.4.1 Antidesma bunius������������������������������������������������������������������  401 8.5 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  403 8.5.1 Bischofia javanica����������������������������������������������������������������  403 8.6 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  406 8.6.1 Breynia fruticosa������������������������������������������������������������������  406 8.7 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  409 8.7.1 Claoxylon indicum����������������������������������������������������������������  409 8.8 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  411 8.8.1 Cleidiocarpon cavaleriei������������������������������������������������������  411 8.9 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  413 8.9.1 Cleidion brevipetiolatum������������������������������������������������������  413 8.10 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  416 8.10.1 Croton crassifolius����������������������������������������������������������������  416 8.11 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  418 8.11.1 Croton lachnocarpus������������������������������������������������������������  418 8.12 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  421 8.12.1 Croton tiglium ����������������������������������������������������������������������  421 8.13 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  425 8.13.1 Endospermum chinense��������������������������������������������������������  425 8.14 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  428 8.14.1 Euphorbia esula��������������������������������������������������������������������  428 8.15 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  431 8.15.1 Euphorbia helioscopia����������������������������������������������������������  431

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8.16 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  434 8.16.1 Euphorbia heterophylla��������������������������������������������������������  434 8.17 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  436 8.17.1 Euphorbia hirta��������������������������������������������������������������������  436 8.18 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  438 8.18.1 Euphorbia humifusa��������������������������������������������������������������  438 8.19 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  441 8.19.1 Euphorbia hypericifolia��������������������������������������������������������  441 8.20 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  443 8.20.1 Euphorbia lathyris����������������������������������������������������������������  443 8.21 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  446 8.21.1 Euphorbia pekinensis������������������������������������������������������������  446 8.22 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  450 8.22.1 Euphorbia thymifolia������������������������������������������������������������  450 8.23 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  452 8.23.1 Excoecaria cochinchinensis��������������������������������������������������  452 8.24 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  455 8.24.1 Glochidion eriocarpum��������������������������������������������������������  455 8.25 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  457 8.25.1 Glochidion hirsutum ������������������������������������������������������������  457 8.26 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  461 8.26.1 Glochidion lanceolarium������������������������������������������������������  461 8.27 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  462 8.27.1 Glochidion puberum ������������������������������������������������������������  462 8.28 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  465 8.28.1 Glochidion wrightii��������������������������������������������������������������  465 8.29 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  467 8.29.1 Homonoia riparia ����������������������������������������������������������������  467 8.30 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  469 8.30.1 Macaranga adenantha����������������������������������������������������������  469 8.31 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  472 8.31.1 Macaranga denticulate ��������������������������������������������������������  472 8.32 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  474 8.32.1 Macaranga henryi����������������������������������������������������������������  474 8.33 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  477 8.33.1 Mallotus apelta ��������������������������������������������������������������������  477 8.34 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  479 8.34.1 Mallotus barbatus ����������������������������������������������������������������  479 8.35 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  481 8.35.1 Mallotus philippinensis��������������������������������������������������������  481 8.36 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  484 8.36.1 Mallotus repandus����������������������������������������������������������������  484 8.37 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  486 8.37.1 Phyllanthus cochinchinensis ������������������������������������������������  486 8.38 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  489 8.38.1 Phyllanthus emblica��������������������������������������������������������������  489

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8.39 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  491 8.39.1 Phyllanthus flexuosus������������������������������������������������������������  491 8.40 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  494 8.40.1 Phyllanthus glaucus��������������������������������������������������������������  494 8.41 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  496 8.41.1 Phyllanthus parvifolius ��������������������������������������������������������  496 8.42 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  498 8.42.1 Phyllanthus reticulatus ��������������������������������������������������������  498 8.43 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  500 8.43.1 Phyllanthus urinaria ������������������������������������������������������������  500 8.44 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  502 8.44.1 Phyllanthus virgatus ������������������������������������������������������������  502 8.45 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  504 8.45.1 Phyllanthus ussuriensis��������������������������������������������������������  504 8.46 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  506 8.46.1 Ricinus communis ����������������������������������������������������������������  506 8.47 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  509 8.47.1 Sapium discolor��������������������������������������������������������������������  509 8.48 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  512 8.48.1 Sapium sebiferum������������������������������������������������������������������  512 8.49 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  514 8.49.1 Sauropus bacciformis������������������������������������������������������������  514 8.50 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  517 8.50.1 Sauropus spatulifolius����������������������������������������������������������  517 8.51 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  519 8.51.1 Securinega suffruticosa��������������������������������������������������������  519 8.52 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  521 8.52.1 Securinega virosa������������������������������������������������������������������  521 8.53 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  523 8.53.1 Speranskia cantonensis��������������������������������������������������������  523 8.54 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  525 8.54.1 Vernicia fordii ����������������������������������������������������������������������  525 8.55 Family: Euphorbiaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  527 8.55.1 Vernicia montana������������������������������������������������������������������  527 References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������  529 9 Medicinal Angiosperms of Daphniphyllaceae, Escalloniaceae������������  531 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 9.1 Family: Daphniphyllaceae����������������������������������������������������������������  532 9.1.1 Daphniphyllum calycinum����������������������������������������������������  532 9.2 Family: Daphniphyllaceae����������������������������������������������������������������  535 9.2.1 Daphniphyllum macropodum������������������������������������������������  535 9.3 Family: Daphniphyllaceae����������������������������������������������������������������  537 9.3.1 Daphniphyllum oldhamii������������������������������������������������������  537

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9.4 Family: Escalloniaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  538 9.4.1 Itea chinensis������������������������������������������������������������������������  538 9.5 Family: Escalloniaceae ��������������������������������������������������������������������  541 9.5.1 Itea yunnanensis�������������������������������������������������������������������  541 10 Medicinal Angiosperms of Hydrangeaceae ������������������������������������������  543 Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li 10.1 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  544 10.1.1 Deutzia setchuenensis ��������������������������������������������������������  544 10.2 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  546 10.2.1 Dichroa febrifuga����������������������������������������������������������������  546 10.3 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  548 10.3.1 Hydrangea chinensis����������������������������������������������������������  548 10.4 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  549 10.4.1 Hydrangea macrophylla������������������������������������������������������  549 10.5 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  551 10.5.1 Hydrangea paniculata��������������������������������������������������������  551 10.6 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  554 10.6.1 Hydrangea strigosa������������������������������������������������������������  554 10.7 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  556 10.7.1 Pileostegia tomentella��������������������������������������������������������  556 10.8 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  558 10.8.1 Pileostegia viburnoides������������������������������������������������������  558 10.9 Family: Hydrangeaceae������������������������������������������������������������������  560 10.9.1 Schizophragma integrifolium����������������������������������������������  560 Suggested Readings ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������  563 Correction to: Common Chinese Materia Medica – Volume 3. . . . . . . . . . . . C1 Huagu Ye

Chapter 1

Medicinal Angiosperms of Onagraceae, Trapaceae, Haloragidaceae, Thymelaeaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Proteaceae, Dilleniaceae, and Pittosporaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 1.1  F  amily: Onagraceae 1.1.1  Epilobium hirsutum 1.2  Family: Onagraceae 1.2.1  Epilobium pyrricholophum 1.3  Family: Onagraceae 1.3.1  Ludwigia adscendens 1.4  Family: Onagraceae 1.4.1  Ludwigia hyssopifolia 1.5  Family: Onagraceae 1.5.1  Ludwigia octovalvis 1.6  Family: Onagraceae 1.6.1  Ludwigia prostrata

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

© Chemical Industry Press 2021 H. Ye et al. (eds.), Common Chinese Materia Medica, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8_1

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2 1.7  Family: Trapaceae 1.7.1  Trapa bispinosa 1.8  Family: Haloragidaceae 1.8.1  Haloragis chinensis 1.9  Family: Haloragidaceae 1.9.1  Haloragis micrantha 1.10  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.10.1  Aquilaria sinensis 1.11  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.11.1  Daphne genkwa 1.12  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.12.1  Daphne papyracea 1.13  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.13.1  Edgeworthia chrysantha 1.14  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.14.1  Wikstroemia indica 1.15  Family: Nyctaginaceae 1.15.1  Boerhavia diffusa 1.16  Family: Proteaceae 1.16.1  Helicia cochinchinensis 1.17  Family: Proteaceae 1.17.1  Helicia reticulata 1.18  Family: Dilleniaceae 1.18.1  Tetracera asiatica 1.19  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.19.1  Pittosporum brevicalyx 1.20  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.20.1  Pittosporum glabratum 1.21  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.21.1  Pittosporum pauciflorum 1.22  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.22.1  Pittosporum tobira References

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This chapter introduces 22 species of medicinal plants in eight families, mainly including Epilobium hirsutum, Ludwigia adscendens of Onagraceae, Trapa bispinosa of Trapaceae, Haloragis chinensis of Haloragidaceae, Aquilaria sinensis of Thymelaeaceae, Boerhavia diffusa of Nyctaginaceae, Helicia reticulata of Proteaceae, Tetracera asiatica of Dilleniaceae, and Pittosporum tobira of Pittosporaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

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1.1  Family: Onagraceae 1.1.1  Epilobium hirsutum Chinese Name(s): liu ye cai, shui jie gu Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Epilobium hirsutum (Epilobium hirsutum Linn.). Morphology: The herb is perennial. The stems are 1.5 m in height. The leaves are herbaceous, opposite, alternate at upper part of stem, sessile, and amplexicaul. The cauline leaves are lanceolate elliptic, 4–15 cm long, 0.3–3.5 cm wide, apically acute to acuminate, and basally nearly cuneate, with margins being 20–50 serrulate on each side, both surfaces being villous or rarely densely white tomentose or glabrous, and lateral veins being often inconspicuous, 7–9 on each side. The inflorescences are erect. The bracts are leaflike. The flowers are erect, with buds being ovate-oblong, 4.5–9  mm long, and 2.5–5  mm in diameter. The ovaries are gray green to purple, 2–5 cm long, and densely villous with short glandular hairs, sometimes mainly glandular hairs. The pedicels are 0.3–1.5 cm long. The flora tubes are 1.3–2 mm in length and 2–3 m in diameter, with a circle of long white hairs on the throat. The sepals are oblong linear, 6–12 mm long, 1–2 mm wide, often keeled, and hairy. The petals are often rose red, wide obcordate, 9–20 mm long, 7–15 mm wide, incised at the top, and 1–2  mm deep. The anthers are milky yellow, oblong, 1.5–2.5 mm long, and 0.6–1 mm wide. The styles are erect, 5–12 mm long, white or pink, glabrous, and sparsely pilose. The stigmas are white and quadrilid. The capsules are 2.5–9  cm long and densely pubescent with short glandular hairs. The peduncles are 0.5–2  cm long. The flowering period is from June to August. The fruiting period is from July to September. Habitat: It grows on the edge of a ditch or marsh. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Tibet, as well as in Eurasia and Africa. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Acquisition and Processing: It’s bland in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Flowers function in clearing heat, reducing inflammation, regulating menstruation, stopping leukorrhea, and relieving pain. The roots function in regulating Qi, promoting blood circulation, and stopping bleeding. The flowers are often used in treatment of toothache, acute conjunctivitis, laryngopharyngitis, irregular menstruation, and leukorrhea. The roots are often used in treatment of amenorrhea, stomachache, and food stagnation. The roots or whole plant with roots is often used in treatment of fracture, injury, carbuncle, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: 6–9 g per dose for flowers and 9–15 g per dose for the roots, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of herbs are ground to paste or powder and applied to the affected areas.

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1.2  Family: Onagraceae 1.2.1  Epilobium pyrricholophum Chinese Name(s): chang zi liu ye cai Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Epilobium pyrricholophum (Epilobium pyrricholophum Franch. & Savat.). Morphology: The herbs are perennial, up to 80 cm tall, terete, densely curved pilose, and glandular hairy. The leaves are opposite, alternate on inflorescence, dense, longer than nodes, subsessile, and ovate to broadly ovate. The upper stems are sometimes lanceolate, 2–5 cm long, and 0.5–2 cm wide, with apex being acute or subobtuse, base being obtuse to subcordate, and margins being usually sharply serrulate with 7–15 teeth per side. There are four to six lateral veins on each side, with both surfaces being strigillose, especially on margins and veins. The inflorescences are erect, strigillose, and glandular pubescent. The flowers are erect. The buds are narrowly ovate, 4–8 mm long, and 2.5–5 mm in diameter. The ovaries are 1.5–3 cm in lengths and glandular hairy. The pedicels are 0.4–0.7 cm long. The flora tubes are 1–1.2 cm in length and 1.8–3 mm in diameter, with a circle of long white hairs on the throat. The sepals are lanceolate oblong, 4–7 mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide, strigillose, and glandular hairy. The petals are pink to purple, obovate to obovate, 6–8  mm long, 3–4.5  mm wide, and 1–1.4  mm incised. The anthers are ovate, 0.7–1.3  mm long, and 0.3–0.6  mm wide. The stigmas are clavate or subcapitate, 2–3 mm tall, 1–2.3 mm in diameter, slightly higher than outer stamens, or subequal. The capsules are 3.5–7 cm long, strigillose, and glandular. The flowering period is from July to September. The fruiting period is from August to November. Habitat: It grows in the wetlands of valleys. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, and Guizhou, as well as in Japan and Russia. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and pungent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, stopping bleeding, preventing miscarriage, detoxicating, and relieving swelling; it’s often used in treatment of dysentery, hemoptysis, hematochezia, menorrhagia, threatened abortion, swelling of carbuncle, scald, bruising, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.3  Family: Onagraceae 1.3.1  Ludwigia adscendens Chinese Name(s): shui long, guo tang she, guo jiang long, guo gou long, guo jiang teng Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Ludwigia adscendens (Ludwigia adscendens (Linn.) Hara [Jussiaea repens Linn.]). Morphology: The herb is perennial, floating or creeping, and glabrous, with white, erect, spindle-shaped pneumatophores in clusters at nodes of floating stems and a majority of filamentous roots which are used for medicine. The leaves are obovate to obovate, 1.5–5 cm long, 0.5–2.5 cm wide, apically round or obtuse, and basally narrow. There are 10–12 lateral veins on each side. The petioles are 0.3–1 cm long. The flowers are solitary in axil, with 5 sepals. The flowers are solitary in axil, 5 or more. The pedicels are about in equal length to calyx tube. The bracts are very small and scalelike. The calyx lobes are lanceolate, acuminate, about 7 mm long, 2 mm wide, and sparsely villous outside. The petals are white, with base being pale yellow, obovate, about 12 mm long, and about 8 mm wide. There are ten stamens. The ovaries are five-loculed, inferior, and sparsely villous outside. The stigmas are capitate, inflated, and five-lobed. The capsules are cylindrical, 2–3 cm long, about 3 mm in diameter, and sometimes sparsely pubescent. The seeds are numerous. The flowering is in summer and autumn. Habitat: It grows in marshes, paddy fields, shallow ponds, or canals. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi and Yunnan, as well as in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and sliced and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, detoxicating, and relieving swelling; it’s often used in treatment of cold and fever, measles, enteritis, dysentery, and unfavorable urination, as well as in external treatment of sores, boils and abscesses, mumps, herpes zoster, yellow water sores, eczema, dermatitis, and snake and dog bites. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of herbs are ground to paste or powder and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Examples: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Mumps  – fresh Ludwigia adscendens in proper amount, mashed and applied to the affected areas (it can also be decocted in water for oral use at the same time). 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Acute enteritis and acute laryngopharyngitis – Ludwigia adscendens 50 g, decocted in water for oral use.

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3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Pediatric impetigo and acute mastitis – appropriate amount of fresh Ludwigia adscendens mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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1.4  Family: Onagraceae 1.4.1  Ludwigia hyssopifolia Chinese Name(s): cao long, hua gu rong, jia mu gua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Ludwigia hyssopifolia (Ludwigia hyssopifolia (G. Don) Exell [Jussiaea linifolia Vahl]). Morphology: The herb is subshrubby, up to 200 cm in height. The leaves are lanceolate to linear, 2–10 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm wide, apically narrow or acute, and basally narrow cuneate. There are 9–16 lateral veins on each side, with lower veins being sparsely short hairy. The petioles are 2–10 mm long. The stipules are triangular and small. The flowers are axillary, with four sepals, which are ovate-­ lanceolate, 2–4 mm long, and 0.5–1.8 mm wide, and three longitudinally veined. There are four petals, which are yellow, obovate, or subelliptic, 2–3  mm long, 1–2 mm wide, obtuse on apex, and cuneate at base. There are eight stamens, which are pale green yellow. The filaments are unequal in length; those opposite to calyx are 1–2 mm, and those opposite to petals are 0.5–1 mm. The disks are slightly raised and densely glandular around the base of stamens. The styles are pale green, pale yellow, and green, which are 0.8–1.2  mm long. The stigmas are capitate, about 1 mm in diameter, slightly concave at the top, and shallowly quadrifid. The capsules are subsessile, subquadrilateral when young, and subcylindrical when mature, 1–2.5 cm long, 1.5–2 mm in diameter, enlarged in upper 1/5–1/3, and puberulent. The pericarps are thin. The seeds are arranged in multiple rows in each chamber at the upper part of capsule and are free and in one row at the lower part, embedded in cube of relatively hard endocarps, subelliptic, about 0.6 mm in length, and about 0.3 mm in diameter. The flowering and fruiting periods are almost all year round. Habitat: It grows in open and moist places.

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Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of southwest and eastern China. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, eliminating putridity, and engendering flesh; it’s often used in treatment of cold, fever, sore throat, stomatitis, oral ulcer, and carbuncle swelling. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.5  Family: Onagraceae 1.5.1  Ludwigia octovalvis Chinese Name(s): mao long cao, sao guo cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Ludwigia octovalvis (Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) Raven [Jussiaea suffruticosa Linn.]). Morphology: The herbs are subshrubby, 0.4–1.5  m in height, hirtellous, or sparsely glabrous. The stems are erect, stout, cylindrical, and slightly longitudinally angulated. The leaves are lanceolate or linear lanceolate, 3.5–10 cm long, 0.4–2 cm wide, apically acuminate, and basally narrow. The petioles are short or absent. The flowers are yellow, axillary, sessile, or subsessile. The bracteoles are obscure. The calyxes are four-lobed, ovate, 6–7 mm long, shortly acuminate, and ternately veined. There are four petals, which are yellow, obovate, obovate-round, and apically concave, with four pairs of distinct veins, 8–10 mm long. The ovaries are four-loculed. The capsules are cylindrical, green, or lilac, 2–5 cm long, about 5 mm in diameter, pubescent, sparsely glabrous, eight-ridged, and dehiscent between ridges. The persistent sepal lobes are oblong oval and 8–10 mm long. There are numerous seeds, which are nearly hemispherical and obviously ridged. The flowering is from July to October. Habitat: It grows by ponds, paddy fields, and ditches and in moist open fields. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of southwest and eastern China, as well as in Japan. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and sliced and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slight in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, eliminating putridity, and engendering flesh. It’s often used in treatment of cold, fever, sore throat, stomatitis, oral ulcer, and carbuncle swelling. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.6  Family: Onagraceae 1.6.1  Ludwigia prostrata Chinese Name(s): ding xiang liao, shui ding xiang Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Ludwigia prostrata (Ludwigia prostrata Roxb.). Morphology: The herb is annual and erect. The stems are up to 60 cm, cylindrical below, and quadrilateral above. The leaves are narrow elliptic, 3–9  cm long, 1.2–2.8 cm wide, apically acute or slightly blunt, basally narrow cuneate, and suddenly narrowed at the bottom. There are 5–11 lateral veins on each side, which gradually disappear to the near edge, subglabrous on both sides, or sparsely puberulent on veins when young. The petioles are 5–18 mm long and slightly winged. The

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stipules are almost completely degenerated. There are four sepals, which are triangular ovate to lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm long, 0.8–1.2 mm wide, sparsely puberulent, or subglabrous. The petals are yellow, spatulate, 1.2–2 mm long, 0.4–0.8 mm wide, apically subcircular, and basally cuneate. There are four stamens, with filaments being 0.8–1.2 mm long. The anthers are oblate and 0.4–0.5 mm wide. The styles are about 1 mm long. The stigmas are suboval or globose, about 0.6 mm in diameter. The disks are slightly protuberant around the base of the flower and glabrous. The capsules are quadrilateral, 1.2–2.3 cm long, 1.5–2 mm thick, light brown, glabrous, and rapid irregularly dorsal dehiscent at maturation. The pedicels are 3–5 mm long. The seeds are arranged in a row in each chamber, inner, oval, 0.5–0.6 mm in length, about 0.3 mm in diameter, and slightly oblique at the top, with a small tip. The flowering period is from June to July, and fruiting is from August to September. Habitat: It grows in wet places besides fields and streams. Distribution: It’s distributed all over the north and south China, as well as in Japan, India, and Malaysia. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and sliced and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, detoxicating, and relieving swelling; it’s often used in treatment of enteritis, dysentery, infectious hepatitis, nephritis and edema, cystitis, leukorrhoids, and hemorrhoids, as well as external treatment of boils and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use, 90–120 g per dose for fresh Ludwigia prostrata to treat dysentery. For the external treatment of dysentery, proper amounts of fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Examples: Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Dysentery – fresh Ludwigia prostrata 120 g, decocted in water and added with sugar before oral use.

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1.7  Family: Trapaceae 1.7.1  Trapa bispinosa Chinese Name(s): ling, ling jiao, feng ling, wu ling Source: This medicine is made of the fruits of Trapa bispinosa (Trapa bispinosa Roxb.). Morphology: The herb is annual, floating, or semi-emergent. The stems are cylindrical, slender, or short. The leaves are dimorphous. The floating leaves are alternate, clustering at the stem end, forming rosulate rhombic plates on the water surface, broad rhombic, 3–4.5  cm long, 4–6  cm wide, dark green adaxially, glabrous, and green or purple red abaxially. The young leaves are densely yellowish-­ brown hairy. The old leaves are grayish-brown hairy, concave dentate on the upper and middle margins, complete on lower margins, and broad cuneate at base. The petioles are 2–10.5 cm in length and enlarged in middle and upper into spongeous air sacs, which are shortly hairy. The submerged leaves are small and caducous. The flowers are small and solitary in leaf axils, with pedicels being 1–1.5 cm long. The calyx tubes are quadrifid, with only one pair being hairy, and two lobes evolved into horns. There are four petals, which are white, borne on the edge of the epigynous flower disk. There are four stamens, with filaments being slender and anthers being T-shaped, dorsifixed, and introflexed. The pistils are with two carpels and two locules. The ovaries are half-inferior. The styles are subulate. The stigmas are capitate. The fruits are with two shoulder horns, with or without barbs, and the apex bends downward. The distances between the two horns are 7–8 cm. The fruits are in the shape of ox horn, 2.5–3.6 cm in height, purple red on surface when young, purple black at maturity, slightly short hairy, and 1.5–2.5 cm long; the beak is not obvious; and pedicels are strong and articulate. The seeds are white, sellaeform, obtuse at horns, and white powdery. The flowering is from April to August. The fruiting is from July to September. Habitat: It’s planted in ponds or slow-flowing rivers. Distribution: It’s cultivated all over China, as well as in central and southern peninsula and tropical regions of the world. Acquisition and Processing: The fruits are harvested in late autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and astringent in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Strengthening stomach and stopping diarrhea, anticancer; it’s often used in treatment of gastric ulcer, dysentery, esophageal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. Use and Dosage: 30–45 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. The petioles are used externally for multiple skin warts, and the fruit shells are burned to ash to treat impetigo and hemorrhoids.

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Prescription Examples: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Gastric ulcer, esophageal cancer, mammary cancer, and cervical cancer – Trapa bicornis stem leaves, fruit petioles or fruit shells 30–60 g, and coix seed 30 g, decocted and drank instead of tea for several months. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Hypermenorrhea – 500 g fresh Trapa bicornis, decocted and taken with brown sugar. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Diarrhea and blood in stool – Trapa bicornis fruit shells 120–250 g, decocted in water for oral use. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Multiple skin warts  – fresh Trapa bicornis petioles are mashed and used for rubbing the skin repeatedly, to make the warts fall off. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Hemorrhoids – Trapa bicornis fruit shells are burned into ashes, blended with rapeseed oil, and applied to the affected areas. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Hemorrhoids and pediatric jaundice – Trapa bicornis leaves are dried and ground to powder for external application.

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1.8  Family: Haloragidaceae 1.8.1  Haloragis chinensis Chinese Name(s): huang hua xiao er xian cao, shi beng Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Haloragis chinensis (Haloragis chinensis (Lour.) Merr.). Morphology: The herbs are perennial and 10–60 cm high. The stems are quadrilateral, suberect, or spreading, multibranched, and scabrous with sparse appressed hairs, often with adventitious roots on nodes. The leaves are opposite, subsessile, usually lanceolate to oblong, 10–28 mm long, and 1–9 mm wide, with base being

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broadly cuneate, apex being obtuse-pointed, and margins being serrated, rough on both sides, slightly hairy, and light green. The upper leaves of stems sometimes alternate and gradually attenuate into bracts. The inflorescences are terminal panicles composed of slender racemes and spikes. The flowers are bisexual, very small, subsessile, and 0.2–0.7 mm in length, with one bract at base. The calyxes are cylindrical, quadrilid, and angular, with lobes being lanceolate triangular and margins being yellowish-white bony. There are four petals, which are narrow, rounded, 0.5–0.9  mm in length, 0.4–0.6  mm in width, yellow, and sparsely hirsute on the back. There are eight stamens, with filaments being short and anthers being narrow and oblong, basal, and longitudinally cleft. The ovaries are inferior, oval, and four-­ loculed, each with a pendulous ovule. The styles are 0.1–0.3 mm in length. The nuts are very small, subglobular, ca. 1  mm in length, and eight longitudinally ridged, with rough nodules. The flowering period is in spring, summer, and autumn. The fruiting period is in summer and autumn. Habitat: It grows in moist barren hills and grasses. Distribution: It’s distributed in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan, as well as in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, India, and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling, and relieving cough and asthma; it’s often used in treatment of injury, fracture, asthma, and cough. Use and Dosage: 6–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external treatment, proper amounts of herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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1.9  Family: Haloragidaceae 1.9.1  Haloragis micrantha Chinese Name(s): xiao er xian cao, dou ban cao, chuan ban cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Haloragis micrantha (Haloragis micrantha (Thunb.) R. Br. ex Sieb. & Zucc.). Morphology: The herb is perennial, up to 45  cm tall. The stems are erect or decumbent at lower part, longitudinally grooved, multibranched, rough, and reddish brown. The leaves are opposite, ovate or ovate-oblong, 6–17  mm long, 4–8  mm wide, basally rounded, and apically short-pointed or obtuse, with margins being sparsely serrated, usually glabrous on both sides, pale green, abaxially purple brown, and shortly petiolate. The upper leaves of stems sometimes alternate and gradually attenuate into bracts. The inflorescences are terminal panicles, consisting of slender racemes. The flowers are bisexual, very small, and about 1 mm in diameter, with one bract and two bractlets at the base. The calyx tubes are 0.8 mm long, four parted, persistent, and green, with lobes being shorter, triangular, and 0.5 mm long. There are four petals, which are pale red, twice as long as sepals. There are eight stamens, with filaments being short, 0.2 mm long. The anthers are linear elliptic, 0.3–0.7 mm long. The ovaries are inferior and two- to four-loculed. The nuts are subspherical, small, 0.9–1  mm long and 0.7–0.9  mm wide, eight longitudinally ridged, and glabrous. The flowering period is from April to August and fruiting from May to October. Habitat: It grows in barren hills or sandy lands. Distribution: It’s distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Fujian, and Taiwan, as well as in Japan, North Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Australia, and New Zealand.

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Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, relieving cough and asthma, regulating menstruation, and activating blood circulation. It’s often used in treatment of cough, asthma, dysentery, dysuria, irregular menstruation, and injury. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose or 30–60 g per dose for fresh herbs, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.10  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.10.1  Aquilaria sinensis [1] Chinese Name(s): chen xiang, tu chen xiang, bai mu xiang, nv er xiang Source: This medicine is made of the duramen of Aquilaria sinensis (Aquilaria sinensis (Linn.) Gilg.), containing black fragrant resin agglomerated under the stimulation of fungal infection after the stem is injured. Morphology: The plant is a tree, up to 15 m in height. The leaves are leathery, elliptic to oblong, sometimes subobovate, 5–9 cm long and 2.8–6 cm wide, apically acute or mucronate, basally broad cuneate, dark green or purplish green above, light green below, and glabrous on both sides. The lateral veins are 15–20 in pairs and more conspicuous abaxially, with veinlets being slender, subparallel, and obscure and margins sometimes being sparsely pubescent. The petioles are 5–7 mm long and hairy. The flowers are fragrant, yellow green, and numerous and arranged in umbels. The pedicels are 5–6  mm long and densely yellow-gray pubescent. The calyx tubes are narrowly campanulate and 5–6 mm long. There are ten petals, which are scalelike, inserted at the throat of tubes, obviously densely pilose at anthesis. There are ten stamens, which are arranged in a whorl. The filaments are about 1 mm long. The anthers are oblong and about 4 mm long. The ovaries are ovoid, grayish white hairy, and two-loculed, with one ovule per locule. The capsule pedicels are short, ovoid, green when young, 2–3 cm long, about 2 cm in diameter, cuspidate at apex, attenuate at base, densely yellowish puberulent, two-lobed, and two-loculed, with one seed per locule. The seeds are brown, ovoid, about 1 cm long, 5.5 mm wide, and sparsely pubescent, with appendages at base, which are about 1.5  cm long, broad and compressed on the upper, about 4 mm wide, and petiolate below.

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The flowering period is in spring and summer. The fruiting period is in summer and autumn. Habitat: It grows in deep, fertile, low-altitude evergreen forests. Distribution: It’s distributed in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian, and Taiwan. Acquisition and Processing: The duramen containing black fragrant resin is harvested all year round and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: This product is irregular bulky, flaky, or helmet-shaped, sometimes in small pieces. The surface is uneven, with knife marks and occasionally holes. It’s rotten wood-like with stripes of black-brown resin and yellowish-­ white wood, holes, and grooves. It’s firm in quality. The cross section is spiny. It’s aromatic in odor and bitter in taste. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and pungent in taste and slightly warm in property. Functions: Depressing Qi, regulating function of spleen, warming kidneys Yang, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of chest and abdomen distension and pain, vomiting and hiccup, shortness of breath, and asthma. Use and Dosage: 1–5 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.11  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.11.1  Daphne genkwa Chinese Name(s): yao yu cao, lao shu hua, nao yu hua, tou tong hua, men tou hua Source: This medicine is made of the flowers of Daphne genkwa (Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc.). Morphology: The plant is a deciduous shrub, 0.3–1 m tall, and multibranched. The leaves are opposite, or rarely alternate, papery, ovate, ovate-lanceolate or elliptic-­oblong, 3–4  cm long, 1–2  cm wide, apically acute or shortly acuminate, basally broadly cuneate or obtusely rounded, entire at margins, abaxially green, abaxially pale green, densely sericeous, and yellow pubescent when young; the lateral veins are five to seven in pairs; the petioles are short or almost absent. The inflorescences are mostly lateral or axillary, produced before leaves, and three- to six-flowered; the flowers are not fragrant; the pedicels are short, grayish-yellow pubescent; the calyx tubes are slender, cylindric, and 6–10 mm long. There are eight stamens in two whorls. The ovaries are long obovoid, ca. 2 mm long, and densely pale-yellow pubescent; the styles are short or absent; the stigmas are capitate. The drupes are fleshy, white, ellipsoid, and ca. 4 mm long and enclosed in lower part of persistent calyx, with one seed. The flowering period is from March to May; the fruiting period is from June to July. Habitat: It grows on hillsides, roadsides, and grasslands. Distribution: It is distributed in Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and other provinces of China. Distribution: Hebei, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and other provinces. Acquisition and Processing: When the spring and autumn flowers open, pick them and dry them for use. Medicinal Properties: Three to seven flowers of this product often cluster on the short flower axis, with one to two bracts at the base, and most of them have fallen off, remaining a single flower. The single flower is mallet shaped, mostly curved, 1–1.7 cm long, and 1.5 mm in diameter; the surface of perianth tube is lavender or grayish green, densely pubescent, and quadrilid at the top, and the lobes are lavender yellow brown. It’s soft in texture, slightly odored, and sweet and pungent in taste. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and pungent in taste, warm in property, and toxic and belongs to the meridians of spleen, lungs, and kidneys. Functions: The product functions in inducing diuresis to relieve swelling and functions as insecticide. It’s often used for treatment of edema and fullness, hydrothorax and ascites, accumulation of phlegm, cough and asthma due to cold in the lungs, and difficulty in urination and defecation, as well as in external treatment of scabies, alopecia, carbuncle, and chilblain. Use and Dosage: 1.5–3 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.12  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.12.1  Daphne papyracea Chinese Name(s): bai rui xiang, ruan pi shu, yi duo yun, xiao gou pi Source: This medicine is made of the roots and stem barks of Daphne papyracea (Daphne papyracea Wall. ex Steud.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub, 1–1.5 m tall. The leaves are alternate, clustering at the apex of branchlets, membranous or papery, long elliptic to oblanceolate, 6–16 cm long, and 1.5–4 cm wide, with apex being obtuse or long acuminate to caudate acuminate, base being cuneate, and margins being entire, sometimes slightly recurved back, adaxially green, abaxially pale green, and glabrous on both sides. The lateral veins are 6–15 in pairs and slender. The petioles are 4–15 mm long and subglabrous. The flowers are white, many clustering in capitate at the top of branchlets. The pedicels are short, 2 mm long, and densely sericeous. The calyx tubes are funnel-shaped, 10–12  mm long, 2.6  mm wide at the throat, sericeous on exterior, four-lobed, ovate lanceolate to ovate oblong, 5–7 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, apically acuminate or obtuse, and white pubescent from middle to apex. There are eight stamens, which are arranged in two whorls, with lower whorl inserted at the middle of calyx tube and upper whorl in the throat. The filaments are short. The anthers are oblong and 1.5–2 mm in length, extending one-third out of the throat. The disks are cupular and 0.8  mm long, with margins being slightly undulate to obscurely serrate. The ovaries are cylindrical and 2–4  mm high. The berries are red at maturity, oval or inverted pyriform, 0.8–1 cm long, and 0.6–0.8 mm in diameter. The flowering period is from November to January of the next year. The fruiting period is from April to May. Habitat: It grows in dense valley forests. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The roots and stem barks are collected and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet, slight, and pungent in taste, slightly warm in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness, activating blood circulation, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of numbness due to wind and dampness, muscle pain, injury, epilepsy, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrhea, and cold limbs during menstruation. Use and Dosage: 3–6 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.13  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.13.1  Edgeworthia chrysantha Chinese Name(s): jie xiang, meng hua qiu, ye meng hua, xin meng hua Source: This medicine is made of the roots, stems, and buds of Edgeworthia chrysantha (Edgeworthia chrysantha Lindl.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub, up to 2 m in height. The branches are brown, strong, stout, usually trichotomous, and sericeous pubescent when young, with skin holes. The leaves are papery, elliptic, oblong or elliptic lanceolate, 8–16 cm long, and 2–4.5 cm wide, with base being cuneate, extended, apically acute or obtuse, sparsely pubescent on surfaces, and hirsute at the back. The flowers are yellow, numerous, and fragrant. The inflorescences are terminal and axillary and capitate. The total bracts are lanceolate and 3  cm long. The calyxes are tubular, densely

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sericeous pubescent outside, and apetalous. There are eight stamens, which are two-­ whorled. The ovaries are elliptic and apically sericeous. The styles are slender. The drupes are ovate and usually enclosed at the base of perianths. The flowering period is from March to April. The fruiting period is about in August. Habitat: It grows in shady and wet places under mountain forests and the fertile soils. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Henan, Shaanxi, the basin of Yangtze River, and the south. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The roots, stems, and buds are collected and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and warm in property. Functions: The roots function in relaxing muscles and tendons, diminishing swelling, and relieving pain. The flowers function in dispelling pathogenic wind and improving eyesight. The roots are often used in treatment of rheumatic arthralgia and lumbago, as well as external treatment of bruise, injuries, and fractures. The flowers are often used in treatment of conjunctivitis and night blindness. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose for roots and 6–9 g per dose for buds, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of roots or stems are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Examples: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Night blindness  – Edgeworthia chrysantha 10 g, bat dung 10 g, Flos Eriocauli 25 g, one pig liver. Cut several cuts on the pig liver, then put the medicinal powder into the pig liver, tie with thread, cook it in a pot, and take in several times. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chronic cough due to lung deficiency: Edgeworthia chrysantha 9–15 g, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.14  Family: Thymelaeaceae 1.14.1  Wikstroemia indica [2] Chinese Name(s): liao ge wang, shan yan pi, di mian pi, shan mian pi, huang pi zi Source: This medicine is made of the root barks, roots, and leaves of Wikstroemia indica (Wikstroemia indica (Linn.) C. A. Mey.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 0.5–2 m tall or over. The branchlets are reddish brown and glabrous. The leaves are opposite, papery to subleathery, obovate, elliptic, oblong or lanceolate, 2–5 cm long, and 0.5–1.5 cm wide, with apex being obtuse or acute, base being broad-cuneate or narrow-cuneate, brown red when dry, and glabrous, and lateral veins being dense and extremely oblique. The petioles are about 1 mm long. The flowers are yellow green. The inflorescences are terminal, capitate, and several flowered. The pedicels are 5–10 mm long and glabrous. The peduncles are 1–2  mm long. The calyxes are 7–12  mm long, subglabrous, four-­ lobed, broadly ovate to oblong, about 3 mm long, and acute or obtuse. There are eight stamens, which are arranged in two whorls, inserting above the middle of calyx tube. The ovaries are obovate or ovate, glabrous, or pubescent at the top. The styles are very short or subabsent. The stigmas are capitate. There are usually two or four disk scales. The fruits are elliptic, about 7–8 mm long, and red to dark purple at maturity. The flowering and fruiting periods are in summer and autumn. Habitat: It grows in hills, wilderness, and roadside shrubs. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces and regions at south of the Yangtze River, as well as in Vietnam and India. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The roots and stems are collected and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The root of this product is strip cylindrical, not straight, often branched, 0.5–3 cm in diameter, and yellow brown or dark brown, with protuberant root marks, irregular longitudinal grooves, and a few transverse cracks. The cortex of section is gray white and easy to peel off, and the xylem is light yellow. The root bark is a twisted strip of 1.5–4 mm thick. The epidermis is often exfoliated and torn into woolly shape with strong and tough fibers. It’s slightly odored and slightly bitter and sweet in taste, with a lasting sense of burning when chewing. The product big and with thick peels are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and warm in property. Functions: Diminishing inflammation, relieving pain, drawing out toxin, and relieving itching; it’s often used in treatment of injury, rheumatic bone pain, nausea, ulcer, lymph node nucleus, asthma, mumps, tonsillitis, snake and centipede bite, scabies, etc. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose for roots and 9–20 g per dose for root barks, decocted in water for oral use. This product is poisonous and should be decocted for a long time. For external use, proper amounts of fresh roots are mashed and applied to the affected areas or dried roots immersed in alcohol and applied to the affected areas.

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1.15  Family: Nyctaginaceae 1.15.1  Boerhavia diffusa Chinese Name(s): huang xi xin, sha shen Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Boerhavia diffusa (Boerhavia diffusa Linn.). Morphology: The herb is a perennial vine, up to 2 m long. The roots are thick and fleshy. The stems are glabrous or pubescent. The leaf blades are ovate, 1–5 cm long, 1–4 cm wide, obtuse or acute at the top, round or cuneate at base, slight undulate at edge, pubescent on both sides, gray yellow below, and wrinkled when dry. The petioles are 4–20 mm long. The inflorescences are terminal. The peduncles are slender and pubescent. The pedicels are short or subsessile. The bracts are small, lanceolate, and pubescent. The perianths are light red or bright purple and 2.5–3 mm long. The upper perianth tubes are mitriform, 1.5–2 mm long, thin and transparent, pubescent, five-ribbed, apically folded, five-lobed, obovate at lower part, and 1–1.2 mm long and covered with pubescence and mucous glands. There are 1–3 stamens, sparsely 4 or 5, which are enclosed or slightly exposed, with filaments being slender. The ovaries are obovate, with styles being slender and stigmas being shallow cap-­shaped. The fruits are clavate, 3–3.5 mm long, and five-ridged, with mucous glands and hairs. The flowering and fruiting periods are in summer and autumn. Habitat: It grows on the open grounds. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, as well as in Vietnam, Malaysia, and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and pungent in taste and warm in property.

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Functions: Activating blood circulation, scattering stasis, regulating menstruation, arresting leukorrhea, tonifying spleen, and eliminating malnutrition; it’s often used in treatment of pain of bone and muscle, irregular menstruation, leukorrhea, anorexia, edema due to deficiency of spleen and kidneys, and malnutrition of children. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.16  Family: Proteaceae 1.16.1  Helicia cochinchinensis [3] Chinese Name(s): xiao guo shan long yan, hong ye shu, yang shi shu Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Helicia cochinchinensis (Helicia cochinchinensis Lour.). Morphology: The trees are up to 20 m tall. The barks are grayish brown or dark brown. The branches and leaves are glabrous. The leaves are thin leathery or papery, obovate elliptic, long elliptic or lanceolate, 5–12 cm long, 2.5–4 cm wide, apically short acuminate, acute or obtuse, basally cuneate, and slightly descending, with margins being entire or shallowly serrated on the upper. The lateral veins are six to seven in pairs, obvious on both sides. The petioles are 0.5–1.5 cm in length. The inflorescences are axillary, in racemes, 8–14 cm long, and glabrous, sometimes with the rachises and pedicels being whitish pubescent when young and glabrescent later. The pedicels are usually in pairs and 3–4 mm long. The bracts are triangular and about 1 mm long. The bractlets are lanceolate and 0.5 mm long. The perianth tubes are 10–12 mm long and white or yellowish. The anthers are 2 mm long. There are four glands, sometimes connate, forming a deeply four-parted disk. The ovaries are glabrous. The fruits are oval, 1–1.5  cm long, and 0.8–1  cm in diameter. The pericarps are thin and leathery after drying, less than 0.5 mm thick, and blue black or black. The flowering is from June to October. The fruiting is from November to March in the next year. Habitat: It grows in the open or dense forests of valley or hillsides. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces on south of Yangtze River, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Promoting Qi flow, activating blood circulation, scattering stasis, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of injury, swelling and pain, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: For external use, proper amounts of fresh plants are mashed for juice, or dried leaves are ground into powder, added with cold water, and applied to the affected areas. Pregnant women should not use it.

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1.17  Family: Proteaceae 1.17.1  Helicia reticulata Chinese Name(s): wang mai shan long yan, dou fu zha guo Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Helicia reticulata (Helicia reticulata W. T. Wang). Morphology: The trees are 3–10 m tall. Its barks are gray. The buds are brown or rusty pubescent. The twigs and growing leaves are glabrous. The leave blades are leathery, oblong, ovate, obovate or oblanceolate, 6–27 cm long and 3–10 cm wide, apically short acuminate, sharp or obtuse, and basally cuneate, with margins being sparsely serrated to serrulate. The midrib and six to ten secondary veins are protuberant on both surfaces, with reticular veins being conspicuous on both sides. The

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petioles are 0.5–1.5  cm long. The inflorescences are axillary or ramiflorous, 10–15 cm long, and glabrous. Sometimes the rachises and pedicels are pilose but soon glabrescent. The flowers are in pairs and pale yellow white. The pedicels are 3–5 mm long and connate basally or to the middle. The bracts are lanceolate and 1.5–2 mm long. The bracts are about 0.5 mm long. The perianth tubes are 13–16 mm long and white or pale yellow. The anthers are 3 mm long. The ovaries are glabrous. The fruits are elliptic, 1.5–1.8 cm in length, and 1.5 cm in diameter, with apex being apiculate. The pericarps are leathery, about 1 mm thick, and black. The flowering is from May to July, and fruiting is from October to December. Habitat: It grows in mountainous miscellaneous forests. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces on Guangxi, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian, Guizhou, etc. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is astringent in taste and cool in property, belonging to the meridians of the heart and liver. Functions: Astringing, diminishing inflammation, and detoxicating; it’s often used in treatment of enteritis, diarrhea, food poisoning, mushroom poisoning, pesticide “666” poisoning, etc. Use and Dosage: 10–20 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh plants are mashed for juice, or dried leaves are ground into powder, added with cold water, and applied to the affected areas.

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1.18  Family: Dilleniaceae 1.18.1  Tetracera asiatica Chinese Name(s): xi ye teng, se ye teng, hong teng tou Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves and stems of Tetracera asiatica (Tetracera asiatica (Lour.) Hoogl.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen woody vine and 20  m long. Young branchlets are densely pubescent and glabrescent. The leaves are leathery, scabrous, oblong, 4–12  cm long, and 2–5  cm wide, with apex being obtuse or round and sometimes slightly apiculate and base being broadly cuneate or subcircular, often unequal on margins, setose on both surfaces, and soon glabrescent, leaving strumose protuberance. The lateral veins are 10–15 in pairs, prominently protuberant at the bottom, and 3–6 mm apart from each other, with margins being entire or serrate

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on the upper part. The petioles are 1–1.5 cm long, scabrous, and pubescent. The panicles are terminal or borne on the apex of lateral branches, 6–25 cm long, and depressed pubescent. The peduncles are pubescent and zigzag. There is one bract, which is linear lanceolate, 4–6 mm long, and pubescent. The bractlets are linear and 1–2 mm long. The flowers are numerous and 6–8 mm in diameter. There are five sepals, which are free, persistent, broadly ovate, unequal in size, 4–5 mm long, and apically obtuse. There are three petals, which are white, oval, and as long as sepals. The stamens are numerous and shorter than sepals, with filaments being linear and black after drying and anthers being “8”-shaped in the inflated septa and gray after drying. There is one carpel, which is glabrous. The styles expose outside stamens. The fruits are about 1 cm long, yellow red at maturity, thin leathery after drying, and slightly shiny, with residual styles. There is one seed, which is black. The flowering period is from April to May. Habitat: It grows in low-altitude mountain forests or shrubs. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Guangxi, and Hainan, as well as in Thailand and Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves and stems are dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is astringent in taste and cool in property, belonging to the meridians of the heart and liver. Functions: Astringing to arrest diarrhea and diminishing swelling and pain; it’s often used in treatment of diarrhea, hematochezia, hepatosplenomegaly, uterine prolapse, leukorrhea, and rheumatic arthralgia. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Examples: Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Diarrhea – Tetracera asiatica 15 g and Faber bauhinia 30 g, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.19  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.19.1  Pittosporum brevicalyx Chinese Name(s): duan e hai tong, wan li xiang Source: This medicine is made of the barks of Pittosporum brevicalyx (Pittosporum brevicalyx (Oliver) Gagnep.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub or a small tree and 10 m in height. The branchlets are glabrous but pubescent when young. Clustering at branchlet apex, the leaves are thin leathery, obovate lanceolate, sparsely obovate or oblong, 5–12 cm long, and 2–4 cm wide, with apex being acuminate or long acuminate and base being cuneate. The upper surface is dark green and glabrate. The lower surface is puberulous at first and glabrate soon. The lateral veins are 9–11 in pairs, obvious on the leaf surface, and slightly convex on the back, with margins being flat. The petioles are 1–1.5 cm long and sometimes longer. The inflorescences are three to five in leaf axils at branchlet apex, corymbose, 3–4  cm, and puberulous. The

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peduncles are 1–1.5 cm long. The pedicels are 1 cm long. The bracts are narrowly lanceolate, 4–6 mm long, and puberulous. The sepals are 2 mm long, ovate lanceolate, and puberulous. The petals are 6–8 mm long and free. The stamens are slightly shorter than petals, sometimes one-half as long as petals. The ovaries are ovate and pubescent. The styles are usually puberulous. There are two lateral membranous placentas and seven to ten ovules. The capsules are subspherical, compressed, and 7–8 mm in diameter, dehiscing by two valves. The pulps are thin. Habitat: It grows in hilly and sparse forests. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Hubei, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan. Acquisition and Processing: The barks are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s astringent and bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and activating blood circulation, diminishing swelling and pain, and detoxicating; it’s often used in treatment of convulsions of children, lumbago, injuries, scabies and furuncles, and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of barks are ground into powder and applied to the affected areas.

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1.20  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.20.1  Pittosporum glabratum Chinese Name(s): guang ye hai tong, shan zhi tiao, shan zhi ren, yi duo yun Source: This medicine is made of the roots, leaves, and seeds of Pittosporum glabratum (Pittosporum glabratum Lindl.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub and 2–3 m tall. The young branches are glabrous, and old branches are lenticellate. Clustering at branchlet apex, the leaves are thin leathery, biennial, narrowly oblong, or inverted lanceolate, 5–10 cm long, sometimes longer, 2–3.5 cm wide, apically acute, basally cuneate, adaxially green, glossy, abaxially pale green, and glabrous. There are five to eight pairs of the lateral veins, which are indistinct along with reticulate veins adaxially, slightly prominent abaxially, and slightly convex after drying. The reticular veins are 1–2 mm in width, with margins being flat and sometimes slightly rugose. The petioles are 6–14  mm in length. The inflorescences are one to four in leaf axils at branchlet apex, umbellate or corymbose, and many flowered. The bracts are lanceolate and about 3 mm long. The pedicels are 4–12 mm long, puberulous, or glabrous. The sepals are ovate and about 2 mm long, with margins being usually ciliate. The petals are free, oblanceolate, and 8–10 mm long. The stamens are 6–7 mm long, sometimes only 4 mm. The ovaries are long oval and absolutely glabrous. The styles are 3 mm long. The stigmas are slightly enlarged. There are three lateral membranous placentas, which are with six embryos each. There are six capsules, which are elliptic, 2–2.5 mm long, and sometimes cylindrical, up to 3.2 cm long, dehiscing by 3 valves. The pericarps are thinly leathery. The ovules are ca. 6 per valve, evenly distributed in the longitudinal placenta. The seeds are large, subglobose, 5–6 mm long, and red, with funicles being 3 mm long. The pedicels are short and strong, with persistent styles. The flowering period is from April to May. The fruiting period is after autumn. Habitat: It grows in valleys, slopes, and under woods. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, and other places. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn. The seeds are harvested in winter and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: The roots are bitter in taste and warm in property. The leaves are bitter and astringent in taste and slightly warm in property. The seeds are bitter in taste and cold in property. Functions: The roots function in dispelling pathogenic wind, activating collaterals, and diminishing swelling and pain. The leaves function in detoxicating and stopping bleeding. The seeds function in astringing diarrhea and controlling nocturnal emission. The roots are often used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, sciatica, fracture, stomachache, toothache, hypertension, neurasthenia, and nocturnal emission. The leaves are often used in treatment of snake bites, sores, and traumatic

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bleeding. The seeds are often used in treatment of pharyngeal pain, enteritis, leukorrhea, and spermatozoa. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose for roots and 4.5–9 g per dose for seeds, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Examples: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Essential hypertension – Pittosporum glabratum root barks are cut into fine pieces, added with liquor to immerse, and sealed for 7 days. Take 5–15 ml per dose, three times a day. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Neurasthenia – Pittosporum glabratum root barks 90 g, Alternaria nightshade 60 g, Geum aleppicum 60 g, Schisandra chinensis 15 g, and licorice 15 g, added with 500 ml water, decocted twice, removed the residue, concentrated to 600 ml, and added with proper amount of monosyrup before use. Take 10 ml per dose for adults, three times a day. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Thirst and heat due to deficiency of Yin Pittosporum glabratum leaves 15 g, decocted in water for oral dose.

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1.21  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.21.1  Pittosporum pauciflorum Chinese Name(s): shao hua hai tong, bang bo, man shan xiang, shan shi liu, shu hua hai tong Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Pittosporum pauciflorum (Pittosporum pauciflorum Hook. et Arn.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub. The young branchlets are glabrous. The old branchlets are lenticellate. The leaves grow on tender branches, sometimes appearing pseudoverticillate. The leaf blades are leathery, narrow oblong, or narrow inverted lanceolate, 5–8  cm long, 1.5–2.5  cm wide, apically acute, basally cuneate, dark green and glossy above, pubescent below when young, and soon glabrate. The lateral veins are six- to eight-paired, convex abaxially together with reticulate veins, and slightly concave adaxially, with margins being slightly revoluted after drying. The petioles are 8–15 mm long, glabrous, or puberulous. The inflorescences are in leaf axils at branchlet apex, appear pseudoverticillate, and are three- to five-flowered. The pedicels are about 1 cm long, glabrous, or puberulous. The bracts are linear lanceolate and 6–7 mm long. The sepals are narrow lanceolate, 4–5 mm long, and puberulous, with margins being ciliate. The petals are 8–10 mm long. The stamens are 6–7 mm long. The ovaries are long ovoid and gray tomentose, with gynophores being short. The styles are 2–3  mm long. There are three lateral membranous placentas and about 18 ovules. The capsules are ellipsoid, or ovoid, about 1.2 cm long, and sparsely pubescent, dehiscing by three valves. The pulps are broad oval, about 1 mm thick, and woody. The placentas are in the middle of the fruit valves, each placenta containing five to six seeds. The seeds are red and 4 mm long. The funicles are 2 mm long and slightly compressed. Habitat: It grows in mountainous evergreen broad-leaved forests. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Guangxi.

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Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste and warm in property. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind, activating collaterals, and eliminating cold and pain; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatic neuralgia, sciatica, toothache, stomachache, and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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1.22  Family: Pittosporaceae 1.22.1  Pittosporum tobira Chinese Name(s): hai tong, hai tong hua, qi li xiang, bao zhu xiang, shan rui xiang Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Pittosporum tobira (Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) Ait.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub or a small tree, up to 6 m tall. The young branches are brown pubescent and lenticellate. Clustering at branchlet apex, the leaves are biennial. The leaf blades are leathery, pubescent on both sides when tender, glabrous latter, obovate or obovate lanceolate, 4–9 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide, dark green and shiny adaxially, dull after drying, round or obtuse at the top, often emarginsate or cordate, and narrowly cuneate at the base. The lateral veins are six to eight in pairs, connected near the edge. The reticular veins are conspicuous between the lateral veins, with margins being entire and revolute after drying. The petioles are 2 cm long. The inflorescences are terminal or nearly so, umbellate or corymbose, and densely yellowish-brown pubescence. The pedicels are 1–2  cm long. The bracts are lanceolate and 4–5 mm long. The flowers are fragrant and white at first and become yellow later. The sepals are ovate, 3–4 mm long, and pubescent. The petals are oblanceolate, 1–1.2 cm long, and free. The stamens are dimorphic. The filaments of staminodes are 2–3 mm long, with anthers being nearly sterile. The filaments of normal stamens are 5–6 mm long, with anthers being oblong, 2 mm long, and yellow. The ovaries are long oval and densely pubescent. There are three lateral membrane placentas. The ovules are numerous and arranged in two rows in the middle of placenta. The capsules are spherical, angular, or triangular, 12 mm in diameter, and slightly pubescent. The funicles are 1–2 mm long, dehiscing by three

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valves. The fruits are woody, 1.5 mm thick, yellow-brown adaxially, lustrous, and horizontally striate. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces at south of the Yangtze River, as well as in Japan and North Korea. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested all year round. The leaves are used freshly. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Insecticide and detoxification. It’s often used in treatment of scabies and pyogenic infections. Use and Dosage: For external use, fresh leaves are mashed for application to the affected areas or decocted in water for washing with.

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References 1. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 172) [S]. The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China; 2015. 2. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of the national Chinese herbal medicine, Vol. 1: 12 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1975. 3. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of the national Chinese herbal medicine, Vol. 2: 2563 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1975.

Chapter 2

Medicinal Angiosperms of Flacourtiaceae, Tamaricaceae, Passifloraceae, and Cucurbitaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 2.1  F  amily: Flacourtiaceae 2.1.1  Flacourtia rukam 2.2  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.2.1  Hydnocarpus hainanensis 2.3  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.3.1  Idesia polycarpa 2.4  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.4.1  Xylosma controversa 2.5  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.5.1  Xylosma longifolia 2.6  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.6.1  Xylosma racemosum

                                   

53 53 55 55 57 57 59 59 62 62 64 64

H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

© Chemical Industry Press 2021 H. Ye et al. (eds.), Common Chinese Materia Medica, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8_2

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52 2.7  Family: Tamaricaceae 2.7.1  Tamarix chinensis 2.8  Family: Passifloraceae 2.8.1  Adenia chevalieri 2.9  Family: Passifloraceae 2.9.1  Passiflora caerulea 2.10  Family: Passifloraceae 2.10.1  Passiflora cupiformis 2.11  Family: Passifloraceae 2.11.1  Passiflora foetida 2.12  Family: Passifloraceae 2.12.1  Passiflora kwangtungensis 2.13  Family: Passifloraceae 2.13.1  Passiflora moluccana var. teysmanniana 2.14  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.14.1  Actinostemma tenerum 2.15  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.15.1  Benincasa hispida 2.16  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.16.1  Gynostemma pentaphyllum 2.17  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.17.1  Lagenaria siceraria 2.18  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.18.1  Luffa acutangula 2.19  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.19.1  Luffa aegyptiaca 2.20  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.20.1  Momordica charantia 2.21  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.21.1  Momordica cochinchinensis 2.22  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.22.1  Neoalsomitra integrifoliola 2.23  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.23.1  Siraitia grosvenorii 2.24  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.24.1  Solena amplexicaulis 2.25  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.25.1  Thladiantha longifolia 2.26  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.26.1  Thladiantha nudiflora 2.27  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.27.1  Trichosanthes kirilowii, Trichosanthes rosthornii 2.28  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.28.1  Trichosanthes laceribractea 2.29  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.29.1  Zehneria indica 2.30  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.30.1  Zehneria maysorensis References

H. Ye et al.    66    66    69    69    71    71    73    73    76    76    78    78    80    80    83    83    85    85    88    88    90    90    93    93    97    97  100  100  103  103  105  105  108  108  111  111  113  113  115  115  117  117  123  123  125  125  128  128  130

This chapter introduces 31 species of medicinal plants in four families, mainly including Flacourtia rukam, Xylosma controversa of Flacourtiaceae, Tamarix

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chinensis of Tamaricaceae, Adenia chevalieri, Passiflora foetida, Passiflora kwangtungensis of Passifloraceae, Actinostemma tenerum, Benincasa hispida, Luffa aegyptiaca, Thladiantha longifolia, Trichosanthes kirilowii, and Zehneria indica of Cucurbitaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

2.1  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.1.1  Flacourtia rukam Chinese Name(s): da ye ci li mu, shan zhuang, niu ya guo, luo geng mei Source: This medicine is made of the fruitlets and leaves of Flacourtia rukam (Flacourtia rukam Zoll. et Mor.). Morphology: The tree is up to 20 m. The leaves are subleathery, ovate-oblong or oval-oblong, 8–15 cm long, 4–7 cm wide, apically acuminate to acute, basally round to wide cuneate, dark green adaxially, and light green abaxially, with margins being obtuse dentate. The midvein raises abaxially and sinks adaxially. The lateral veins are five to seven in pairs and oblique, with veinlets being parallel to each other. The petioles are 6–8 mm long, glabrous, or rusty puberulous. The flowers are small and yellowish green. The inflorescences are axillary, racemose, 0.5–1 cm, ovoid or terminal panicles consisting of racemes, and puberulous. The pedicels are 3–4  mm long. There are four to five sepals, which are ovate, slightly connate at base, and sparsely pubescent on both sides. The petals are absent. Staminate flowers: stamens are numerous, filaments are 3–4 mm long, and anthers are small and yellow. The disks are fleshy, orange to yellowish, and eight-lobed. Pistillate flowers: disks are discoid. The ovaries are ovary bottle-shaped. There are four to six lateral membranous placentas, with two ovules in each placenta. There are four to six styles. The stigmas are two-lobed. The staminodes occasionally present. The berries are spherical to oblate or ovoid, 2–2.5 cm in diameter, and four- to six-grooved or four- to six-ridged after drying. The pedicels are 5–8 mm long, bright green to pink or purple green to deep red, and pulp white, with persistent style on apex. There are about 12 seeds. The flowering period is from April to May and fruiting from June to October. Habitat: It grows in the valley forests. Distribution: It’s distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi, as well as in Central South Peninsula and Malaysia to Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer. The fruitlets are dried in the sun, and the leaves are used freshly.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly astringent and bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: The fruitlets function in arresting diarrhea and are often used in treatment of chronic diarrhea. The leaves are often used in ophthalmitis. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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2.2  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.2.1  Hydnocarpus hainanensis Chinese Name(s): hai nan da feng zi, long jiao, gao gen, wu ke zi Source: This medicine is made of the seeds of Hydnocarpus hainanensis (Hydnocarpus hainanensis (Merr.) Sleum.). Morphology: The tree is evergreen and 6–9 m tall. The barks are grayish brown. The branchlets are cylindrical and glabrous. The leaves are thin leathery, oblong, 9–13 cm long, 3–5 cm wide, apically short acuminate, obtuse, and basally cuneate, with margins being irregular shallow serrulate and both surfaces being glabrous and subidentical in color. The lateral veins are seven to eight in pairs, with reticulate veins being obvious. The petioles are about 1.5 cm long and glabrous. The inflorescences are axillary or subterminal and 1.5–2.5 cm long. The flowers are unisexual, 15–20  in much condensed shortly pedunculate cymes. The pedicels are short, 8–15  mm long, and glabrous. There are four sepals, which are elliptic, 4  mm in diameter, and glabrous, and four petals, which are reniform-ovate, 2–2.5 mm long, and 3–3.5 mm wide, with margins being ciliate, inner base being thickly scaled, and scales being irregularly four to six dentate and villous. Staminate flowers: there are about 12 stamens. The filaments are thick at base and sparsely pubescent. The anthers are sagittate and 1.5–2  mm. Pistillate flowers: there are about 15 staminodes. The ovaries are oval-shaped and densely yellow-brown villous, with one locule and five lateral membranous placentae. The ovules are numerous. The styles are absent. The stigmas are three-lobed, with lobes being triangular, and apically two-lobed. The berries are spherical, 4–5 cm in diameter, densely brown pubescent, and leathery, with stout pedicels of 6–7 mm. There are about 20 seeds, which are ca.

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1.5 cm in length. The flowering period is from late spring to summer. The fruiting is from summer to autumn. Habitat: It grows in low-altitude forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan and Guangxi, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer. The seeds are collected and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly pungent in taste, hot in property, and toxic. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness, killing parasites, and stopping itching; it’s often used in treatment of leprosy, syphilis, sores, scabies, and cracks on the back of the hand. Use and Dosage: For external use, proper amounts of seeds are ground into powder and applied to the affected areas. It’s improper for patients of Yin deficiency to use this medicine.

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2.3  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.3.1  Idesia polycarpa Chinese Name(s): shan tong zi, shui dong gua Source: This medicine is made of the fruits of Idesia polycarpa (Idesia polycarpa Maxim.). Morphology: The tree is deciduous and up to 21 m tall. The leaves are thin leathery or thick papery, oval, oval cordate or broadly cordate, 13–18  cm long, and 12–15 cm wide, with apex being acuminate or caudate, base being usually cordate, and margins being serrate, glandular on apex, adaxially dark green, smooth and glabrous, abaxially white pruinose, and pubescent along the veins and in its axillary, especially at the base. It’s usually five-veined from the base. The petioles are 6–12  cm long, with two to four purple flat glands at the lower part, and slightly

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dilated at the base. The flowers are unisexual, dioecious or heterozygous, yellowish green, fragrant, without petals, and arranged in terminal drooping panicles. The pedicels are sparsely pubescent and 10–20 cm long or longer. The staminate flowers are slightly larger than pistillate flowers and about 1.2 cm in diameter. There are three to six sepals, which are long ovate, about 6 mm in length, 3 mm in width, and densely hairy. The anthers are elliptic, with degenerated ovaries. The pistillate flowers are about 9 mm in diameter. There are three to six sepals, usually six, which are ovate, about 4 mm in length, 2.5 mm in width, densely hairy outside, and sparsely hairy inside. The ovaries are superior, globose, and glabrous. There are five or six styles. The stigmas are obovate. The berries are purple red, oblate-round, 3–5 mm high, and 5–7 mm in diameter, with width exceeding length. The pedicels are small and 0.6–2 cm long, and the seeds are red brown and round. The flowering period is from April to May, and fruiting is from October to November. Habitat: It grows in sparsely forested valleys and roadsides. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangxi, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, East China, and Taiwan, as well as in Japan and North Korea. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer. The fruits are collected and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, scattering blood stasis, and stopping bleeding; it’s often used in treatment of leprosy, neurodermatitis, rheumatism, enteritis, and tinea manus. Use and Dosage: For external use, proper amounts of fruits are ground into powder and applied to the affected areas.

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2.4  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.4.1  Xylosma controversa Chinese Name(s): nan ling zuo mu, da ye zuo mu, mi duo ji, niu huang ci Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Xylosma controversa (Xylosma controversum Clos). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub or a small tree and 4–10  m in height. The barks are grayish brown and indehiscent. The branchlets are cylindrical and brown villous. The leaves are thin leathery, oval to oblong, 5–15 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, glabrous or sparsely pubescent along the main vein. The upper surfaces are dark green, brown after drying, glossy, and the lower surfaces are dense or sparsely pubescent, pale green. The apex of leaves are acuminate or acute, base are cuneate, and margins are serrated. The midvein raises abaxially and is impressed or

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flat adaxially. The lateral veins are five to nine in pairs, arched-ascending, and conspicuous on both sides. The petioles are short, 0.7–1 cm long, glossy, and brown pubescent. The inflorescences are axillary, paniculate or racemelike, and many flowered. The pedicels are 1.5–3 cm long and brown pubescent. The pedicels are 2–3  mm long. The bracts are lanceolate and pubescent outside. The flowers are 4–5 mm in diameter. There are four sepals, which are ovate, 2.5 mm long, pubescent outside, and glabrous inside, with margins being ciliate and petals being absent. Staminate flowers: stamens are numerous, about 2 mm long, and inserted on the inner surface of the disk. The disks are eight-­lobed. Pistillate flowers: ovaries are ovoid-globose, about 2 mm long, and glabrous, with one locule, two lateral membranous placentas, and two to three ovules on each placenta. The styles are slender and about 1.5  mm long. The stigmas are two-lobed. The berries are round and 3–5 mm in diameter, with styles being persistent. The flowering is from April to May, and fruiting is from August to September. Habitat: It grows in mountain forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions in southeastern and southwestern China, as well as in China and India Peninsula and India. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in autumn and winter; the roots and leaves are collected and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and sweet in taste and cold in property. Functions: Clearing heat and cooling blood, scattering blood stasis, and diminishing swelling; it’s often used in treatment of fractures, burns, scalds, traumatic bleeding, and hematemesis. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh roots and leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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2.5  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.5.1  Xylosma longifolia Chinese Name(s): chang ye zuo mu, zuo shu, zuo mu pi Source: This medicine is made of the root barks, stem barks, and leaves of Xylosma longifolia (Xylosma longifolium Clos). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen small tree or a shrub and 4–7 m tall. The barks are grayish brown. The branchlets are spiny and glabrous. The leaves are leathery, long-round lanceolate or lanceolate, 5–12 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide, glabrous on both sides, dark green and lustrous adaxially, pale green abaxially, and gray brown after drying, with apex being acuminate, base being broad cuneate, and margins being serrated. The lateral veins are six to seven in pairs, raised on both surfaces. The petioles are 5–8 cm long. The flowers are small and light green. The inflorescence of short racemes or reduced panicles is borne singly or in condensed clusters in leaf axils and 1–2 cm long. The pedicels and pedicels are glabrous or subglabrous. The bracts are small and ovate. The flowers are 2.5–3.5 mm in diameter. There are four to five sepals, which are ovate or lanceolate, 2–4  mm long, puberulous outside, and glabrous inside, with petals being absent. Staminate flowers: stamens are mostly in the inner surface of the disk, filamentous, and about 4.5 mm long, with anthers being round and flower disks being eight-cleft. Pistillate flowers: ovaries are ovoid and 3.5–4 mm long, with one locule, two lateral membranous placentas, and two to three ovules on each placenta. The styles are very short. The stigmas are two-lobed. The berries are globular, black, 4–6 mm in diameter, and glabrous. There are two to five seeds. The flowering period is from April to May, and fruiting is from June to October. Habitat: It grows in roadsides, valleys, or dry shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The velamina, leaves, and stem barks are collected and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and astringent in taste and cold in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, scattering blood stasis and stopping bleeding, diminishing swelling, and killing pain; the velamina and stem barks are often used in treatment of jaundice, edema, and missed abortion. The roots and leaves are often used in treatment of bruise and swellings, fractures, dislocations, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of medicine are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Or the leaves are added with 35% ethanol, made into 30% liniment for external liniment or wet application.

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2.6  Family: Flacourtiaceae 2.6.1  Xylosma racemosum Chinese Name(s): zuo mu, zao zi shu, meng zi shu Source: This medicine is made of the velamina, stem barks, and leaves of Xylosma racemosum (Xylosma racemosum (Sieb. et Zucc.) Miq. [X. japonica (Walp.) A .Gray]). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub or a small tree and 4–15  m in height. Its barks are brown gray and irregularly rolled upward from the bottom into small pieces, and lobes are rolled upward. The branches are spiny when young and unarmed when old. The leaves are thin leathery, with females being slightly different from males. The leaves of female plants vary from rhombic ellipse to oval ellipse, 4–8 cm long, and 2.5–3.5 cm wide, with apex being acuminate, base being cuneate or round, margins being serrated, and both surfaces being glabrous or scarcely pubescent along midveins near the base. The petioles are short, about 2 mm long, and shortly pubescent. The flowers are small. The inflorescences are axillary, racemose, short, and 0.5–2 cm. The pedicels are very short and about 3 mm long. There are four to six sepals, which are oval, 2.5–3.5 mm long, and pubescent outside. The petals are absent. Staminate flowers: stamen filaments are long and about 4.5 mm in length. The anthers are elliptic and innate. The disks are composed of many glands, surrounding stamens. Pistillate flowers: sepals of pistillate flowers are similar to staminate flowers. The ovaries are elliptic, glabrous, and about 4.5 mm long, with one locule. There are two lateral membranous placentas. The styles are short. The stigmas are two-cleft. The disks are round, with margins being slightly undulate. The berries are black, globular, with persistent styles at the apex, and 4–5 mm in diameter. There are two to three seeds, which are oval, 2–3 mm in length, green when fresh, and brown when dry, with black stripes. The flowering period is in spring. The fruiting period is in winter. Habitat: It grows in wastelands or hilly shrubs near villages. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hubei, and Sichuan, as well as in Japan and North Korea. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The root barks, leaves, and stem barks are collected and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and astringent in taste and cold in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, scattering blood stasis and stopping bleeding, diminishing swelling, and killing pain; the velamina and stem barks are often used in treatment of jaundice, edema, and missed abortion. The roots and leaves are often used in treatment of bruise and swellings, fractures, dislocations, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of medicine are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Or the leaves are added with 35% ethanol, made into 30% liniment for external liniment or wet application.

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2.7  Family: Tamaricaceae 2.7.1  Tamarix chinensis Chinese Name(s): guai liu, xi he liu, xi hu liu Source: This medicine is made of the branchlets and leaves of Tamarix chinensis (Tamarix chinensis Lour.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree. The branchlets are slender, dense, and pendulous. The leaves are brightly green. Those on the vegetative branches growing on the old branches are oblong-lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 1.5–1.8 mm long, slightly spreading, acute at apex, abaxially carinate at the base, and membranous. The leaves on the upper green vegetative branches are subulate or ovate-lanceolate, semi-adnate, acuminate at the apex as well as introflexed, attenuate at the base, 1–3 mm long, and abaxially carinate. The flowers bloom two or three times per year, in spring. The inflorescences are racemose, borne laterally on the ligneous branchlets of the previous year, 3–6 cm long, and 5–7 mm wide. The flowers are few, big, and lax. The flowers and branchlets are both pendulous. The peduncles are slender, and the calyxes are short. The flowers are five-merous. There are five calyx lobes and five petals which are pink, usually ovate-elliptic or elliptic-­ obovate, rarely ovate, 2 mm long, slightly longer than the calyxes, and persistent in the fruiting period. The disks are five-lobed, and the lobes are rounded or slightly retuse apically, purple red, and fleshy. There are five stamens, which are equal to the pedals in length or slightly longer than them. The filaments are borne between the lobes of the disks, from lower parts close to margins. The ovaries are conic, and there are three styles which are clavate and about half long as the ovaries. The capsules are conic. The flowering period is between March and September. Habitat: It grows in saline-alkali soils in coastal regions. Distribution: It is cultivated in provinces in northern China and in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It also grows in the wild or is cultivated in southern China provinces like Guangxi and Yunnan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The branchlets and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Inducing perspiration, promoting eruption, detoxicating, and promoting diuresis; it is used to treat cold, measles without eruption, rheumatoid arthritis, and difficulty in micturition. When used externally, it treats rubella pruritus. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, wash the affected areas with the decoctum. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Cold  – Tamarix chinensis 9  g, mint 6  g, Schizonepeta 6 g, and ginger 3 g, decocted in water to drink. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Measles without adequate eruption – Tamarix chinensis, coriander, Lemna minor, and cherry kernel (6  g each), decocted in water to drink.

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2.8  Family: Passifloraceae 2.8.1  Adenia chevalieri Chinese Name(s): shuo lian, yun long dang, guo shan shen Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Adenia chevalieri (Adenia chevalieri Gagnep.). Morphology: The plant is a liana. The leaves are papery, broadly ovate or ovate-­ oblong, 7–15 cm long, 8–12 cm wide, shortly acuminate at the apex, and rounded or shortly cuneate at the base. The margins are entire, three-lobed, and glabrous. The veins are pinnate. There are four to five pairs of the lateral veins, and the reticulate veins are horizontal and conspicuous. Of the three lobes, the middle one is ovate, and the side ones are narrower. The petioles are 4–7 cm long and glabrous, and there are two discoid glands between the apex and the base. The inflorescences are cymose and one- to two-flowered, and the peduncles are 6 cm. The bracts are scaly and tiny. The flowers are simple. The pedicels of the staminate flowers are 8–10 mm long, and the calyxes are tubular, 9–12 mm long, and five-lobed apically. The lobes are small, broadly triangular, and 0.5 mm long. There are five petals which are lanceolate and 0.6 mm long, with three veins which grow from the base of the calyx tubes and five appendages. There are five stamens, and the filaments are very short. The anthers are acuminate apically, and the ovaries are reduced, without ovules and with short stems. The pistillate flowers are bigger than the staminate ones. Their calyx tubes are 8–9 mm long, and the lobes are triangular and 1–1.5 mm long and wide. There are five petals which are lanceolate or elliptic, 5 mm long, borne from the base of the calyxes, and equally tall as or slightly taller than the calyx lobes. There are five membranous appendages at the base of the calyx lobes which are oblong. The ovaries are elliptic-globose, with stems and three stout stigmas. The capsules are clavate, 8–12 cm long, and red when mature. The flowering period is between January and July, and the fruiting period is between August and October.

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Habitat: It grows in open forests in valleys or near forests, usually climbing on trees or in thickets. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, and southern Guangxi. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and slightly bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: This medicine functions in nourishing and strengthening the body, relieving rheumatic pains, and smoothing meridians and collateral channels. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water to drink.

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2.9  Family: Passifloraceae 2.9.1  Passiflora caerulea Chinese Name(s): xi fan lian, zhuan xin lian, zhuan zi lian Source: This medicine is made of the roots, vines, and fruits of Passiflora caerulea (Passiflora caerulea Linn.). Morphology: The vine is cylindrical and slightly angulate. The leaf blades are papery, 5–7 cm long, 6–8 cm wide, and cordate at the base, with five deep palmate lobes. The petioles are 2–3 cm long, with two to four small glands in the middle. The stipules are big, reniform, amplexicaul, and 1.2 cm long, with serrated margins. The cymose inflorescences are reduced to only one flower which is opposite to the tendrils. The flowers are big, greenish, and 6–8 cm in diameter. The pedicels are

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3–4 cm long, and the bracts are broadly ovate and 3 cm long, with entire margins. There are five sepals which are 3–4.5 cm long, greenish on the outside, and white on the inside, with an angular appendage at the apex on the outside. There are five petals which are greenish and nearly as long as the sepals. The outer corona lobes are in three series and filamentous. The outer and middle series are 1–1.5 mm long, the apex of which is brightly blue, while the middle part is white and basal part purplish red. The inner series are filiform and 1–2 mm long, with a purple-red head, and the lower part is greenish. The inner corona lobes are fimbriate, with purple lobes which have dense glandular circles at the base. The disks are 1–2 mm tall. The androgynophores are 8–10 mm long. There are five stamens, and the filaments are free, 1 cm long, and oblate. The anthers are oblong and 1.3 cm long, and the ovaries are ovoid-globose. There are three styles which are free, purple red, and 1.6  cm long. The stipules are reniform. The berries are ovoid-globose to subglobose, 6 cm long, and orange yellow or yellow when ripe. The flowering period is between May and October. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: Originally from South America, it is now commonly cultivated in subtropical areas in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots, vines, and fruits are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and warm in nature. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness, activating blood circulation, and relieving pains; it is used to treat rheumatic pains, colic, and dysmenorrhea. When used externally, it treats bone fractures. Use and Dosage: 15–24 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up appropriate amounts of fresh plant mixed up with alcohol and apply to the affected areas.

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2.10  Family: Passifloraceae 2.10.1  Passiflora cupiformis Chinese Name(s): bei ye xi fan lian, ban jie ye, yan wei cao, yang ti an xiao, hu die an xiao, ma ti an xiao Source: This medicine is made of the roots or whole plant of Passiflora cupiformis (Passiflora cupiformis Mast.). Morphology: The plants are lianas which are 6 cm long. The stems are gradually glabrous. The leaf blades are stiffly papery, 6–12 cm long, 4–10 cm wide, obtuse at the apex to two-lobed, and rounded to cordate at the base. The adaxial surface is

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glabrous, and the abaxial surface is sparsely appressed setose, with 6–25 glands. The lobes are 3–8 cm long, rounded, or sub-obtuse apically. The petioles are 3–7 cm long and sparsely puberulent, with two discoid glands on basal one-eighth to one-­ fourth. The inflorescences are nearly sessile, with five or more flowers, and brown puberulent. The peduncles are 2–3 cm long, and the flowers are white and 1.5–2 cm in diameter. There are five sepals which are 8–10 mm long, usually with one apical gland or a 1-mm-long angulate appendage, and puberulent. The petals are 7–8.5 mm long. The outer corona lobes are in two series and filiform, with the outer series being 8–9 mm long and the inner one 2–3 mm long. The inner corona is pleated and 1.5 mm tall, with disks which are 1/4 mm tall. The androgynophores are 3–5 mm long. There are five stamens, with free filaments, which are 4.5–6 mm long, and the anthers are rounded and 2.5 mm long. The ovaries are subovate-globose, sessile, 2 mm long, and glabrous. There are three styles which are free and 4 mm long. The berries are globose, 1–1.6 cm in diameter, purple when mature, and glabrous. There are numerous seeds, which are triangular elliptic, 5  mm long, oblate, and dark brown. The flowering period is in April, and the fruiting period is in September. Habitat: It grows among grass on the roadsides and in thickets of the gullies. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces. It is also seen in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole, or the roots are dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and slightly astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Activating blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and detoxicating; it is used to treat pneumonopathy, bruises, and snake bites. The leaves are used to treat measles and scabies. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink.

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2.11  Family: Passifloraceae 2.11.1  Passiflora foetida Chinese Name(s): long zhu guo, long xu guo Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Passiflora foetida (Passiflora foetida Linn.). Morphology: The plants are herbaceous vines. The leaves are membranous, broadly ovate to oblong-ovate, 4.5–13 cm long, 4–12 cm wide, three-lobed at the apex, cordate at the base, with irregularly serrated margins, strigose, and with glandular trichomes. The abaxial surface of the leaf is puberulent, with many small glands, and the veins are pinnate. There are four to five pairs of the lateral veins, and the reticulate veins are horizontal. The petioles are 2–6 cm long and densely pilose, with glandular trichomes and without glands. The stipules are half-amplexicaul and deeply lobed, with glandular trichomes at the apex of the lobes. The inflorescences are reduced to only one flower which is opposite to the tendrils. The flowers are white or purplish, with white spots, and 2–3 cm in diameter. There are three bracts, which are one- or three-pinnatifid. The lobes are filiform and glandularly ciliated apically. There are five sepals which are 1.5  cm long, with a subapical angular appendage. There are five petals which are as long as the sepals. The outer corona lobes are in three to five series and filiform. The outer two series have lobes that are 4–5 mm long, and the inner three series have lobes that are 2.5 mm long. The inner coronas are not pleated, membranous, and 1–1.5 mm tall. There are disks which are cupular and 1–2 mm tall. The androgynophores are 5–7 mm long. There are five stamens, and the filaments are coherent at base and oblate. The anthers are oblong and 4 mm long ca. The ovaries are elliptic-globose, 6 mm long, with short stems, with sparse glandular trichomes, or glabrous. The berries are ovate-globose, 2–3 cm in diameter, and glabrous. The flowering period is from July to August, and the fruiting period is in April and May of the following year. Habitat: It grows on wild grassy mountain slopes and thickets at altitudes ranging between 20 and 500 m. Distribution: Originally from West Indies, it is now found in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Fujian, and Taiwan in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and sour in taste and neutral in nature and fragrant. Functions: Clearing heat and cooling blood, moisturizing dryness syndrome, and removing phlegm; it is used to treat traumatic keratitis or conjunctivitis and lymphnoditis. Use and Dosage: 9–21 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh plants to apply to the affected areas.

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2.12  Family: Passifloraceae 2.12.1  Passiflora kwangtungensis Chinese Name(s): guang dong xi fan lian Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Passiflora kwangtungensis (Passiflora kwangtungensis Merr.). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine. The leaves are membranous, alternate, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 6–13 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, narrowly acuminate at the apex, and cordate at the base. The margins are entire. The abaxial surface is inconspicuously pilose, without glands, with three basal veins, introflexted

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secondary veins, and sparse inconspicuous reticulate veins. The petioles are 1–2 cm long, with two discoid glands in the upper and sub-middle parts. The inflorescences are without peduncles, grow in symmetric pairs from the sides of the slender tendrils, and are one- to two-flowered. The flowers are small, white, and 1.5–2 cm in diameter. There are five sepals which are membranous, narrowly oblong, 8–9 mm long, and 2.5 mm wide, with outer apex being with no angulate appendage. There are five petals which are similar to the sepals in size. The outer corona lobes are in one series which is filiform, 2–3  mm long, and subacute apically, and the inner coronas are pleated and 1.5 mm tall. The disks are 0.3 mm tall, and the androgynophores are 4.5 mm long and glabrous. There are five stamens, and the filaments are oblate and 3.5 mm long. The anthers are oblong and 2.5 mm long, and the ovaries are subsessile, elliptic-globose, 2.5  mm long, sparsely pilose, and with scattered white glands. There are three styles, which are 3–4  mm long and retroflex. The stigmas are capitate. The berries are globose, 1–1.5 cm in diameter, and glabrous. There are many seeds which are ellipsoid, brownish yellow, 3  mm long ca., and oblate, with a pointed head at the apex. The flowering period is from March to May, and the fruiting period from June to July. Habitat: It grows in open forests and thickets on mountains of altitudes ranging from 350 m to 880 m. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, removing dampness, and reducing swellings; it is used to treat furuncles, pyogenic infections, and eczema. Use and Dosage: Mash up fresh plants or grind dry plants into powder to apply to the affected areas.

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2.13  Family: Passifloraceae 2.13.1  Passiflora moluccana var. teysmanniana Chinese Name(s): she wang teng, shuang mu ling, zhi she ling Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Passiflora moluccana var. teysmanniana (Passiflora moluccana Reiw. ex Bl. var. teysmanniana (Miq.) de Willd.). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine, which is up to 6 m long. The leaves are leathery, linear, linear-oblong or elliptic, 4–14 cm long, 1–6 cm wide, rounded at the apex, and subcordate at the base. The adaxial surface is glabrous, and the

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abaxial surface is densely puberulent, with four to six glands. The veins are pinnate, with five to six pairs of lateral veins, which are distinct, and the reticulations are not conspicuous. The petioles are 7–15 mm long, with two glands at the base of the leaves. The inflorescences are cymose, nearly sessile, solitarily borne between the tendrils and the petioles, and one- to two-flowered. The bracts are linear, and the pedicels are 2.5–4.5 cm long. The flowers are white and 3.5–5 cm in diameter. There are five sepals, which are 1.5–2 cm long, puberulent, and without angulate appendage at the apex on the outside. There are five petals which are 1.6 cm long. The outer corona lobes are in two series and filiform, and the outer series are 1–1.5 cm long, while the inner ones are 1–3 mm long. The inner coronas are pleated and 1.5–2 cm tall. The disks are 0.5 mm tall. There are five stamens, and the filaments are 6–10 mm long, oblate, and free. The anthers are oblong and 5 mm long, and the ovaries are densely puberulent and globose. There are three styles which are retroflexed. The berries are subglobose, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter, and nearly glabrous. The seeds are numerous, triangular-elliptic, and dark yellow. Habitat: It grows in valley forests or mountain thickets, typically climbing on other trees. Distribution: It is found in Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hainan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent and bitter in taste and cold in property. Functions: This medicine functions to clear heat, detoxify, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. It is used to treat snake bite and gastric and duodenal ulcers. When used externally, it treats panaris and furuncles. Use and Dosage: 9–30 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh leaves to apply to the affected areas. For treating snake bites, take in the medicine and apply it to areas around the bite.

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2.14  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.14.1  Actinostemma tenerum Chinese Name(s): he zi cao, huang si teng, hu lou ke zi, tian qiu cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Actinostemma tenerum (Actinostemma tenerum Griff.). Morphology: The plant is a tender herbaceous vine. The petioles are slender, 2–6 cm long, and puberulent. The leaf blades are various, cordate-sagittate, cordate narrowly ovate, lobeless or three- to five-lobed, with minutely denticulate or coarsely serrated margins, semicircular, and with oblong or deeply cordate sinuses at base. The lobes are narrowly triangular at the apex, slightly obtuse or acuminate at the base, with a pointed head, scatteredly verruculose on both surfaces, 3–12 cm long, and 2–8 cm wide. The tendrils are slender and bifurcate. The staminate inflorescences are racemose and sometimes paniculate. The small inflorescences have 6-mm-long leaflike three-lobed bracts and sometimes one to three flowers grown from the reduced peduncles. The rachises are thin and fragile, 1–13 cm long, and puberulent. The bracts are linear, 3  mm long, densely puberulent, and 3–12  mm long. The calyx lobes are linear or lanceolate, with sparsely dentated margins, 2–3 mm long, and 0.5–1 mm wide. The corolla lobes are lanceolate. There are five stamens, and the filaments are puberulent or glabrous, 0.5 mm long, and 0.5–1 mm wide. The connectives extend beyond the anthers and are mammilliform. The pistillate flowers are solitary, gemel, or monoecious. The pistillate flowers have nodes and are 4–8 cm long, with the same calyxes and corollas as the staminate flowers. The ovaries are ovate and verruculose. The fruits are green, ovate, broadly ovate, oblong-elliptic, 1.6–2.5 cm long, 1–2 cm in diameter, and with two to four seeds. The flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from September to November. Habitat: It grows near water, among thick grass, or on roadsides. Distribution: It is found in most parts of China and also in south, southeast, and east Asia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste, cold in nature, and slightly poisonous. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, reducing swelling, and inducing diuresis; it is used to treat venomous snake bites, ascitic fluid, pustular sores, pemphigus, and malnutritional stagnation of children. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, decoct fresh plant in water to wash the affected areas with or mash it up to apply to the affected areas.

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2.15  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.15.1  Benincasa hispida [1] Chinese Name(s): dong gua Source: This medicine is made of the seeds and pericarps of Benincasa hispida (Benincasa hispida (Thunb.) Cogn.). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine. The leaves are reniform or suborbicular, 15–30 cm wide, shallowly five- to seven-lobed, or sometimes moderately lobed. The lobes are broadly triangular or ovate, acute at the apex, with dentate margins, and deeply cordate at the base. The adaxial surface of the leaf is dark green, slightly scabrous, and sparsely pilose, and the abaxial surface is scabrous, grayish white, and setose with densely puberulent veins. The petioles are stout and 5–2 cm long, with yellowish brown setae and long soft trichomes. The tendrils are bifurcate or trifurcate and setose or pilose. The flowers are monoecious. The flowers are solitary. The pedicels of the staminate flowers are 5–15 cm long, with a basal

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bract which is ovate or broadly oblong, 6–10 mm long, acute apically, and pilose. The calyx tubes are campanulate, 12–15 mm wide, densely setose, or pilose. The lobes are lanceolate, 8–12 mm long, serrated, and retroflexed. The corollas are yellow and radial. The lobes are broadly obovate, 3–6  cm long, 2.5–3.5  cm wide, sparsely puberulent on both surfaces, obtuse apically, and five-veined. There are three stamens which are free, and the filaments are 2–3 mm long, inflated at the base, and puberulent. The anthers are 5 mm long and 7–10 cm wide. The anther cells are three-curved. The pedicels of the staminate flowers are less than 5 cm long, densely yellow-brown hispid, and villous. The ovaries are ovate or cylindrical, densely yellow-brown hispid, and 2–4 cm long. The fruits are narrowly cylindrical or subglobose, big, hispid and with white powder on the outside, 25–60 cm long, and 10–25 cm in diameter. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated all around China. It is also found in tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and the Madagascar. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in autumn and winter. The seeds and pericarps are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and slightly cold in nature. Functions: The seeds function in clearing heat and reducing phlegm, relieving furuncles, and dissipating pus. The pericarps function in clearing heat and detoxicating, reducing swelling, and inducing diuresis. The seeds can be used to treat lung heat, cough, lung abscess, and appendicitis. The pericarps are used to treat edema, difficulty in micturition, and edema caused by acute nephritis. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. Prescription: Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Lung abscess  – decoct Benincasa hispida seeds, rhizoma phragmitis, semen coicis (each 30  g), 15  g of honeysuckle, and 9 g of Platycodon grandiflorus in water to drink.

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2.16  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.16.1  Gynostemma pentaphyllum Chinese Name(s): jiao gu lan, wu ye shen, qi ye dan, gan cha wan Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Gynostemma pentaphyllum (Thunb.) Makino). Morphology: This plant is a herbaceous vine. The stems are tender and puberulent, with spiral, bifurcate, or unifurcate tendrils. The leaves are alternate and pedate, with petioles which are 2–4 cm long. The leaves are five to seven foliolate, and the leaflets are ovate-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 4–14 cm long, 1.5–4 cm wide, shortly acute at the apex, cuneate at the base, and with serrated margins. The flowers bloom in summer and autumn, and the flowers are small, yellow green, and simple. The flowers are dioecious, and the inflorescences are 10–30 cm long and axillary panicled. There are five calyx lobes which are triangular. The corollas are radial and deeply five-lobed, and the lobes are lanceolate. There are five stamens, growing from the base of the calyxes. The filaments are short and coherent basally. There are three styles, which are bifid apically. The capsules are globose, 5–8 mm in diameter, and black when mature. There are one to three seeds which are broadly ovate and verruculose on two sides. Habitat: It grows near gullies, in valley forests, or in thickets. Distribution: It is found in provinces along the Yangtze River and south of it. It is also seen in Japan, Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected twice a year, in summer and early winter. The onground parts of the plants are cut off and dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and bitter in taste and cold in nature. It belongs to the lungs and liver meridians. Functions: Relieving cough and asthma, clearing heat and detoxicating, reducing blood fat levels, and slowing down aging; it is used to treat chronic bronchitis, lung heat, cough, hyperlipidemia, infectious hepatitis, pyelitis, and gastroenteritis. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. Annotations: Gynostemma pentaphyllum contains various types of saponin, saccharides, pigments, etc. Some of the substances contained are similar to or the same as those of ginseng saponin. As such, it is often used in making tonic drinks and cosmetics.

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2.17  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.17.1  Lagenaria siceraria Chinese Name(s): hu lu, chou hu lu, pu lu Source: This medicine is made of the pericarp of the ripe fruits of Lagenaria siceraria (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.). Morphology: It is an annual climbing herb. The stems, branches, petioles, pedicels, and young fruits are pilose. There are bifurcated axillary tendrils. The leaves are large, cordate-ovate or reniform-ovate, 10–40 cm long and wide, slightly lobed or lobeless on the margins, acute at the apex, and with serrated margins and cordate at the base. The petioles are 5–30 cm long, with two apical glands. The flowers are simple and dioecious, one to two of which are axillary, with long pedicels. The calyx tubes are funnel-shaped and five-lobed. There are five petals which are white, broadly ovate or obovate, 3–4 cm long, and with wrinkled margins. The staminate flowers have three stamens, and the anther cells are curved. The pistillate flowers have oblong inferior ovaries, short styles, and three stigmas in each flower and are two-lobed, with lateral placentas. The pepos are big, pendulous, and shrinking in the middle when mature. The fruit shell is woody and stiff, with many white seeds inside. The flowering period is in summer, and the fruiting period in autumn. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated all around China and also in temperate and tropical zones in other parts of the world. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in autumn. Pick the ripe fruits, remove the flesh and seeds, and dry the shells.

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Medicinal Properties: It is gourd ladle-shaped, sometimes broken into pieces, 0.5–1.5 cm thick, yellowish brown on the outside, smooth and yellowish white or greyish white, and soft on the inside. It is light in weight, stiff, and yellowish white on the fracture surface. There is a faint smell with it, and it tastes bland. The yellowish brown and thick ones are of better quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It belongs to the spleen meridian. Functions: Inducing diuresis and reducing swelling; it is used to treat edema, ascitic fluid, and cervical lymph node tuberculosis. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. Prescription: For treating acute nephritis edema: (a) Old shells of Lagenaria siceraria fruit 15–30 g are decocted in water to drink, one dose a day. (b) Lagenaria siceraria are baked until it turns slightly brown and then ground into powder and mixed with boiled water to drink, 9 g per dose, two to three times a day.

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2.18  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.18.1  Luffa acutangula [2] Chinese Name(s): guang dong si gua, leng jiao si gua Source: This medicine is made of the vegetable sponges, vines, roots, and seeds of Luffa acutangula (Luffa acutangula (Linn.) Roxb.). Morphology: It is an annual herbaceous vine. The tendrils are stout, often trifurcated, and puberulent. The petioles are thick, puberulent on the ridges, and 8–12 cm long. The leaf blades are suborbicular, membranous, 15–20 cm long and wide, and usually five- to seven-lobed, with the middle lobe being broadly triangular and the margins denticulate. The basal sinuses are subrounded, 2–2.5 cm deep, and 1–2 cm wide. The adaxial surfaces are dark green and scabrous, and the abaxial surfaces are greyish green. The flowers are monoecious. There are 17–20 flowers that grow on the apices of the peduncles which are 10–15 cm long. The inflorescences are racemose. The pedicels are 1–4 cm long, and the calyx tubes are campanulate, 0.5–0.8 cm long, 1 cm in diameter, and pilose. The corollas are yellow and spikelike, and the lobes are obcordate, 1.5–2.5 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, emarginated apically, subglabrous on both surfaces, and with three raised adaxial veins which are puberulent. The anther cells are two-curved. The pistillate flowers are solitary, growing from the same axils as the staminate flowers. The ovaries are clavate, with ten longitudinally ribbed. The fruits are cylindrical or clavate, with eight to ten longitudinal ribs and grooves, 15–30 cm long, and 6–10 cm in diameter. The flowering and fruiting periods are both in summer and autumn. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is widely cultivated all around China. It is also cultivated in tropical areas in other parts of the world.

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Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in autumn and winter. The sponges, vines, roots, and seeds are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: The sponges are sweet in taste and neutral in nature. The leaves are bitter and sour in taste and slightly cold in nature. The seeds are slightly sweet in taste and neutral in nature. The roots are sweet in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: The sponge functions to clear heat, detoxify, promote blood circulation to remove meridian obstruction, reduce swelling, and act as a diuretic. The leaves function to stop bleeding, clear heat, detoxify, reduce phlegm, and stop coughing. The seeds are slightly sweet and neutral in nature and function to clear heat, reduce phlegm, moisturize, and expel parasites. The vines function to remove meridian obstruction, stop coughing, and reduce phlegm. The roots function to clear heat and detoxify. The sponges are used to treat muscle aches, chest pain, dysmenorrhea, lactation, mastitis, and edema. The leaves are used to treat pertussis, cough, and thirst due to summer heat. Used externally, the leaves treat traumatic bleeding, scabies, and pemphigus. The seeds are used to treat cough, excessive phlegm, ascariasis, and constipation. The vines are used to treat waist ache, coughing, rhinitis, and bronchitis. The roots are used to treat rhinitis and paranasal sinusitis. Use and Dosage: Vegetable sponges and leaves (9–15 g per dose), seeds (6–9 g per dose), vines (30–60 g per dose), and roots (15–30 g per dose), decocted in water to drink. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Ascariasis  – prepare 40–50 grains of black raw Luffa acutangula seeds, and remove the shells. Chew up the kernels and wash them down to empty stomach with lukewarm water (or put the crushed kernels in capsules to take in), once per day, 2 days in a row. Children should take in 30 grains of Luffa acutangula kernels instead. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chronic bronchitis  – decoct 150–240  g of Luffa acutangula vines which have been frosted in water to drink. Take it one time per day, 10 days as a course of treatment. Keep taking the medicine for two courses. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Bronchitis – mince up 90–150 g of Luffa acutangula vines and decoct them in water twice. Filter the fluid out and boil it down to 100–150 ml. Drink it up in three times in a day, 10 days as a course of treatment. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chronic nasosinusitis  – (a) mince up Luffa acutangula vines, bake them until they are half-burned, grind them into powder, and inhale the powder into the nostrils, two to three times per day, 2–4 days as a course of treatment. (b) After the fruits of Luffa acutangula is harvested, take 100 cm of Luffa acutangula vine (the bottom part, near the roots), mince it up, and dry it. Then bake it and keep stirring until it is slightly burned. Grind it into powder and make the powder into a 10 g pill. Take a pill per dose, three times per day. It can be taken for a long period.

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5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Rhinitis  – grind 500  g of Luffa acutangula roots and 250 g of Gardenia sootepensis into mixed powder. Take 9 g per dose, three times per day. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Edema and abdominal dropsy – decoct 60 g of retinervus luffae fructus in water to drink. 7. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Neurodermatitis  – clean up fresh leaves of Luffa acutangula, grind them, and rub them to the affected areas until the skin looks red, even with a bit of blood oozing out. Do it once every 7 days, two times as a course of treatment.

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2.19  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.19.1  Luffa aegyptiaca [3] Chinese Name(s): si gua luo, shui gua, si gua Source: This medicine is made of the reticulate fiber inside the ripe fruits of Luffa aegyptiaca (Luffa aegyptiaca Mill. [Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) Roem.]). Morphology: The plants are annual climbing herbs. The stems are slender, fragile, and scabrous. The tendrils are puberulent and two- to four-forked. The petioles are stout and scabrous. The leaf blades are triangular or suborbicular, palmate, five-­ lobed, and with serrated margins. The flowers are simple and monoecious. Staminate flowers form racemose inflorescences, and the pistillate flowers are solitary and axillary. The calyx lobes are ovate-lanceolate and 1 cm long, and the corollas are yellow and 5–9 cm in diameter with oblong lobes. There are five stamens, and the anther cells are multi-curved. The ovaries are narrowly cylindrical, with three

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stigmas which are dilated. The fruits are cylindrical, 15–50 cm long, and with shallow longitudinal grooves or stripes. Before ripening, it is fleshy, and after ripening it becomes dry, with reticulate fibers inside. When the fruits are completely mature, they crack up from the apex. The seeds are black, oblate, and narrowly winged on the margins. The flowering and fruiting periods are both in summer and autumn. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated all over China. It is also found in tropical areas in other parts of the world. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn when the fruits are ripe and begin to become hollow and pericarps turn yellow. After removing the pericarps, flesh, and seeds, the sponge is cleaned and dried. Medicinal Properties: It is a reticulation of entangled fibers, usually long fusiform or cylindrical, slightly curved, oblate, 30–70 cm long, 7–10 cm in diameter, and yellowish white. It is very light, elastic, and hard to break up. There are three cells on the transverse section. It has a faint smell and bland taste. The ones that are elastic, yellowish white, and with clear reticulations are of better quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. It belongs to the liver and stomach meridians. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, activating blood circulation, removing meridian obstruction, inducing diuresis, and reducing swellings; it is used to treat muscle and bone aches, chest pain, body aches, amenorrhea, lactation, mastitis, and edema. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Ascariasis  – prepare 40–50 grains of black raw Luffa acutangula seeds, and remove the shells. Chew up the kernels and wash them down to empty stomach with lukewarm water (or put the crushed kernels in capsules to take in), once per day, 2 days in a row. Children should take in 30 grains of Luffa acutangula kernels instead. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chronic bronchitis  – decoct 150–240  g of Luffa acutangula vines which have been frosted in water to drink. Take it one time per day, 10 days as a course of treatment. Keep taking the medicine for two courses. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Bronchitis – mince up 90–150 g of Luffa acutangula vines and decoct them in water twice. Filter the fluid out and boil it down to 100–150 ml. Drink it up three times in a day, 10 days as a course of treatment. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chronic nasosinusitis  – (a) mince up Luffa acutangula vines, bake them until they are half-burned, grind them into powder, and inhale the powder into the nostrils, two to three times per day, 2–4 days as a course of treatment. (b) After the fruits of Luffa acutangula are harvested, take 100 cm of Luffa acutangula vine (the bottom part, near the roots), mince it up, and dry it. Then bake it and keep stirring until it is slightly burned. Grind it into

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powder and make the powder into a 10 g pill. Take a pill per dose, three times per day. It can be taken for a long period. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Nasitis  – grind 500  g of Luffa acutangula roots and 250 g of Gardenia sootepensis into mixed powder. Take 9 g per dose, three times per day. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Edema and abdominal dropsy – decoct 60 g of retinervus luffae fructus in water to drink. 7. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Neurodermatitis  – clean up fresh leaves of Luffa acutangula, grind them, and rub them to the affected areas until the skin looks red, even with a bit of blood oozing out. Do it once every 7 days, two times as a course of treatment.

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2.20  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.20.1  Momordica charantia Chinese Name(s): ku gua gan, ku gua, liang gua, lai gua Source: This medicine is made of the fruits of Momordica charantia (Momordica charantia Linn.). Morphology: It is an annual climbing herb. The stems, branches, petioles, and pedicels are puberulent. The tendrils are axillary and unifurcated. The leaf blades are suborbicular or reniform, 3–12 cm in diameter, with five to seven palmate deep lobes which are elliptic, and deeply or shallowly denticulate. The flowers bloom in

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the late spring and early summer and are monoecious. Solitary flowers are axillary, and many flowers form cymose inflorescences. The pedicels or peduncles are long, with a reniform or round bract in the middle. The calyx tubes are campanulate, with five calyx lobes at the apex. The corollas are radial and yellow, and the lobes are obovate. The staminate flowers have three stamens, and the anther cells are curved and wrinkled. The ovaries of the pistillate flowers are inferior, fusiform, and densely verrucose. The pepos are narrowly elliptic, fleshy when mature, and irregularly verrucous on the surface. The seeds are oblong and red when mature. The flowering and fruiting periods are from May to November. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated all over China, in both the south and the north. Acquisition and Processing: The fresh green Momordica charantia are picked in summer and autumn and sliced into 1-cm-thick pieces and dried. Medicinal Properties: This medicine is in elliptic or oblong slices or chunks, 0.2–0.3 cm thick, 3–15 cm long, and 2–4 cm wide. The pericarps near the incision kerf are green and wrinkled. The pulps are white or yellowish white, occasionally red, soft, and slightly elastic, with five to ten oblong and oblate seeds embedded. When the seeds fall off, they leave holes on the pulp. The medicine is pliable but strong, not easily broken. It has a faint smell and is bitter in taste. The ones with green rims, white pulp, and fewer seeds and the ones that are thinly sliced are of better quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. It belongs to the heart, lungs, spleen, and stomach meridians. Functions: Dissipating heat, improving eyesight, detoxifying, and strengthening stomach; it is used to treat measles, fever, febrile disease, heatstroke, dysentery, conjunctivitis, diabetes, carbuncle swelling, and malignant sores. Use and Dosage: 5–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink.

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2.21  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.21.1  Momordica cochinchinensis Chinese Name(s): mu bie zi, lou ling zi Source: This medicine is made of the roots, leaves, and seeds of Momordica cochinchinensis (Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng.). Morphology: The plant is a strong liana. The petioles are stout and 5–10 cm long, with two to four glands in the middle or at the base. The leaf blades are ovate-­ cordate or broadly ovate-orbicular, 10–20  cm long and wide, and three- to five-­ lobed (medium deep or deep) or lobeless. The middle lobe is the biggest which is 6–10 cm long and 3–8 cm wide. The leaves are acute or acuminate at the apex and mucronate and denticulate on margins. The tendrils are thick, glabrous, and unifurcated. The flowers are dioecious. The staminate flowers are solitary, axillary, and sometimes in three to four. The pedicels are strong, subglabrous, and 3–5 cm long. When solitary, the flowers have pedicels which are 6–12 cm long, with a large bract at the apex which is sessile, orbicular-reniform, 3–5 cm long, and 5–8 cm wide. The calyx tubes are funnelform, 5–6 cm long, 2–3 cm wide, acute or acuminate on the apex, and with denticulate gland at the base. There are three stamens, two of which are two-celled and the other is one-celled. The anther cells are reflexed. The pistillate flowers are solitary and axillary. The pedicels are 5–10 cm long, with a bract in the middle which is orbicular and 2 mm long and wide. The corollas and calyxes are the same as those of the staminate flowers. The ovaries are ovate-oblong, 1 cm long, and densely setose. The fruits are ovoid, with a short beak at the apex, suborbicular at the base, 12–15 cm long, red when mature, fleshy, and densely tuberculate with setiform trichomes that are 3–4 mm long. Habitat: It grows in thickets at low altitudes. Distribution: It is found in provinces in south and east China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are collected in summer and autumn. The seeds are collected in autumn and winter, before dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter, slightly sweet in taste, and cold in nature and poisonous. Functions: This medicine functions to detoxify, reduce swelling, and relieve pain. It is used to treat suppurative inflammation, adenolymphitis, tinea capitis, and hemorrhoids. Use and Dosage: 1–1.5 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, grind it into powder and mix it with vinegar to apply to the affected areas. It is mainly used externally. Be careful to take it in. Prescription: 1. For treating tinea capitis: Grind proper amount of Momordica cochinchinensis kernels into powder and mix it with vinegar to apply to the affected areas. 2. For treating acute mastitis: Prepare one to two Momordica cochinchinensis, remove the shells, and grind them into powder. Drill a hole on an egg, pour the

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powder inside, and seal it up with paper. Steam the egg and eat it, three times a day, an egg per time. 3. For treating strawberry nose, stubborn dermatitis, and eczema: Prepare Momordica cochinchinensis, Hydnocarpus anthelmintica, walnut kernel, camphor, mercury, and Cnidii Fructus, 9 g each. Remove the shells of Momordica cochinchinensis and Hydnocarpus anthelmintica and take the kernels. Mash all the medicines up, until the mercury is fully blended in. Decoct 15 g of peppertree prickly ash and 50 g of folium Artemisia argyi and wash the affected areas with the decoctum. When the affected areas dry up, apply a thin layer of medicine on them, one to two times per day. 4. For treating furunculosis, pyogenic infection for unknown reasons, adenolymphitis, acne, and freckles: Mash up fresh leaves or roots of Momordica cochinchinensis with a pinch of salt to apply to the affected areas, or grind the seeds, add vinegar, and apply to the affected areas.

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2.22  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.22.1  Neoalsomitra integrifoliola Chinese Name(s): bang chui gua, bang gua Source: This medicine is made of the roots and stems of Neoalsomitra integrifoliola (Neoalsomitra integrifoliola (Cogn.) Hutch.). Morphology: The plant is a herbal liana. The tendrils are slender and long, puberulent, and bifurcated apically. The leaf blades are membranous or thinly papery and pedate, with five leaflets. The petioles are 1.5–2 cm long, and the leaflets are oblong. The central leaflet is 14  cm long and 3–5.5  cm wide, and the lateral leaflets are smaller, acuminate at the apex, and obtuse at the base, sometimes with two glands and entire margins. The adaxial surface of the leaf is green, and the abaxial surface is paler. Both surfaces are puberulent along the veins. There are four to five pairs of secondary veins. The petiolules are thin, 0.5–1 cm long, and densely puberulent. The flowers are dioecious. The staminate flowers are arrayed into axial paniculate inflorescences which are 20  cm long, with thin peduncles and lateral stems, longitudinally striped, and puberulent. There are five pedate leaflets at the

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base of the lateral stems. The pedicels are filiform and 5–8 mm long, with sparse red puberulent glands. The calyx tubes are very short and deeply five-lobed. The lobes are ovate lanceolate, 2 mm long, 1 mm wide, and sparsely hispid. The corollas are radial, white, and five-lobed, and the lobes are ovate, 4 mm long, 3 mm wide, apically acute, and puberulent on the outside. There are five stamens, which are free, and the filaments are 8 mm long and outwardly curved. The anthers are ovate and 0.5 mm in diameter. The pistillate flowers form smaller panicles. The calyxes and corollas are the same as those of the staminate flowers. The ovaries are subcylindrical, 10 mm long, and puberulent. There are three stigmas, which are two-lobed. The capsules are cylindrical, 4–6.5 cm long, and 1.5–2 cm in diameter. Habitat: It grows in rainforests in gullies and valleys. Distribution: It is found in Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Taiwan in China. It is also seen in Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and stems are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste, cold in nature, and poisonous. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxifying, strengthening stomach, and relieving pain; it is used to treat malaria, cold, headache, pharyngitis, jaundice hepatitis, stomach pain, and venomous snake bite. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink.

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2.23  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.23.1  Siraitia grosvenorii Chinese Name(s): luo han guo, guang guo mu bie Source: This medicine is made of the mature fruits of Siraitia grosvenorii (Siraitia grosvenorii (Swingle) C. Jeffrey ex A. M. Lu et Z. Y. Zhang [Momordica grosvenorii Swingle]). Morphology: The plant is a herbal climbing liana which is 2–5  m tall. It is densely puberulent with yellowish brown trichomes and black verruculose scales and is ribbed. The tendrils are bifurcate and upwardly and downwardly flexed on the forking points. The leaves are simple, alternate, membranous, ovate-cordate or triangular-­ovate, 12–23 cm long, 5–17 cm wide, acuminate at the apex, and deeply cordate at the base. The margins are entire or bluntly denticulate and ciliate. The adaxial surface of the leaf is sparsely puberulent and with black glandular scales. The petioles are 7 cm long. The flowers are dioecious. The staminate inflorescences are racemose, with six to ten flowers. The calyxes are campanulate, 8 mm in diameter at the top, and five-lobed. The corollas are yellow and 2–3 cm in diameter, with black glandular scales. There are five stamens, and the anther cells are two-curved. The pistillate flowers are solitary or in two to five aggregations, often with five staminodes. The fruits are globose or elliptic and 4–8 cm in diameter, with thin pericarps which are easily broken when dry. There are many seeds which are oblate-rounded, grooved, and 10–12 mm in diameter. The flowering period is from May to July, and the fruiting period is from July to September. Habitat: It grows in shaped and damp places in valley forests. Distribution: It is found in Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan, and Jiangxi provinces. Acquisition and Processing: After the autumn equinox, the fruits turn from light green to dark green, and that is when they are picked. The fruit stems are removed, and the fruits are dried and baked on slow charcoal fire. Medicinal Properties: This medicine is globose, narrowly ovate or elliptic, 4–8.5 cm long, and 3–7 cm in diameter. The pericarps are yellowish brown, grayish brown or greenish brown, with dark spots or residual sparse trichomes, slightly glossy, and with 6–11 longitudinal stripes. It is rounded at the apex, with marks of the style bases in the center and marks of the fruit stems at the base. It is light, with thin pericarps, fragile, and easily broken. The inner surface of the pericarp is yellow white, and the flesh is loose and spongelike, with regular rows of seeds inside which are oblate and elliptic or suborbicular and a few being triangular. The seeds are brownish red, with thick margins, slightly sank in the middle on both surfaces, and with radial marks everywhere and grooves on the margins. It has a slightly fragrant smell and very sweet taste, especially the seeds. The bigger, complete, unbroken ones and the ones without rattling sound when shaken and without dark marks are of better quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and cold in nature. It belongs to the lungs and intestine meridians. Functions: This medicine functions to remove heat from the lungs to relieve cough and relax bowel. It is used to treat lung dryness and heat, sore throat and

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aphonia, acute and chronic bronchitis, acute and chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis, acute gastritis, and constipation. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose; soak it in water or decoct in water to drink. Prescription: 1. For treating sore throat and aphonia: Slice a Siraitia grosvenorii fruit and decoct it in water to drink. Take it often. 2. For treating dry cough and excessive phlegm: Prepare half a Siraitia grosvenorii fruit, 6 g of dried tangerine or orange peel, and 100 g of lean pork. Soak dried tangerine or orange peel in water until it turns soft, remove the white pulp, stew it with Siraitia grosvenorii fruit and pork, and eat all the ingredients. Annotations: People with insufficient spleen-Yang and deficient spleen functions should not take it. When taking the medicine, stay away from cigarettes, alcohols, and hot, pungent, raw, cold, greasy, fried, and grilled food. Do not take tonic Chinese medicine along with the medicine.

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2.24  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.24.1  Solena amplexicaulis Chinese Name(s): mao gua, lao shu la dong gua Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Solena amplexicaulis (Solena amplexicaulis (Lam.) Gandhi [Melothria heterophylla (Lour.) Cogn]). Morphology: The plant is a climbing herb. The petioles are slender, short, and only 0.5–1 cm long. The leaf blades are thinly leathery, in various types, extremely multiforme, ovate, oblong, ovate-triangular or sagittate, lobeless, and shallowly or deeply three- to five-lobed. The lobes are oblong-lanceolate, 8–12 cm long, 1–5 cm wide, and obtuse or acuminate at the apex. The adaxial surface is dark green, slightly scabrous, and puberulent on the veins, and the abaxial surface is grayish green, with raised veins, subglabrous, and cordate at the base. The margins are entire or sparsely denticulate. The tendrils are slender and unifurcate. The flowers are dioecious. Approximately 10–20 staminate flowers grow on the apex of the peduncles which are 2–5 mm long. The inflorescences are corymbose, and the flowers are very small, with slender pedicels which are 2–8  mm long and glabrous. The calyx tubes are campanulate, rounded at the base, 5 mm long, 3 mm in diameter, and glabrous on the outside. The lobes are sub-subulate and 0.2–0.3 mm long. The corollas are yellow and puberulent on the outside, and the lobes are spreading, triangular, 1.5 mm long, and acute apically. There are three stamens. The pistillate flowers are solitary and axillary. The pedicels are 5–10 mm long and puberulent. The ovaries are ovate, 2–3.5 mm long, 2–3 mm in diameter, and glabrous or sparsely pilose with yellowish brown trichomes. There are three stigmas. The fruits are red brown, oblong or subglobose, 2–6 cm long, 2–5 cm in diameter, and smooth on the surface.

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Habitat: It grows on slopes, roadsides, or in open forests and thickets. Distribution: It is found in Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Tibet in China. It is also seen in Vietnam, India, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet, bitter, and slightly astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, reducing swelling, reducing phlegm, and removing stasis; it is used to treat conjunctivitis, furuncle, pharyngitis, mumps, lymphoid tuberculosis, gonorrhea, stomachache, diarrhea, and red-white dysentery. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh plants to apply to the affected areas.

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2.25  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.25.1  Thladiantha longifolia Chinese Name(s): chang ye chi bo Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Thladiantha longifolia (Thladiantha longifolia Cogn. ex Oliv.). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine. The petioles are slender and 2–7  cm long. The leaves are membranous, ovate-lanceolate or narrowly ovate-­ triangular, 8–18 cm long, and 4–8 cm wide at the bottom. The leaf blades are acute or shortly acuminate at the apex, with denticulate margins, and deeply cordate at the base. The sinuses are open, semi-orbiculate, 1.5–2 cm deep, and 1.5–2.5 cm wide. The basal veins do not grow along the rim of the sinuses. The adaxial surfaces of the leaves are setose and very scabrous, and the abaxial surfaces are relatively smooth and glabrous. The tendrils are slender and unifurcate. The flowers are dioecious. Three to nine (~12) staminate flowers grow on the top of the peduncles to form a raceme. The peduncles are thin and 2–2.5 cm long, and the pedicels are slender and 1–2 cm long. The calyx tubes are shallowly cupular and 0.6 cm wide apically. The veins are puberulent, and the lobes are triangular-lanceolate and 7–8 mm long, with one vein. The corollas are yellow, with the lobes being 1.5–2 cm long, 1 cm wide, slightly obtuse at the apex, and five-veined. There are five stamens which are in pairs, with one left free. The anthers are oblong and 2.5–3 mm long. The pistillate flowers are solitary, or two to three flowers grow on a short peduncle. The pedicels are 2–4 cm long, and the calyxes as well as the corollas are the same as those of the staminate flowers. The ovaries are narrowly ovate, acuminate at the apex and base, with the base being retuse and with lobelets, and wrinkled on the surface. The styles are cylindrical and trifurcated apically, and the stigma is dilated and orbicular

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reniform. The fruits are broadly ovate and up to 4 cm long, and the pericarps are verrucose and retuse at the base. Habitat: It grows in valley forests. Distribution: It is found in Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Hunan, and Guangxi provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: This medicine functions to clear heat and detoxify and acts as galactagogue. It is used to treat abdominal pain caused by stomach cold, furuncle, and lack of milk in lactation. Use and Dosage: 15–20 g per dose, decocted in water to drink.

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2.26  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.26.1  Thladiantha nudiflora Chinese Name(s): nan chi bo, ye si gua, si gua nan Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Thladiantha nudiflora (Thladiantha nudiflora Hemsl. ex Forbes et Hemsl.). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine. The petioles are stout and 3–10 cm long. The leaf blades are stiff, ovate-cordate or broadly ovate-cordate, 5–15  cm long, 4–12 cm wide, and acuminate or acute at the apex, with serrated margins and open or closed sinus at the base. The sinuses are 2–2.5 cm deep and 1–2 cm wide. The adaxial surfaces of the leaves are dark green, scabrous, and densely setose, and

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the abaxial surfaces are paler, with dense yellowish trichomes. The tendrils are thick and densely hispid. The flowers are dioecious. The staminate flowers are in racemose inflorescences. The peduncles are slender and 4–8 cm long. The pedicels are slender and 1–1.5 cm long. The calyx tubes are campanulate, with the upper part 5–6 mm wide. The corollas are yellow, and the lobes are ovate-oblong, 1.2–1.6 cm long, 0.6–0.7 cm wide, acute or slightly obtuse apically, and five-veined. There are five stamens, adherent to the calyx tubes, and the filaments are villous and 4 mm long. The anthers are ovate-oblong and 2.5 cm long. The pistillate flowers are solitary, and the pedicels are slender, 1–2 cm long, and pilose. The calyxes and corollas are the same as those of the staminate flowers and slightly bitter. The ovaries are oblong, 1.2–1.5 cm long, and 0.4–0.5 cm in diameter. The fruit stems are stout and 2.5–5.5  cm long. The fruits are oblong, red or reddish brown when dry, 4–5  cm long, and 3–3.5 cm in diameter. Habitat: It grows in valley forests. Distribution: It is found in Taiwan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan Guizhou, and Tibet in China. It is also seen in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The leaves and roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating and reducing food stagnation; it is used to treat dysentery, enteritis, indigestion, abdominal distension and stuffiness, and venomous snake bites. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh plants to apply to the affected areas.

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2.27  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.27.1  Trichosanthes kirilowii, Trichosanthes rosthornii Chinese Name(s): gua lou, gua lou, yao gua Source: This medicine is made of the ripe fruits of Trichosanthes kirilowii (Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim.) or Trichosanthes rosthornii (Trichosanthes rosthornii Harms).

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Morphology: A. Trichosanthes kirilowii: The plant is a perennial herbaceous vine. The tuberous roots are cylindrical and very starchy. The stalks are erectly ridged or sulcate, puberulent, many-branched, and up to 10 m long. The tendrils are bifurcate or trifurcate and coiled above the forking points. The leaves are simple and alternate. The leaf blades are suborbicular or cordate and 8–20 cm long and wide. There are five to seven palmate deep lobes, and the margins are sinuate or coarsely denticulate. The leaves are cordate basally and scabrous on both surfaces and hispid, with white dots on the adaxial surface. The flowers are white and unisexually dioecious. The staminate flowers are solitary or in three to eight racemes, and the pistillate flowers are solitary. The calyx tubes are cylindrical and 2.5 cm long ca. The lobes are lanceolate. The corollas are 3.5 cm in diameter, five-lobed, and obovate, with filiform fringes on the margins. There are three stamens and the anthers cohere. The anther cells are folded from the middle. The ovaries are inferior, and the styles are 2 cm long ca. The pepos are fleshy, elliptic or globose, 6–10 cm in diameter, and yellowish brown when ripe. The seeds are ovate-elliptic and oblate. The flowering period is from May to August, and fruiting period is from August to October.

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Habitat: It grows in forests on mountain slopes at altitudes of under 1800 m, in thickets, in the thickness of grass, or by the side of village fields. Distribution: It is found in Liao Ning, north and central China, and South Central China and also in Shaanxi, Gansu, Sichuan, Yunnan, and Guizhou provinces.

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Morphology: B. Trichosanthes rosthornii: The plant is a climbing liana. The tuberous roots are striate, thick, grayish yellow, and latitudinally verruculose. The leaves are papery, broadly ovate to suborbicular, 8–12 cm long, 7–11 cm wide, and three- to seven-lobed. The leaf blades are cordate at the base, with sinuses (1–2 cm deep). The petioles are 2.5–4 cm long, and the tendrils are bifurcate or trifurcate. The flowers are dioecious. The staminate flowers are solitary or in racemose inflorescence. The peduncles are 8–10 cm long, with five to ten apical flowers. The small pedicels are 5–8 mm long, and the calyx tubes are narrowly trumpet-shaped, 2.5–3 cm long, and puberulent. The corollas are white, and the lobes are obovate, 15 mm long, 10  mm wide, and puberulent, with filiform fringes at the apex. The anthers are oblong, 5 mm long, and 3 mm in diameter. The filaments are 2 mm long and puberulent. The pistillate flowers are solitary, and the ovaries are ellipsoid, 1–2 cm long, 5–10 mm in diameter, and puberulent. The fruits are globose or elliptic, 8–11 cm long, 7–10 cm in diameter, and glabrous. When ripe, the pericarps and flesh of the fruits are both orange yellow. The fruit stems are 4.5–8 cm long. The seeds are ovateelliptic, oblate, 15–18 mm long, 8–9 mm wide, 2–3 mm thick, and brown. The flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from August to October. Habitat: It grows in valley forests or thickets. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hubei, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Shaanxi, and Gansu provinces in China. It is also seen in Japan.

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Acquisition and Processing: The fruit-bearing branches are cut off from the tree in autumn when the fruits ripe. It is placed in a well-ventilated area so that the fruits are wilted. Medicinal Properties: The medicine is broadly elliptic-globose or globose and 6–10 cm long. The outer surface is orange red or yellow, wrinkled or smooth, the dried globose styles left at the apex and fruit stem at the base. It is crispy and easily broken. The inner surface is yellow white, with orange veins, and the flesh is orange yellow, sticky, and adherent to the seeds to form a whole. It smells like caramel and is slightly sweet and sour. The evenly shaped, intact, and brightly orange ones are of better quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and slightly bitter in taste and cold in nature. It belongs to the lungs, stomach, and large intestine meridians. Functions: Clearing heat and reducing phlegm, relieving chest stuffiness and removing stasis, moisturizing pathogenic dryness, and lubricating intestines; it is used to treat lung heat, cough, presence of yellow sputum, chest arthralgia,

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heartache, accumulation of pathogens in the chest, mastalgia, lung carbuncle, intestinal carbuncle, intestinal pain, constipation, angina pectoris, and mastitis. Use and Dosage: 9–24 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Cough and asthma due to excessive phlegm – decoct 15 g of Trichosanthes kirilowii, Pinellia ternata, Pericarpium citri reticulatae, and almonds (9 g each) in water to drink. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chest stuffiness and pains – decoct 15 g of Trichosanthes kirilowii, 9 g of Allii macrostemi bulbus, and 9 g of Pinellia ternata in water. Mix the decoctum with white spirits to drink. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Angina pectoris  – (a) decoct 30  g of Trichosanthes kirilowii, 6–9 g of Allii macrostemi bulbus, 6–9 g of Carthamus tinctorius, and 9–15 g of peach kernel in water to drink (for patients suffering from a choking sensation on the chest, add 0.6 g of ligaloes and 0.9 g of Radix curcumae powder and take in two to three times per day. For patients suffering from chest pain, add 0.75 g of Rhizoma sparganii and 0.75 g of Zedoary turmeric, and take in two to three times per day). (B) Decoct Trichosanthes kirilowii, Allii macrostemi bulbus, Rhizoma cyperi, Excrementum pteropi (9 g each), the root of red-rooted salvia (30 g), Sophora japonica flower (15 g), peach kernel (12 g), and Polygala tenuifolia (4.5 g) in water to drink. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Acute mastitis – decoct 15 g of Trichosanthes kirilowii and 100 g of dandelion in water to drink. Annotations: The dry fleshy tuberous roots are called radix trichosanthis which functions to promote the secretion of saliva, quench thirst, reduce swelling, and drain pus. The dry ripe seeds of the plant are called semen trichosanthis which functions in moistening lungs, removing phlegm, and relaxing bowel. The dry pericarps of the fruits are called pericarpium trichosanthis which functions to clear heat, reduce phlegm, and relieve chest stuffiness.

2.28  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.28.1  Trichosanthes laceribractea Chinese Name(s): chang er gua lou, lie bao gua lou, qi ye gua lou, guang hua fen, yuan zi gua lou Source: This medicine is made of the fruits of Trichosanthes laceribractea (Trichosanthes laceribractea Hayata [T. schizostroma Hayata]). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine. The leaves are alternate, papery, and multi-shaped. The leaf blades are subrounded or broadly ovate, 5–16 cm long, 4–15  cm wide, and usually three- to seven-lobed (shallow or deep). The adaxial surface of the leaves is dark green and densely setose, and the abaxial surface is pale green, with five to seven palmate veins. The petioles are 1.5–9 cm long. The tendrils

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are bifurcate or trifurcate. The flowers are dioecious. The inflorescences of the staminate flowers are racemose, axillary with stout peduncles, and 10–23 cm long. The bracteoles are broadly ovate, retuse inside, 2.5–4 cm long and equally wide, and narrowly acuminate apically, with slender marginal lobes. The pedicels are 5–6 mm long, and the calyx tubes are narrowly linear, 5 cm long, inflated apically, 12–15 mm in diameter, and 2  mm wide in the middle and basal parts. The lobes are ovate, 10–13 mm long, 7 mm wide, erect, and acuminate apically, with serrated margins. The corollas are white, with obovate lobes, 2–2.5 cm long, 12–15 mm wide, obtuse apically, and cuneate basally, with laciniate margins. The anther filaments are 12 mm long. The pistillate flowers are solitary, with 1.5–2-cm-long pedicels, and puberulous. The calyx tubes are cylindrical, 4 cm long, and 5 mm in diameter. The calyx lobes are linear, 1–1.3 cm long, and entire. The corollas are similar to those of the staminate flowers. The ovaries are ovate, 1 cm long, 7 mm in diameter, and glabrous. The fruits are globose to ovate-globose and 5–8 cm in diameter. Habitat: It grows in valley forests. Distribution: It is found in Taiwan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in autumn when the fruits ripen and dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Moisturizing the lungs, dissipating phlegm, removing stasis, and lubricating intestines; it is used to treat phlegm-heat cough and accumulation of pathogens in the chest, quench thirst, and treat coprostasis. Use and Dosage: 9–20 per dose, decocted in water to drink.

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2.29  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.29.1  Zehneria indica Chinese Name(s): ma die er, lao shu la dong gua Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Zehneria indica (Zehneria indica (Lour.) Keraudren [Melothria indica Lour.]). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine. The leaves are membranous, multi-­ typed, triangular-ovate, lobeless or three- to five-lobed, 3–5 cm long, and 2–4 cm wide. The central lobes are longer than others and triangular or lanceolate-oblong, and the side lobes are smaller and triangular or lanceolate-triangular. The adaxial surface of the leaf is dark green and scabrous, and the abaxial surface is pale green and glabrous. The leaf is acute or sometimes shortly acuminate at the apex and with

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semicircular sinuses at the base. The margins are shallowly serrulate or denticulate, and the veins are palmate. The petioles are slender and 2.5–3.5 cm long. The flowers are monoecious. The staminate flowers are solitary or occasionally in two to three aggregations. The pedicels are filiform, 3–5 mm long, and glabrous. The calyxes are broadly campanulate, acute or slightly obtuse basally, and 1.5 mm long. There are three stamens, two of which are two-celled and one is one-celled. The anthers are 1 mm long, and the anther cells are slightly reflexed, glabrous, and 1–2 cm long. The corollas are broadly campanulate and 2.5 mm in diameter, and the lobes are lanceolate, slightly obtuse apically, 2.5–3 mm long, and 1–1.5 mm wide. The ovaries are narrowly ovate, with verrucose humps, 3.5–4  mm long, and 1–2  mm in diameter. The styles are short, 1.5 mm long, and three-lobed apically. The fruits are oblong or narrowly ovate, obtuse on both ends, glabrous on the outside, and 1–1.5 cm long. Habitat: It grows on the wildness, near forests and streams, usually entangling with bushes and hedges. Distribution: It is found in southern Henan and provinces to the south of the Yangtze River. It is also seen in Japan, North Korea, Vietnam, the Indian Peninsula, Indonesia (Java), and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and bitter in taste and cold in nature. It clears heat, detoxifies, and reduces stasis and swelling. Functions: This medicine is often used to treat swelling as well as pain in the throat and conjunctivitis. Used externally, it treats furuncle, pyogenic infections, lymphoid tuberculosis, orchitis, and skin eczema. Use and Dosage: 9–15 per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh roots and leaves to apply to the affected areas. Prescription: For treating lupus erythematosus  – cook 15–18  g of Zehneria indica roots with a bowl of water until the decoctum boils for a while. Take it one to two times a day.

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2.30  Family: Cucurbitaceae 2.30.1  Zehneria maysorensis Chinese Name(s): niu zi gua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Zehneria maysorensis (Zehneria maysorensis (Wight et Arn.) Arn.). Morphology: The plant is a herbaceous vine. The leaves are membranous, broadly ovate or sometimes triangular-ovate, and 3–10 cm long and wide. The adaxial surface of the leaves is dark green, scabrous, and setose, and the abaxial surface is pale green, nearly glabrous, and acute or shortly acuminate at the apex, with semicircular sinuses at the base which is 0.5–1 cm deep, 1–1.5 cm wide, and nearly subtruncate, with denticulate margins and palmate veins. The petioles are slender, 2–5  cm long, and glabrous. The tendrils are filiform, simple, and glabrous. The flowers are monoecious. Typically, three to nine staminate flowers grow on the top of the peduncle, in subcapitate or cymose inflorescence. The pedicels are slender, 1–4 cm long, and glabrous. The pedicels of staminate flowers are very short (1–2 mm long). The calyx tubes are campanulate, 2  mm long, 1–2  mm wide, glabrous, or puberulent, and the lobes are long-triangular and 0.5  mm long. The corollas are white, and the lobes are ovate or ovate-oblong, 2–2.5 mm long, and acute apically, with the upper part puberulent. There are three stamens, two of which are two-­ celled and one is one-celled (all two-celled occasionally). The pistillate flowers are solitary. The ovaries are ovate. The fruits are globose or ovate and 1–1.4  cm in diameter. The flowering period is from April to August, and the fruiting period is from August to November. Habitat: It grows in damp places in mountain forests at altitudes ranging 500–1000 meters. Distribution: It is found in Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hainan. It is also seen in the Indian Peninsula, the Indochina Peninsula, the Sumatra, the Philippines, and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Clearing heat, relieving spasm, and detoxicating; it is used to treat fever, headache, sore throat, furuncle, pyogenic infections, Neisseria gonorrhoeae syndrome, and high fever cramp in children. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. Mash up fresh plants to apply to the affected areas.

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References 1. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 106) [S]. The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China; 2015. 2. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of the National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 328 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1975. 3. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 113) [S]. The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China; 2015.

Chapter 3

Medicinal Angiosperms of Begoniaceae, Cactaceae, and Theaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 3.1  Family: Begoniaceae 3.1.1  Begonia cavaleriei 3.2  Family: Begoniaceae 3.2.1  Begonia crassirostris 3.3  Family: Begoniaceae 3.3.1  Begonia evansiana 3.4  Family: Begoniaceae 3.4.1  Begonia fimbristipula 3.5  Family: Begoniaceae 3.5.1  Begonia palmata 3.6  Family: Begoniaceae 3.6.1  Begonia pedatifida 3.7  Family: Cactaceae 3.7.1  Opuntia stricta var. dillenii

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

© Chemical Industry Press 2021 H. Ye et al. (eds.), Common Chinese Materia Medica, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8_3

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132 3.8  Family: Theaceae 3.8.1  Adinandra millettii 3.9  Family: Theaceae 3.9.1  Anneslea fragrans 3.10  Family: Theaceae 3.10.1  Camellia japonica 3.11  Family: Theaceae 3.11.1  Camellia oleifera 3.12  Family: Theaceae 3.12.1  Camellia sinensis 3.13  Family: Theaceae 3.13.1  Eurya chinensis  3.14  Family: Theaceae 3.14.1  Eurya distichophylla 3.15  Family: Theaceae 3.15.1  Eurya impressinervis 3.16  Family: Theaceae 3.16.1  Eurya nitida 3.17  Family: Theaceae 3.17.1  Schima argentea 3.18  Family: Theaceae 3.18.1  Schima superba 3.19  Family: Theaceae 3.19.1  Ternstroemia gymnanthera 3.20  Family: Theaceae 3.20.1  Ternstroemia kwangtungensis References

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This chapter introduces 20 species of medicinal plants in three families, mainly including Begonia cavaleriei, Begonia evansiana, Begonia fimbristipula of Begoniaceae, Opuntia stricta var. dillenii of Cactaceae, Adinandra millettii, Anneslea fragrans, Camellia sinensis, Eurya chinensis, Schima argentea, Ternstroemia gymnanthera, and Ternstroemia kwangtungensis of Theaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

3.1  Family: Begoniaceae 3.1.1  Begonia cavaleriei Chinese Name(s): dun ye qiu hai tang, chang gan qiu hai tang Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Begonia cavaleriei (Begonia cavaleriei Lévl.).

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Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb. The leaf blades are pelate, basally borne, with long petioles, thickly papery, asymmetric, suborbicular, 8–15 cm long, 5–13 cm wide, acuminate to long acuminate at the apex, and oblate-orbicular at the base. The narrower side is 1.5–4.8 cm wide, and the broader side is 3–7 cm wide. The margins are entire and indistinctly crenulate. The adaxial surface is brownish green, and the abaxial surface is paler and nearly glabrous. There are six to eight veins, and the petioles are 7–25 cm long. The scapus are 20 cm long, ridged, and glabrous. The flowers are pinkish, numerous, and cymose. The pedicels of the staminate flowers are 2–3 cm long and glabrous. There are four tepals, with the outer two being oblong, 1.2 cm long, 5 mm wide, and rounded-obtuse apically. There are many stamens, and the filaments are 1.5–2 cm long. The pistillate flowers have three tepals, with the outer two being broadly ovate or suborbicular, 17–18  mm long, 15–17  mm wide, rounded-obtuse apically, and glabrous and the inner one being oblong, 8.5  mm long, 4  mm wide, and rounded-obtuse apically. The ovaries are oblong and 2 mm long. The capsules are pendulous, and the fruit stalks are 3.5 cm long, glabrous, oblong, 2.9 mm long, and glabrous, with three unequal wings which are falcate. The big wings are 7 mm long, and the small ones are 2–3 mm, both glabrous. Habitat: It grows on damp rocks in mountain forests. Distribution: It is found in Guangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Guizhou, and Yunnan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour and slightly astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Stimulating the circulation of the blood, relaxing the muscles and joints, reducing swelling, and relieving pain; it is used to treat bruises, blood stasis, and swellings. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. Mash up fresh plants to apply to the affected areas.

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3.2  Family: Begoniaceae 3.2.1  Begonia crassirostris Chinese Name(s): cu hui qiu hai tang, rou ban bian lian, huang dan cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Begonia crassirostris (Begonia crassirostris Irmsch.). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb whose stalks are 0.9–1.5 m long. The leaves are alternate and with pedicels. The leaf blades are extremely asymmetric, broadly lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 8.5–17 cm long, 3.4–7 cm wide, acuminate to caudate-acuminate at the apex and fairly oblique, and cordate at base. The leaves are 2.5–5.8 cm wide (the narrower side broadly cuneate to slightly cordate and the wider side downwardly extending for 1.5–5 cm, like a round and wide earlobe). The

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margins are denticulate, with short aristae on the tips. The adaxial surface of the leaves is brownish green, and the abaxial surface is pale green. There are seven to eight palmate veins, and the petioles are 2.5–4.7 cm long. The flowers are white, two to four in number, axillary, and bifurcate cymose. The primary branches are 1.2–1.5 cm long, and secondary branches are 3 mm. The pedicels are 8–12 mm long and nearly glabrous. The bracts are membranous, lanceolate, 5–10 mm long, acuminate apically, glabrous, and caducous. The staminate flowers have four tepals, with the outer two being rectangular, 8.5 mm long, 5–6 mm wide, and flat apically and the inner two being oblong, 6 mm long, 4.5 mm wide, and flat apically. The pistillate flowers have four tepals, similar to those of the staminate flowers. The ovaries are subglobose, with thick 3-mm-long apical beaks, and three-loculed. The capsules are pendulous, with 12-mm-long fruit stalks, subglobose, 17–18 mm in diameter, glabrous, with stout beaks, wingless, and ridgeless. Habitat: It grows on rocks in the mountain forests. Distribution: It is found in Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour and astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is used to treat pharyngitis, toothache, lymphoid tuberculosis, and venomous snake bite. Used externally, it treats burns. Use and Dosage: 15–24 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up the roots or the whole plants to apply to the affected areas.

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3.3  Family: Begoniaceae 3.3.1  Begonia evansiana Chinese Name(s): qiu hai tang, ba xiang, wu ming xiang si cao Source: This medicine is made of the tuberous roots and fruits of Begonia evansiana (Begonia evansiana Andr.). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb. The cauline leaves are alternate and asymmetric. The leaf blades are broadly ovate to ovate, 10–18 cm long, 7–14 cm wide, acuminate to long acuminate at the apex, cordate at the base, oblique, and 4–8 cm wide (the narrower side being 1.6–4 cm wide and the wider side extending downward for 3–6.5  cm). The margins are serrulate. The adaxial surface of the leaves is brownish green and often red along the rims, and the abaxial surface is paler and red or purplish red along the rims. The petioles are 4–13.5 cm long. The

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scapes are 7.1–9 cm long. The flowers are pink, numerous, and two- to four-level bifurcate cymose, with a leaflet at the base of the inflorescences. The staminate flowers have pedicels that are 8 mm long and glabrous. There are four flower tepals, with the outer two being broadly ovate or subrounded, 1.1–1.3 cm long, 7–10 mm wide, and rounded apically and the inner two being obovate to obovate-oblong, 7–9 mm long, 3–5 mm wide, rounded or obtuse apically, cuneate basally, and glabrous. The pistillate flowers have pedicels that are 2.5 cm long and glabrous. There are three flower tepals, with the outer two being subrounded or oblate-rounded, 12 mm long and wide, and rounded apically and the inner one being obovate, 8 mm long, 6 mm wide, and rounded apically. The ovaries are oblong, 10 mm long, 5 mm in diameter, glabrous, three-loculed, and unequally three- or two-winged, and the wings are degenerated to eaves. There are three styles. The capsules are pendulous, oblong, 10–12 mm long, 7 mm in diameter, glabrous, and unequally three-winged, with the bigger one being oblique-oblong or triangular-oblong and 1.8 cm long. Habitat: It grows in damp and cold places in mountain forests. Distribution: It is found in provinces to the south of the Yangtze River. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The tuberous roots and fruits are dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour and astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Cooling blood and stopping bleeding, removing blood stasis, and regulating menstruation; it is used to treat hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hemorrhage, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, dysentery, and bruises. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, grind the medicine into powder to apply to the affected areas.

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3.4  Family: Begoniaceae 3.4.1  Begonia fimbristipula Chinese Name(s): zi bei tian kui, san xue zi Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Begonia fimbristipula (Begonia fimbristipula Hance). Morphology: The plant is a perennial stemless herb. The leaves are all basal, with long petioles, and asymmetric. The blades are broadly ovate, 6–13 cm long, 4.8–8.5 cm wide, acute at the apex, slightly oblique at the base, cordate or deeply cordate, and with deeply serrulate margins. Adaxially, the leaves are sparsely villous, and abaxially they are pale green and puberulous only along the veins. There are seven (to eight) palmate veins. The petioles are 4–11.5 cm long and curly pilose.

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The scapes are 6–18 cm long and glabrous. The flowers are pink, numerous, and two- to three-level bifurcate cymose. The staminate flowers have pedicels that are 1.5–2 cm long and glabrous. There are four flower tepals which are red, with the outer two being broadly ovate, 11–13  mm long, 9–10  mm wide, and obtuse to rounded apically and the inner two being obovate-oblong, 11–12.5  mm long, 4–5  mm wide, rounded apically, and cuneate basally. The staminate flowers are many and have filaments which are 1–1.3 mm long. The pistillate flowers have pedicels that are 1–1.5 cm long and glabrous. There are three flower tepals, with the outer two broadly ovate to rounded, 6–11  mm long, and 6–11  mm wide and the inner two being obovate, 6.5–9.2 mm long, 3–4.2 mm wide, and cuneate at the base. The ovaries are oblong, 5–6 mm long, 3–4 mm in diameter, glabrous, and three-­ loculed, and the placentas in each of the locules are two-lobed as well as unequally three-winged. The capsules are pendulous, and the fruit stalks are 1.5–2 mm long, glabrous, obovate-oblong, 1.1  mm long, 7–8  mm in diameter, glabrous, and unequally three-winged, with the big wing being falcate, 1.1–1.4 cm long, and 1 cm wide and having straight upper edge. Habitat: It grows in valley forests and on rocks. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and bland in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and cooling the blood, stopping coughing and dissolving phlegm, removing blood stasis, and reducing swelling; it is used to treat heat strokes, fever, cough with lung heat, hemoptysis, scrofula, blood stasis, and abdominal pain. When used externally, it is used to treat sprain, bruise, bone fracture, and burn. Use and Dosage: 6–9 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh plants to apply to the affected areas.

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3.5  Family: Begoniaceae 3.5.1  Begonia palmata Chinese Name(s): lie ye qiu hai tang Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Begonia palmata (Begonia palmata D. Don [B. laciniata Roxb.]). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb which is up to 50 cm tall. The cauline leaves are alternate and sessile. The leaf blades are asymmetric, oblique-ovate to oblate-orbicular, 12–20 cm long, 10–16 cm wide, acuminate to long acuminate at the apex, and slightly cordate or cordate at the base. There are three to seven shallow, medium or deep palmate lobes which are further lobed. The leaves are dark green adaxially, sparsely tomentose, and paler abaxially, with dense venation. There are five to seven palmate veins, and the petioles are 5–10 cm long. The stipules are membranous. The plant is four- to many-flowered, with rose-, white-, or pink-­ colored flowers. The inflorescences are two to three bifurcate cymose. The bracts are large, brown villous on the outside. The staminate flowers have pedicels that are 1–2 cm long and brown puberulous. There are four perianths, with the outer ones being broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, 1.5–1.7 cm long, 8 mm wide, orbicular at the apex, and pilose on the outside. There are two whorls which are broadly elliptic, 8 mm long, 6 mm wide, and orbicular apically. There are many stamens, and the filaments are borne singularly and 1.5 mm long. The pistillate flowers have four to five perianths which are broadly ovate on the outside. The capsules are pendulous, obovate, 1.5 cm long, 8 mm in diameter, nearly glabrescent, and unevenly three-­ winged. The bigger ones are oblong to oblique triangular, 1.1–2 cm long, with conspicuous longitudinal dehiscence, and glabrous, and the other two are narrow. The flowering period is in August, and the fruiting period starts in September. Habitat: It grows in forests on mountains and on cold and damp rocks. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Zhejiang provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plants are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating and removing blood stasis and swelling; it is used to treat cold, acute bronchitis, rheumatic arthritis, bruises, internal bleeding amenorrhea, and hepatosplenomegaly. When used externally, it treats venomous snake bites and bruises. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up appropriate amount of fresh plant to apply to the affected areas. Prescription: Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Rheumatic arthritis  – grind 1500 g of Begonia palmata, 1000 g of Clerodendrum bungei, and 180 g of Japanese polygala into powder. Mix the powder with honey to make pills. Take in 15 g of the pills in the morning and the evening. Wash them down with water or alcohol.

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3.6  Family: Begoniaceae 3.6.1  Begonia pedatifida [1] Chinese Name(s): zhang lie qiu hai tang, shui ba jiao, shui wu gong, hong ba jiao lian Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Begonia pedatifida (Begonia pedatifida Lévl.). Morphology: The plant is herbaceous whose leaf blades are oblate-orbicular to broadly ovate, 10–17 cm long, truncate to cordate at the base, five- to six-lobed, and nearly down to the base. The central three lobes are divided into two lobules in the middle, which are both lanceolate. The leaves are acuminate at the apex, and the lobes on the sides are further lobuled. The leaves are dark green adaxially hispidulous and pale green abaxially, with only the veins being hispidulous. There are six to seven palmate veins. The petioles are 12–25 cm long. The scapes are 7–15 cm tall, four- to eight-flowered, bifurcate cymose, and sparsely to densely villous. The flowers are white or pink, and the longest secondary branch is about 1  cm. The bracts are caducous. The staminate flowers have pedicels which are 1–2 cm long, puberulous, or nearly glabrescent. There are four flower tepals; the outer two are broadly ovate, 1.8–2.5 cm long, 1.2–1.8 cm wide, and obtuse or orbicular apically, while the inner two are oblong, 14–16 mm long, 7–8 mm wide, obtuse or orbicular apically, and glabrous. There are many stamens. The pistillate flowers have pedicels that are 1–2.5 cm long, puberulous, or nearly glabrous. There are five flower tepals, which are not equally sized, with the outer ones being broadly ovate, 18–20 mm long, 10–20 mm wide, and obtuse apically and the inner ones being small, oblong, 9–10 mm long, and 5–6 mm wide. The ovaries are obovoid, 8 mm long, 4–6 mm in diameter, and two-loculed. The capsules are pendulous and three-winged, with largest one being triangular or falcate, 1.2 cm long, 1 cm wide with oblique upper edges, and obtuse apically and the others being two-short-winged, triangular, 4–5  mm long, and obtuse apically. Habitat: It grows in damp places in forests of mountain gullies. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The rhizomes are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Removing blood stasis and swellings, stopping bleeding, and relieving pains; it is used for treating hematemesis, uterine bleeding, stomachache, and rheumatoid arthritis. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up appropriate amount of fresh plant to apply to the affected areas.

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3.7  Family: Cactaceae 3.7.1  Opuntia stricta var. dillenii [2] Chinese Name(s): xian ren zhang, ba wang shu, shan ba zhang Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Opuntia stricta var. dillenii (Opuntia stricta Haw. var. dillenii (Ker-Gawl.) L.  D. Benson [O. dillenii (Ker-­ Gawl.) Haw.]). Morphology: The plant is a tufted fleshy shrub. The upper branches are broadly obovate, 10–35  cm long, 7.5–25  cm wide, 1.2–2  cm thick, rounded at the apex, cuneate or attenuate at the base, green to bluish green, and glabrous. There are sparse areoles which are 0.2–0.9 cm in diameter and conspicuously elevated. There are three to ten spines growing from each areole which are densely ciliolate or glochideous. The glochids are yellow, with brownish latitudinal dehiscence, subulate, spreading, and introversive. The base is oblate, stiff, 1.2–5 cm long, and 1–1.5 mm wide. The glochids are dark brown, 2–5 mm long, erect, and persistent. The short trichomes are gray, shorter than the glochids, and persistent. The leaves are subulate, 4–6 mm long, green, and caducous. The flowers are radial and 5–6.5 cm in diameter. The tepals are obovate or deltoid-obovate, 25–30 mm long, 12–23 mm wide, rounded, and truncate or emarginate at the apex. The margins are entire or slightly serrulate. The filaments are yellowish and 9–11 mm long. The anthers are 1.5 mm long and yellow, and the styles are 11–18 mm long, 1.5–2 mm in diameter, and yellowish. There are five stigmas which are 4.5–5  mm long and yellowish white. The berries are obovoid, retuse at the apex, and narrowed into a stem at the base which is 4–6 cm long, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, smooth and glabrous on the surface, and purplish, with five to ten raised areoles which are ciliolate glochideous and with subulate spines. Habitat: It grows in dry sands or open fields near the sea. Distribution: Originally from America, it is cultivated and also grows in the wild in south China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected all year round; the plants are used fresh. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, removing blood stasis and relieving swelling, promoting digestion and relieving pain, and reducing coughing; it is used to treat stomach ulcer, duodenal ulcer, acute dysentery, and coughing. Used externally, it treats epidemic mumps, mammitis, furuncles, pyogenic infections, snake bites, and burns. Use and Dosage: Decoct 30–60 g of fresh plant in water to drink. For external use, remove the thorns and mash up the flesh to apply to the affected areas.

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3.8  Family: Theaceae 3.8.1  Adinandra millettii Chinese Name(s): yang tong, huang rui mu, mao yao hong dan Source: This medicine is made of the roots and young leaves of Adinandra millettii (Adinandra millettii (Hook. et Arn.) Benth. et Hook. f. ex Hance). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or a small tree. The leaves are alternate, leathery, oblong-elliptic, 4.5–9 cm long, 2–3 cm wide, mucronate or subobtuse, rarely acuminate at the apex, and cuneate at the base, with margins being entire, occasionally sparsely serrated on the upper part, shiny green, glabrescent adaxially, and yellowish green or pale green abaxially. When young, they are sparsely appressed pubescent. There are 10–12 pairs of secondary veins, which are barely visible on

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both surfaces. The petioles are 3–5 mm long, sparsely pubescent, or nearly glabrescent. The flowers are solitary and axillary. The pedicels are slender and about 2 cm long. There are five sepals which are ovate-lanceolate or ovate-triangular, 7–8 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, acute apically, ciliolate, with glandular dots on the margins, and sparsely appressed pubescent or glabrescent on the outside. There are five petals which are white, ovate-oblong to oblong, 9 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, acute apically, and glabrous on the outside. There are 25 stamens which are 6–7 mm long. The filaments are 3 mm long, distinct or nearly so, borne from the base of the corolla, and glabrous or puberulent on the upper half. The anthers are linear-oblong and 1.5–2.5 cm long, with filiform trichomes and a tip at the apex. The ovaries are globose, puberulent, and three-loculed. There are many ovules in a cell, and the styles are solitary, 7–8 mm long, and glabrous. The fruits are globose, pubescent, 1 cm in diameter, and dark when mature. The persistent styles are 8 mm long. Habitat: It grows in sparse and dense forests in altitude range of 100–1300 meters. Distribution: It is distributed in Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Tai Wan, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and young leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Cooling blood and stopping bleeding, detoxicating, and reducing swelling; it is often used to treat epistaxis, hematuria, epidemic hepatitis, mumps, furuncles, and snake and insect bites. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up fresh plants to be applied to the affected areas.

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3.9  Family: Theaceae 3.9.1  Anneslea fragrans Chinese Name(s): cha li, hong mei, xiang ye shu Source: This medicine is made of the tree barks and leaves of Anneslea fragrans (Anneslea fragrans Wall.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and up to 15 m tall. The leaf blades are leathery, and there are a variety of leaf forms, usually elliptic or oblong-elliptic to narrowly elliptic. The leaves are 8–13 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, mucronate or shortly acute at the apex, and cuneate or broadly cuneate at the base, with margins being entire or sparsely serrulate, dark, glossy adaxially, and glaucous, with densely reddish brown glandular dots abaxially. There are 10–12 pairs of secondary veins, which are sometimes raised. The petioles are 2–3  cm long. The plant is many-flowered or

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ten-­flowered. The pedicels are 3–5 cm long. There are two bracts and five sepals which are thick, reddish, broadly ovate or subrounded, 1–1.5 cm long, slightly acute or subrounded apically, and glabrous, the outmost one with glandular dots or denticulate and others with entire margins. There are five petals, which are connate basally and 5–7 mm long, with five lobes which are broadly ovate, 13–15 mm long, acute apically, and slightly narrowed basally. There are 30–40 stamens. The bases of the filaments are conjoint with the petals of 5 mm. The anthers are linear and adnate at the base. The top of the connectiva is exserted. The ovaries are half inferior, glabrous, and two- to three-loculed. There are many ovules in each cell, and the styles are 1.5–2 mm long and two- to three-lobed apically. The fruits are berrylike, globose or elliptic-globose, 2–3.5  cm in diameter, two- to three-loculed, and not dehiscent or irregularly dehiscent so after being mature. The sepals are persistent and thickly leathery. Habitat: It grows in valleys, along streams, and in open forests. Distribution: It is found in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The tree barks and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is astringent and slightly bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Reducing stagnation and promoting digestion, dispersing the liver depression, and curing fever; it is often used to treat indigestion, enteritis and hepatitis. Use and Dosage: The leaves are ground into powder for oral use. Take 0.9–1.5 g per dose. For treating hepatitis, 30–60 g of peels is decocted in water for oral use.

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3.10  Family: Theaceae 3.10.1  Camellia japonica Chinese Name(s): shan cha, cha hua Source: This medicine is made of the roots and flowers of Camellia japonica (Camellia japonica Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or a small tree which is 9 m tall. The branchlets are glabrous. The leaf blades are elliptic, leathery, 5–10  cm long, 2.5–5  cm wide, and slightly acute or shortly acute at the apex, with obtuse tips and cuneate at the base. The leaves are dark green, glossy when dry, glabrous adaxially and pale green, and glabrous abaxially. There are seven to eight pairs of secondary veins which are conspicuous on both surfaces. The margins are serrated with intervals of 2–3.5 cm. The petioles are 8–15 mm long and glabrous. The flowers are terminal,

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red, and sessile. There are ten bracts and sepals which form cupular covers which are 2.5–3 cm long, semiorbicular to rounded, 4–20 mm long, velutinous on the outside, and distinct. There are six to seven petals; the outer two are subrounded, nearly borne singularly, 2 cm long, and puberulent on the outside. The inner five are connate basally for 8 mm. The filament whorls are 1.5 cm long and glabrous. The inner rim of stamens is borne singularly and slightly shorter, and the ovaries are glabrescent. The styles are 2.5 cm long and three-lobed apically. The capsules are globose, 2.5–3 cm in diameter, two- to three-loculed, with one to two seeds in each cell, and three-lobed. The carpels are thickly woody. The flowering period is between January and April. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is distributed in Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan, Sichuan, Shan Dong, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Taiwan, and Fujian provinces in China, as well as in North Korea and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in winter and autumn. The roots and flowers are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and slightly pungent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Astringing and stopping bleeding and cooling the blood; it is often used to treat hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, and metrorrhagia. For external use, it treats burns and bleeding from cuts. Use and Dosage: 6–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, appropriate amount of dry plant is ground and mixed with sesame oil to be applied to the affected areas.

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3.11  Family: Theaceae 3.11.1  Camellia oleifera [3] Chinese Name(s): you cha, you cha shu, cha zi shu Source: This medicine is made of the roots and seed cakes of Camellia oleifera (Camellia oleifera Abel [C. oleosa (Lour.) Rehd.]). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or middle-sized tree. The young branches are tomentose. The leaf blades are leathery, elliptical, acute at the apex, with obtuse tip, sometimes acuminate or obtuse and cuneate at the base, 5–7 cm long, and 2–4 cm wide and sometimes longer. The leaves are dark green and glossy adaxially, with tomentose or ciliolate midveins and pale green, and glabrous or pilose abaxially. The midveins are conspicuous adaxially. The margins are serrated, sometimes denticulate. The petioles are 4–8  mm long and setose. The flowers are terminal and

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nearly sessile. There are ten bracts and sepals which are progressively bigger from inside to the outside, broadly ovate, 3–12 mm long, and pilose or ciliolate abaxially and fall off after anthesis. The petals are white, 5–7, obovate, 2.5–3 cm long, 1–2 cm wide and sometimes longer or shorter, emarginated, or two-­lobed, narrow basally, nearly distinct, and ciliolate abaxially, at least on the outside. The stamens are 1–1.5 cm long, and the outer ones are basally connate. Occasionally, the filament can be 7 mm long and glabrous. The anthers are yellow and adherent abaxially. The ovaries are yellow tomentose and three- to five-loculed. The styles are 1 cm long, glabrous, and three-lobed apically. The capsules are globose or ovoid and 2–4 cm. The flowering period is between winter and spring, and the fruiting period is in winter. Habitat: It grows in forests on hills or is cultivated. Distribution: It is widely cultivated along the Yangtze River and in south China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in autumn and winter. The roots and seed cakes are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste, neutral in nature, and slightly poisonous. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, promoting blood circulation and reducing blood stasis, and relieving pain; the roots are used to treat acute sphagitis, stomach pain, and sprains. The camellia oleosa seed cakes are used to treat skin itches. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, the camellia oleosa seed cakes are decocted in water to wash the affected areas.

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3.12  Family: Theaceae 3.12.1  Camellia sinensis Chinese Name(s): cha, cha ye, cha shu Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and roots of Camellia sinensis (Camellia sinensis (Linn.) O. Kuntze). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or a small tree. The young branches are glabrous. The leaf blades are leathery, oblong or elliptic, 4–12 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, obtuse or acute at the apex, and cuneate at the base. The leaves are glossy, glabrescent abaxially, or puberulent when young. The margins are serrated. There are five to seven pairs of secondary veins, with serrulate margins. The petioles are 3–8 mm long and glabrous. There are one to three flowers which are axillary and white, with pedicels being 4–6 cm long and sometimes longer. There are two bracts which are caduceus and five sepals which are broadly ovate to rounded, 3–4 mm long, glabrous, and persistent. The flowers have five to six petals which are broadly ovate and

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1–1.6 cm long. The basal parts of the flowers are connate, glabrous abaxially, and sometimes slightly puberulous. The stamens are 8–13 mm long and connate at the base for 1–2 mm. The ovaries are dense puberulous, and the styles are glabrescent and three-lobed apically. The lobes are 2–4 mm long, and the capsules are 3-to-2 spherical, and 1.1–1.5 cm tall. There are one to two seeds in each of the locules. The flowering period is from October to February in the following year. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is widely distributed along the Yangtze River and in south China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The leaves and roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: The leaves are bitter and sweet in taste and slightly cold in nature. The roots are bitter in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Strengthening the cardio functions, serving as a diuretic, killing bacteria, reducing inflammation, and astringing and stopping diarrhea; the leaves are often used to treat esoenteritis, dysentery, difficulty in micturition, hydroncus, and hypnosis. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g of leaves and 9–18 g of roots per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, appropriate amounts of leaves and roots are ground into powder and mixed with sesame oil to be applied to the affected areas. Prescription Examples: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Dysentery  – grind green Camellia sinensis into powder and take in 1.8 g per dose, four times a day. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Heart failure – decoct 30–60 g of old Camellia sinensis roots in water and add glutinous rice spirits. Cook the mixture on low heat and drink it before sleep. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Acute esoenteritis with serious diarrhea  – Camellia sinensis 9 g and ginger 6 g, decocted in two bowls of water until it boiled down to half a bowl of thick liquid. Drink it all at once (this prescription is good for patients with syndromes of diarrhea, sallow complexion, and coated tongue).

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3.13  Family: Theaceae 3.13.1  Eurya chinensis Chinese Name(s): mi sui hua, guang cha, hua ling Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Eurya chinensis (Eurya chinensis R. Br.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub which is 1–3 m tall and many-branched. The young branches are two-sided and villous. The leaf blades are thinly papery, obovate to obovate-elliptic, 2–5.5  cm long, 1–2  cm wide, obtuse, emarginated or slightly acute at the apex, and occasionally subrounded and cuneate at the base. The margins are closely serrated and sometimes retroflexed. The leaves are brightly green and glossy adaxially, and, abaxially, they are pale green, glabrous or puberulous when young, and glabrous later. The midveins are impressed adaxially, with six to eight pairs of secondary veins which are inconspicuous on both surfaces. The petioles are 2–3 mm long. One to four flowers are clustered in the axils. The pedicels are 2 mm and glabrescent. The male flowers have two tiny, glabrous bractlets. There are five sepals which are ovoid or ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, subrounded apically, and glabrous. There are five petals which are white, obovate, 3–3.5 mm long, and glabrous. There are 15 stamens. The anthers are not locellate. The pistillode are glabrous. The bracteoles and sepals of the female flowers are the same as those of the male ones but smaller. There are five petals which are ovate and 2–2.5 mm long. The ovaries are ovoid and glabrous, and the styles are 1.5–2 mm long and three-lobed apically. The fruits are globose, sometimes ovoid, purplish black when mature, and 3–4 mm in diameter. The seeds are reniform, slightly oblate, brown black, and glossy, with cellular reticulations on the surface. The flowering period is from November to December, and the fruiting period is from June to July in the following year.

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Habitat: It grows on deserted hills, grassy slopes, near villages, and in riverside thickets in altitude range of 30–800 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hunan in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet, bland, and slightly astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, dispelling dampness, and healing skin ulcers; it is often used to prevent flu. For external use, it is used to treat burns, impetigos, and skin ulcers. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, decoct the plant and wash the affected area with the decoctum or grind dry plant into power and mix with sesame oil to be applied to the affected areas.

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3.14  Family: Theaceae 3.14.1  Eurya distichophylla Chinese Name(s): er lie ye ling, er lie ling Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Eurya distichophylla (Eurya distichophylla Hemsl.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree which is 1.5–7  m tall. The branchlets are slender, and the branches growing in the current year are densely villous or ciliolate. The leaf blades are papery or thinly leathery, ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, 3.5–6 cm long, 1.1–1.8 cm wide, acuminate or long acuminate at the apex, rounded at the base, and asymmetric on two sides. The margins are serrated. The leaves are green, glossy, glabrescent adaxially and paler, and dense appressed

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puberulous abaxially. The midveins are impressed adaxially and raised abaxially. There are 8–11 pairs of secondary veins which are slender, inconspicuously adaxially, and slightly visible abaxially. The petioles are short, 1 mm long, and villous. One to three flowers are clustered from the axils. The pedicels are 1 mm long and pilose. The male flowers have two bracteoles which are ovate and small. There are five sepals which are ovate, 1.5 mm long, slightly acute or obtuse at the apex, and densely puberulous on the outside. There are five petals which are white, blue on the rim, obovate-oblong to obovate, 4 mm long, and rounded apically. There are 15–18 stamens. Pistillate flowers have five sepals which are ovate, 1 mm long, acute or acuminate apically, and puberulous on the outside. There are five petals which are lanceolate and 2–2.5 cm long. The ovaries are ovate, puberulous, and three-loculed. The styles are 3–4 mm long, deeply three-lobed, and sometimes down to the base. The fruits are globose or ovoid, 4–5 mm in diameter, puberulous, and purplish black when mature. Habitat: It grows in open forests in valleys, lush forests, or thickets in altitude range of 200–1300 m. Distribution: It is found in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi, and Guizhou provinces in China, as well as in north Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and slightly astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, reducing inflammation, and relieving pain; it is used to treat acute tonsillitis, pharyngitis, stomatitis, bronchitis, and burns by hot water or fire. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh plants are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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3.15  Family: Theaceae 3.15.1  Eurya impressinervis Chinese Name(s): ao mai ling Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and fruits of Eurya impressinervis (Eurya impressinervis Kobuski). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree which is 3–10 m tall. The whole plant is glabrescent. The barks are grayish brown or brownish black and smooth. The young branches are four-sided, and the branchlets are grayish brown. The apical sprouts are long conical. The leaf blades are papery, oblong or oblong-elliptical, 7–11 cm long, 2–3.4 cm wide, acuminate at the apex, and cuneate at the base, with serrated margins. The leaves are green adaxially and paler abaxially. Both surfaces are glabrous. The midveins are impressed adaxially and raised abaxially. There are 10–13 pairs of secondary veins which are conspicuously impressed adaxially and raised abaxially. The petioles are 3–5 mm long. There are one to two flowers which are clustered in the axils. The pedicels are 2–3 mm long and glabrescent. The male flowers have two bracteoles. There are five sepals which are rounded, membranous, subrounded, 2 mm long, rounded apically with pointed tips, and glabrous. There are five petals which are white, obovate, and 5 mm long. The flowers have 15–19 stamens. The anthers are several-locellate. The pistillodes are glabrous. The bracteoles and sepals of the female flowers are nearly the same as those of the male flowers but slightly smaller. There are five petals which are oblong and 3 mm long. The ovaries are long-ovate, three-loculed, and glabrous. The styles are 2–2.5  mm long and three-­lobed apically. The fruits are ovate and ovate-rounded, 4–5 mm in diameter, and purple black when mature. The seeds are orbicular-reniform, slightly oblate, brightly red and brown, and glossy, with dense reticulations on the surface. The flowering period is between November and December, and the fruiting period is between August and October of the following year. Habitat: It grows in valleys, near ditches, or in dense and open forests on mountain slope in altitude range of 600–1300 m. Distribution: It is found in Guangxi, Guangdong, and Hunan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The leaves and fruits are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Relieving rheumatic pains, reducing swellings, and stopping bleeding; it is used to treat rheumatic arthritis, swelling and ulcer on the body surface, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: 10–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh plants are mashed up and applied to the affected areas.

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3.16  Family: Theaceae 3.16.1  Eurya nitida Chinese Name(s): xi chi ye ling Source: This medicine is made of the stalks, leaves and flowers of Eurya nitida (Eurya nitida Korthals). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree which is 2–5 m tall. The whole plant is glabrescent. The branchlets are two-sided and yellowish green. The apical sprouts are linear lanceolate, 1 cm long, and glabrous. The leaf blades are leathery, elliptic, oblong-elliptic or ovobate-oblong, 4–6 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide, acuminate or shortly acuminate at the apex, with an obtuse tip, cuneate at the base, or subrounded. The margins are densely serrulate or crenulate. The leaves are dark green, glossy adaxially, and pale green abaxially. Both surfaces are glabrescent. The

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midveins are impressed adaxially and raised abaxially. There are 9–12 pairs of secondary veins which are inconspicuous adaxially and conspicuous abaxially. The petioles are 3 mm long. One to four flowers grow from the axils, and the pedicels are slender and 3 mm long. The male flowers have two bracteoles. The sepals are subrounded, 1 mm long, and glabrous. There are five sepals, almost membranous, subrounded, 1.5–2 mm long, rounded apically, and glabrous. There are five petals which are white, obovate, 3.5–4 mm long, and connate at the base. There are 14–17 stamens, and the anthers are locellate. The pistillodes are glabrous. The bracteoles and sepals of the female flowers are the same as those of the male flowers. There are five petals which are oblong, 2–2.5 mm long, and slightly connate basally. The ovaries are ovoid and glabrous. The styles are slender, 3 mm long, and three-lobed apically. The fruits are globose, 3–4 mm in diameter, and black blue when mature. The flowering period is from November to the following January, and the fruiting period is between July and September of the following year. Habitat: It grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests, thickets, and among grass. Distribution: It is found in provinces to the south of the Yangtze River, as well as in Vietnam, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The stalks, leaves, and flowers are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness, killing parasites, and detoxicating; it is often used to treat festering of sores, dysentery, rheumatism arthralgia, pyogenic infections for unknown reasons, ulcer festering, and bleeding. Use and Dosage: 6–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, appropriate amounts of plants are decocted in water to wash or fumigate the affected areas. Alternatively, fresh plants are mashed up, or dry plants are ground into powder and applied to the affected areas.

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3.17  Family: Theaceae 3.17.1  Schima argentea Chinese Name(s): yin mu he, yin he mu Source: This medicine is made of the root barks of Schima argentea (Schima argentea Pritz ex Diels). Morphology: The tree is up to 20 m tall. The young branches are puberulent, and the old branches have lenticels. The leaf blades are thickly leathery, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 8–12 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide, acute at the apex, and broadly cuneate at the base. The leaves are glossy, green adaxially and glaucous, coated in wax, and pubescent or glabrescent. There are seven to nine pairs of secondary veins which are conspicuous on both surfaces. The leaf margins are entire, and the petioles are 1.5–2 cm long. The flowers are many, borne on the apex of the branches,

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white, and 3–4 cm in diameter. The pedicels are 1.5–2.5 cm long and puberulent. There are two bracts which are ovate, 5–7 mm long, and puberulent. The sepals are round, 2–3 mm long, and ciliolate on the outside. The petals are 1.5–2 cm long, and the outmost one is shorter than the others and ciliolate. There are many stamens which are 1 cm long. The ovaries are puberulent, and the styles are 7 mm long. The capsules are 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter. The flowering period is from July to August. Habitat: It grows in forests on mountains. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Hunan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Jiangxi, Yunnan, and Guangxi provinces in China, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The root barks are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste, neutral in nature, and poisonous. Functions: Clearing heat, stopping diarrhea, and expelling parasites; it is used to treat dysentery, ascariasis, and taeniasis. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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3.18  Family: Theaceae 3.18.1  Schima superba Chinese Name(s): mu he, he shu, he mu Source: This medicine is made of the root barks of Schima superb (Schima superba Gardn. et Champ.). Morphology: It is a tall tree which is up to 25 m tall. The young branches are usually glabrous. The leaf blades are leathery or thinly leathery, elliptic, 7–12 cm long, 4–6.5 cm wide, acute at the apex, sometimes slightly obtuse, and cuneate at the base. The leaves are green and glossy when dry adaxially and pale green and glabrous abaxially. There are seven to nine pairs of lateral veins which are conspicuous on both surfaces. The margins are serrated. The petioles are 1–2 cm long. The flowers are borne from the axils of top branches. Many flowers are in a raceme which is 3 cm in diameter. The flowers are white, and the pedicels are 1–2.5 cm long, slender, and glabrous. There are two bracts which are close to the sepals, 4–6 mm long, and caduceus. The sepals are semiorbicular, 2–3 mm long, glabrous on the outside, and ciliolate on the inside. The petals are 1–1.5 cm long, with the outmost one being hoodlike and the margins and ovaries being puberulent. The capsules are 1.5–2 cm in diameter. The flowering period is between June and August. Habitat: It grows in secondary forests on mountains. Distribution: It is found in Taiwan, Zhejiang, Hainan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It can be collected all year round. The root barks are used freshly. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent in taste, neutral in nature, and slightly poisonous. Functions: Detoxicating and reducing swellings; it is often used to treat furuncles and pyogenic infections for unknown reasons. Use and Dosage: Fresh root barks are mashed up to be applied to the affected areas.

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3.19  Family: Theaceae 3.19.1  Ternstroemia gymnanthera Chinese Name(s): hou pi xiang, cheng gan hong, hong guo shu, bai hua guo Source: This medicine is made of the fruits and leaves of Ternstroemia gymnanthera (Ternstroemia gymnanthera (Wight. et Arn.) Bedd.) Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree, which is 1.5–15  m tall. The whole plant is glabrous. The leaf blades are leathery or thinly leathery, elliptical, elliptic-obovate to oblong-obovate, 5.5–9 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide, mucronate or narrowly acute at the apex, with a blunt tip, and cuneate at the base. The margins are entire and rarely serrated apically. The leaves are dark green or green and glossy adaxially and pale green abaxially (reddish brown when dry). The midveins are impressed adaxially and raised abaxially. There are five to six pairs of lateral veins. The petioles are 7–13  mm long. The flowers are hermaphrodite or unisexual, 1–1.4 cm in diameter when blooming, and usually borne on the leafless branchlets growing in the same year or from the axils. The pedicels are 1 cm long and slightly stout. The bisexual flowers have two bracteoles which are triangular or triangular-­ ovate, 1.5–2 mm long, acute apically, and glandular serrated on the margins. There are five sepals which are ovoid or oblong-ovate, 4–5  mm long, 3–4  mm wide, rounded apically, with sparse linear serrate on the margins, and glabrous. There are 50 stamens. The ovaries are ovoid and two-loculed. The fruits are ovoid, 8–10 mm long, and 7–10 mm in diameter. The fruit stems are 1–1.2 cm long, and the persistent styles are 1.5  mm long and two-lobed at the apex. The flowering period is between May and July, and the fruiting period is between August and October. Habitat: It grows in forests on mountains in altitude range of 200–1400 meters. Distribution: It is found in Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan provinces in China as well as in Japan, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Nepal, Bhutan, and India. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The fruits and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. The fruits are slightly poisonous. Functions: Clearing heat, detoxicating, and reducing furuncles; it can be used to treat abscess and mammitis when mashed up. Rubbing the flowers to the skin is able to relieve dermatomycosis itch and pain. Use and Dosage: Appropriate amounts of fruits and leaves are mashed up and applied to the affected areas.

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3.20  Family: Theaceae 3.20.1  Ternstroemia kwangtungensis Chinese Name(s): hou ye hou pi xiang, guang dong hou pi xiang, hua nan hou pi xiang Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Ternstroemia kwangtungensis (Ternstroemia kwangtungensis Merr.). Morphology: The tree is between 2 m and 10 m tall. The whole plant is glabrous. The leaf blades are alternate, thickly papery, elliptic-ovoid, broadly elliptic, obovate, obovate-rounded to subrounded, 6–11 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, shortly acute at the apex, with an obtuse or subrounded tip, occasionally shortly acuminate, and broadly cuneate or obtuse at the base. The margins are entire, reflexed when try, and sometimes sparsely glandular serrate on the upper part. The leaves are dark green and glossy adaxially and pale green with reddish brown or brown glandular dots abaxially. There are five to seven pairs of lateral veins which are inconspicuous on both surfaces and sometimes conspicuous adaxially. The petioles are stout and 1–2 cm long. The flowers are solitary, axial, and hermaphrodite. The pedicels are 1.5–2  cm long and slightly curved. The male flowers have two bracts which are ovoid, ovate-­triangular or ovate, 4–5 mm long, and 3 mm wide. There are five sepals which are ovate or subrounded, 6–8 mm long and wide, rounded apically, sparsely glandular dentate on the margins, and glabrous. There are five petals, white, obovate or oblong-obovate, 10 mm long, 8 mm wide, rounded, and retuse at the apex. There are many stamens which are 3  mm long. The fruits are compressed-globose, 1.5–1.8 cm long, 1.6–2 cm in diameter, and usually three- to five-loculed. The persistent sepals are subrounded and 6–7  mm long and wide. The fruit pedicles are stout, 1.5–2 cm long, and 3 mm thick. Habitat: It grows in forests and thickets in altitude range of 750–1200 m. Distribution: It is found in Hong Kong, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, and Guangxi in China, as well as in northern Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots are sliced and dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating; it is used to treat toothache and furuncles. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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References 1. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of the national Chinese herbal medicine, Vol. 1: 876 [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1975. 2. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of the national Chinese herbal medicine, Vol. 1: 295 [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1975. 3. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of the national Chinese herbal medicine, Vol. 2: 1592 [M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House, 1975.

Chapter 4

Medicinal Angiosperms of Actinidiaceae, Saurauiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Melastomataceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 4.1  F  amily: Actinidiaceae 4.1.1  Actinidia callosa var. henryi 4.2  Family: Actinidiaceae 4.2.1  Actinidia chinensis 4.3  Family: Actinidiaceae 4.3.1  Actinidia eriantha 4.4  Family: Actinidiaceae 4.4.1  Actinidia latifolia 4.5  Family: Saurauiaceae 4.5.1  Saurauia tristyla 4.6  Family: Myrtaceae 4.6.1  Baeckea frutescens 4.7  Family: Myrtaceae 4.7.1  Cleistocalyx operculatus

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

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180 4.8  Family: Myrtaceae 4.8.1  Eucalyptus citriodora 4.9  Family: Myrtaceae 4.9.1  Eucalyptus robusta 4.10  Family: Myrtaceae 4.10.1  Eugenia caryophyllata 4.11  Family: Myrtaceae 4.11.1  Melaleuca leucadendron 4.12  Family: Myrtaceae 4.12.1  Psidium guajava 4.13  Family: Myrtaceae 4.13.1  Rhodomyrtus tomentosa 4.14  Family: Myrtaceae 4.14.1  Syzygium buxifolium 4.15  Family: Myrtaceae 4.15.1  Syzygium grijsii 4.16  Family: Myrtaceae 4.16.1  Syzygium jambos 4.17  Family: Melastomataceae 4.17.1  Blastus cochinchinensis 4.18  Family: Melastomataceae 4.18.1  Fordiophyton faberi 4.19  Family: Melastomataceae 4.19.1  Fordiophyton fordii 4.20  Family: Melastomataceae 4.20.1  Melastoma affine 4.21  Family: Melastomataceae 4.21.1  Melastoma candidum 4.22  Family: Melastomataceae 4.22.1  Melastoma dodecandrum 4.23  Family: Melastomataceae 4.23.1  Melastoma intermedium 4.24  Family: Melastomataceae 4.24.1  Melastoma normale 4.25  Family: Melastomataceae 4.25.1  Melastoma sanguineum 4.26  Family: Melastomataceae 4.26.1  Osbeckia chinensis 4.27  Family: Melastomataceae 4.27.1  Osbeckia opipara 4.28  Family: Melastomataceae 4.28.1  Sonerila cantonensis References

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This chapter introduces 28 species of medicinal plants in four families, mainly including Actinidia callosa var. henryi, Actinidia chinensis, and Actinidia latifolia of Actinidiaceae; Saurauia tristyla of Saurauiaceae; Baeckea frutescens, Eucalyptus robusta, Eugenia caryophyllata, Melaleuca leucadendra, Psidium guajava, and Rhodomyrtus tomentosa of Myrtaceae; and Blastus cochinchinensis, Fordiophyton faberi, Melastoma affine, Melastoma dodecandrum, and Osbeckia chinensis of Melastomataceae.

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This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

4.1  Family: Actinidiaceae 4.1.1  Actinidia callosa var. henryi Chinese Name(s): jin li mi hou tao Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Actinidia callosa (Actinidia callosa Lindl. var. henryi Maxim.). Morphology: The plant is a deciduous liana. The leaf blades are ovate, ovate-­ elliptic, 8–10 cm long, 4–5.5 cm wide, acute at the apex, rounded or slightly cordate, and sometimes cuneate at the base. The margins are serrulate. Adaxially, the leaves are dark green and glabrous, and, abaxially, the lateral vein axils are barbate. There are six to eight pairs of lateral veins. The petioles are 2–8 cm long and glabrous. The inflorescences are one- to three-flowered, and the flowers can also be solitary. The peduncles are 7–15 mm long, and the pedicels are 11–17 mm long, both being glabrous. The flowers are white and 15 mm in diameter, with five sepals which are ovate, 4–5 mm long, and glabrous. There are five petals which are obovate and 8–10 mm long. The filaments are filiform and 3–5 mm long, and the anthers are yellow, ovate-yellow, ovate-sagittate, and 1.5–2 mm long. The ovaries are subglobose, 3 mm long, and pilose with grayish white hair. The styles are longer than the ovaries. The berries are dark green, subcylindrical to obovate-oblong, 3–5 cm long, and 1–1.7 cm in diameter, with conspicuous brownish dots and reflexed persistent sepals. The seeds are 2–2.5 mm. The flowering period is between May and June, and fruiting period is between July and September. Habitat: It grows along valley creeks and in damp places. Distribution: It is found in provinces to the south of the Yangtze River and also in Gansu and Shaanxi provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat, detoxicating, and reducing swelling; it’s often used to treat anasarca, carbuncle on the back, and acute appendicitis. Use and Dosage: 50–100 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh plants are mashed up and applied to the affected areas.

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4.2  Family: Actinidiaceae 4.2.1  Actinidia chinensis [1] Chinese Name(s): zhong hua mi hou tao, bai mao tao, mao li zi Source: This medicine is made of the fruits and roots of Actinidia chinensis (Actinidia chinensis Planch.). Morphology: The plant is a deciduous liana. The leaf blades are papery broadly obovate to obovate, 6–17 cm long, 7–15 cm wide, truncate, emarginate, apiculate, acute to shortly acuminate at the apex, rounded, and truncate to cordatulate at the base. The margins are setose-serrulate. Adaxially, the leaves are dark green and glabrous, with only the midveins and the lateral veins being tomentose. Abaxially, the leaves are pale, with grayish white or brownish stellate hairs. There are 5–8 pairs of lateral veins, and the petioles are white pilose, 3–6 cm long. The inflorescences are cymose and one- to three-flowered, with three to seven sepals which are broadly ovate to ovate-oblong and 6–10 mm long. There are five petals, which are obovate, slightly separated, 10–20 mm long, and 6–17 mm wide. There are numerous stamens, and the filaments are angustate and 5–10 mm long. The anthers are yellow, oblong, and 1.5–2 mm long. The ovaries are globose, 5 mm in diameter, and densely golden villous. The fruits are brown, subglobose, cylindric, obovate or elliptic, 4–5 cm long, pilose, and with brownish lenticels. The persistent sepals are retroflexed. The longitudinal diameters of the seeds are 2.5 mm. Habitat: It grows on the edge of forests and in thickets. Distribution: It’s found in provinces and regions in the south of the Yangtze River Basin, and north to northwest and Henan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and fruits are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: The fruits are sour, sweet in nature, and cold in nature. The roots and root barks are bitter and astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: The medicinal function of the fruit is to regulate the flow of vital energy, strengthen the spleen, stimulate saliva, moisturize dryness syndrome, cool down the body, and calm down the mind. The root barks function to clear heat, detoxify, invigorate blood circulation, reduce swelling, relieve rheumatic pains, and remove dampness through diuresis. The fruits function to treat indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, and burns. The roots and root barks can be used to treat rheumatic arthritis, bruises, filariasis, hepatitis, diarrhea, lymphoid tuberculosis, furuncles, pyogenic infections, and cancer. Use and Dosage: 15–60 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. The raw fruits are eaten directly or squeezed for juice for oral use. Prescription:

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1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Filariasis  – 30–60  g of Actinidia chinensis roots decocted in water for oral use. Mix the decoctum with pork broth or chicken broth for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Lung cancer – Actinidia chinensis roots 120 g, thinleaf adina root 90  g, Ampelopsis heterophylla 30  g, Euphorbia chinensis 30 g, 15 g of cogon grass root, phoenix-tail fern 15 g, and Chinese lobelia 15 g decocted in water for oral use. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Mammary cancer – Actinidia chinensis roots 30 g, romanet grape root 30 g, Fatsia japonica 30 g, and Rhizoma arisaematis 30 g, decocted in water for oral use. Take one dose per day. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Leprosy  – Actinidia chinensis roots 120  g, Pyrola rotundifolia 30 g, Humulus scandens 30 g, Berchemia kulingensis 30 g, and muskroot-like Semiaquilegia root 15 g, decocted in water for oral use. Take one dose per day. For treating pink eye and epistaxis, add 9 g of flos chrysanthemi indici.

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4.3  Family: Actinidiaceae 4.3.1  Actinidia eriantha [2] Chinese Name(s): mao hua mi hou tao, mao hua yang tao Source: This medicine is made of the roots, root barks, and leaves of Actinidia eriantha (Actinidia eriantha Benth.). Morphology: The plant is a large climbing shrub. The leaf blades are leathery, ovate or broadly ovate, 8–16 cm long, 6–11 cm wide, shortly acute to shortly acuminate at the apex, rounded, and truncate to shallowly cordate at the base, with callous-serrulate margins. Adaxially, the leaves are pale green, hispid-puberulent when young, and glabrous soon when fully grown, with only the midvein and the lateral veins being tomentose. Abaxially, the leaves are greenish and densely pilose with milky white to dirty yellow stellate hairs. There are seven to eight pairs of the lateral veins, with conspicuous transverse reticulation. The petioles are stout, 1.5–3  cm long, and puberulent. The inflorescences are simple, cymose, one- to three-flowered, and pilose. The peduncles are 5–10  mm long, and pedicels are 3–5 mm long. The bracts are subulate and 3–4 mm long. The flowers are 2–3 cm in diameter. There are two to three sepals, which are pale green, broadly ovate, 9 mm, densely pilose on both surfaces, abaxially densely lacteous-tomentose, and adaxially sparsely pilose. The petals are orange at the apex and on the margins, pink in the middle and at the base, obovate, and 14 mm long. The stamens are numerous, up to 240. The anthers are yellow, oblong, and 1 mm in length. The ovaries are globose and densely pilose. The styles are 3–4  mm long. The fruits are cylindric-ovoid, 3.5–4.5 mm long, 2.5–3 cm in diameter, and densely and persistently milky white

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tomentose. The persistent sepals are reflexed. The carpopodium is 15 mm long. The flowering period is between May and July, and the fruiting period is in November. Habitat: It grows on forest edges, along creeks, on roadsides, and in thickets at altitudes of 100–1400 m. Distribution: It is found in Zhejiang, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hunan, Guangxi, and Guizhou in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots, root barks, and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is slightly pungent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Fighting cancer, reducing swelling, and detoxicating; the roots are used to treat stomach cancer, mastocarcinoma, esophageal cancer, bubo-adenitis, furuncle, and dermatitis. For external use, the root barks are used to treat bruises and the mastitis. Use and Dosage: 30–60  g, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amount of root barks and leaves is mashed up and applied to the affected areas.

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4.4  Family: Actinidiaceae 4.4.1  Actinidia latifolia Chinese Name(s): duo hua mi hou tao, kuo ye mi hou tao, yang nai zi, duo guo mi hou tao Source: This medicine is made of the stems and leaves of Actinidia latifolia (Actinidia latifolia (Gardn. et Champ.) Merr.). Morphology: The plant is a climbing shrub. The leaves are stiffly papery, broadly ovate, 8–13 cm long, 5–8.5 cm wide, shortly acute to acuminate at the apex, rounded

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and shallowly cordate, and truncate and broadly cuneate, with serrulate margins. The leaves are pale green or olive green, glabrous and glossy adaxially, and densely puberulent with gray or yellowish-brown hairs. There are six to seven pairs of the lateral veins, and transverse veins are distinct. The petioles are 3–7 cm long. The inflorescences are three- or four-branched and numerous-flowered cymose. The peduncles are 2.5–8.5 cm, and pedicels are 0.5–1.5 cm, elongating and enlarging at fruiting stage. The inflorescences of male flowers are much longer than those of female flowers, with unevenly thick brownish hairs. The bracts are small, linear, and 1–2 mm. The flowers are fragrant and 14–16 mm in diameter. There are five sepals, which are pale green, ovate, 4–5 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, reflexed after anthesis, tomentose with brownish hairs on both surfaces, and thinner on the inner side. There are five to eight petals which are white on the upper part and margins, orange on the middle of lower parts, oblong to obovate-oblong, 6–8 mm long, 3–4 mm wide, and reflexed after anthesis. The ovaries are globose, 2 mm ca., and densely pilose. The styles are 2–3  mm. The fruits are dark green, elliptic or ovate-elliptic, 3–3.5  cm long, 2–2.5 cm in diameter, dotted, and glabrous or slightly tomentose on both ends. Habitat: It grows in thickets and sparse forests on mountains at altitudes between 50 m and 1400 m. Distribution: It is found in provinces to the south of China. It is also distributed in countries like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Malaysia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The stems and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bland and astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, detoxicating, reducing swellings, and relieving pains; it is used for treating sore throats and diarrhea. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For treating impetigo and furuncles, decoct appropriate quantity of fresh leaves to wash the affected areas or mash them up and apply to the affected areas.

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4.5  Family: Saurauiaceae 4.5.1  Saurauia tristyla Chinese Name(s): shui dong ge, mi hua shu, shan pi pa Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Saurauia tristyla (Saurauia tristyla DC.) Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree, which is usually 3–6  m and occasionally 12 m tall. The branchlets are glabrous or puberulent, with shell-like scales or subulate setae. The leaf blades are papery or leathery, obovate-elliptic, obovate, narrowly ovate and sometimes broadly elliptic, 10–28 cm long, 4–11 cm wide, shortly acuminate at the apex to caudate acuminate, cuneate at the base, or sometimes obtuse. The margins are setose-serrulate or sometimes denticulate. There

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are 8–12 pairs of the lateral veins, with subulate setae or unguiculate scales on the midvein as well as the lateral veins on both surfaces, with sparse and appressed setae especially on veins adaxially. The petioles are subulately setose, puberulent, or glabrous. The inflorescences are one- to four-fascicled, axillary, tomentose and scaly, and 1–5 cm. There are two or three bracts at the base of branches, which are ovate. There are two bracteoles, nearly opposite at the base of the pedicel, lanceolate or ovate, and 1–5 mm long. The flowers are pink to white, small, and 7–16 mm in diameter. The sepals are broadly ovate to elliptic and 3–4 mm. The petals are ovate, ca. 8 mm, and recurved at the apex. There are 25–34 stamens, which are ovary ovoid to globose and glabrous. There are three or four (or five) styles, which are connate below middle. The fruits are globose, white, green to pale yellow, and 6–10 mm in diameter. Habitat: It grows in shaded and damp areas near woodland in valleys and hills as well as in ditches. Distribution: It is found in Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Fujian provinces, etc. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is slightly bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat, detoxicating, and relieving coughing and pains; it is used to treat coughing due to wind-heat and toothache due to wind-fire evil. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g, decoct in water for oral use. For treating burns, grind the leaves into powder and mix it with sesame oil and apply to the affected areas.

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4.6  Family: Myrtaceae 4.6.1  Baeckea frutescens Chinese Name(s): gang song, sao ba zhi, tie sao ba Source: This medicine is made of the flower- and fruit-bearing branches and leaves of Baeckea frutescens (Baeckea frutescens Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and sometimes small tree. The branchlets are slender and many-twigged. The leaf blades are small, sessile, or stipitate, narrowly linear or linear, 5–10 mm long, 1 mm wide, acute at the apex, grooved adaxially, apiculate abaxially, brown when dry, and with pellucid oil glands. There is one midvein, and there are no secondary veins. The flowers are small, solitary, and axillary. The bracts are caducous. The pedicels are 1–1.5 mm long. The hypanthia are urceolate and 1.5 mm long. There are five calyx lobes, which are small, triangular, and acute at the apex. The flower petals are rounded, distinct, 1.5 mm long, and clawed at the base. There are ten or slightly less stamens, borne opposite to the calyx lobes in pair. The ovaries are inferior and three-loculed. The pedicels are short and persistent. The capsules are small and 2 mm long. The seeds are flattened and angular. The flowering period is in summer and autumn. Habitat: It grows in open fields, deserted mountains, mountain slopes, and hills. Distribution: It is found in south China and southeastern Asia. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves, flowers, and fruits are collected and dried in the shade in summer when the plant is in the flowering period. Medicinal Properties: The leaves are stipitate, linear or linear-subulate, 0.5–1 cm long, 0.3–0.5 mm wide, yellow green, mucronate at the apex, and sub-­ angustate at the base, with entire margins and dense pellucid oil glands. The leaves are straightly grooved adaxially and raised abaxially. Among the leaves, there may be small yellow-white flowers and capsules about 1  mm long. The medicine is

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slightly fragrant. It tastes bitter and astringent. The green and fragrant leaves are of better quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent, bitter, and astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Expelling pathogenic wind and dampness, detoxicating and diuresis, and relieving pains and itches; it treats acute gastroenteritis when used internally, and, externally, it treats trichomonal vaginitis and skin eczema. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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4.7  Family: Myrtaceae 4.7.1  Cleistocalyx operculatus Chinese Name(s): shui weng, shui rong, da she yao Source: This medicine is made of the tree barks, inflorescences, and leaves of Cleistocalyx operculatus (Cleistocalyx operculatus Merr. et Perry). Morphology: The tree is 15 m tall. The barks are gray brown and thick. The tree is many-branched, and the branchlets are compressed and grooved. The leaf blades are thin, papery, oblong to elliptic, 11–17 cm long, 4.5–7 cm wide, acute or acuminate at the apex, and broadly cuneate or rounded at the base, with pellucid glandular dots on both surfaces. There are 9–13 pairs of secondary veins which are

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8–9 mm apart, growing obliquely upward at an angle of 45–65 degrees to the midvein. The reticulate veins are conspicuous and 2 mm away from the margins. The petioles are 1–2 cm long. The inflorescences are paniculate and borne on leafless grown branches, 6–12 cm long, two- to three-flowered, and sessile. The flower buds are ovate, 5 mm long, and 3–5 mm wide. The hypanthia are semiglobose and 3 mm long. The calyptras are 2–3  mm long, with short apical beaks. The stamens are 5–8  mm long. The styles are 3–5  mm long. The aggregate berries are ovoid, 10–12 mm long, 10–14 mm wide, and purple black when ripe. The flowering period is between May and June. Habitat: It grows near rivers and creeks. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Fujian, Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China. It is also seen in the Indochina Peninsula, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Oceania, etc. Acquisition and Processing: The tree barks and leaves are collected in summer and autumn, and the flower buds are collected in early spring. After collecting, the tree barks, leaves, and buds are dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Eliminating heat and dampness, relieving exterior syndrome, removing stagnated food, reducing inflammation, and stopping itching; the flower buds can be used to treat cold, fever, bacterial diarrhea, acute gastroenteritis, and indigestion. The roots can be used to treat icteric hepatitis. The barks can be used to treat burns, leprosy, pruritus, and athlete’s foot. The leaves can be used externally to treat acute mastitis. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose for flower buds and 15–30 g per dose for roots. For external use, proper amounts of fresh tree barks and leaves are mashed up and applied to the affected areas or decocted in water and used to wash the affected areas. Prescription Example: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Summer cold, indigestion, and flatulence  – Cleistocalyx operculatus flower 30 g, decocted in water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Burns  – knead appropriate amount of Cleistocalyx operculatus barks in water for 20–30 minutes, and squeeze out as much fluid inside as possible. Filter out the dregs and put the liquid aside. Remove the clear liquid on the surface and sterilize the thick liquid at the bottom. Dip duck feather or cotton swabs in the thick liquid to apply it to the affected areas, four to five times per day. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Icteric epidemic hepatitis – wash appropriate amount of Cleistocalyx operculatus roots, slice them, and decoct them in water three times until the fluid boils down to a paste. Dry it in low temperature until it turns solid, before grinding it into powder. Every gram of powder contains equal amount of active ingredients to that in 48 g of raw plants. 0.5 g per dose, mix with refined white sugar and water for oral use, three times per day.

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4.8  Family: Myrtaceae 4.8.1  Eucalyptus citriodora Chinese Name(s): ning meng an, xiang an Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Eucalyptus citriodora (Eucalyptus citriodora Hook. f.). Morphology: The tree is up to 28 m. The bole is straight. The barks are smooth and dusty blue. The young leaves are lanceolate, curved, with black glandular dots on both surfaces and strong lemon smell, and sometimes peltately borne. The grown leaves are narrowly lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, and cuneate at the base. The inflorescences are axillary, paniculate, and one- to three-flowered. The pedicels are 3–4 mm long and ribbed. The flower buds are obovate and 6–7 mm long. The hypanthia are 5 mm long, and the calyptras are rounded apically. The stamens are in two rows, and the anthers are elliptic and dorsifixed. The cells are parallel. The capsules are urceolate and 10–12 mm long, with valves included. The flowering period is between April and September. Habitat: It is cultivated on mountains or roadsides. Distribution: Originating in Australia, it is cultivated in south China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and pungent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: It is used to treat dysentery. For external use, decoct it in water to wash furuncles, various types of dermatosis, and rheumatalgia. Use and Dosage: 10–25 g per dose, decoct in water for oral use.

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4.9  Family: Myrtaceae 4.9.1  Eucalyptus robusta Chinese Name(s): da ye an, da ye you jia li Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and branchlets of Eucalyptus robusta (Eucalyptus robusta Smith). Morphology: The tree is evergreen and up to 20 m or even taller. The tree barks are dark brown, 2 cm thick, soft, and with irregular dehiscence. The branchlets are ribbed. The grown leaves are alternative, while the young leaves are opposite. The leaf blades are leathery, ovate or ovate-lanceolate, 8–15 cm long, 7 cm wide, acuminate or shortly acuminate at the apex, and asymmetrical at the base, with glandular dots on both surfaces. The secondary veins are numerous and conspicuous, forming enclosed intramarginal veins 1–1.5 mm away from the margins. The petioles are 1–2.5  cm long. The petioles of young leaves are inserted peltately. The inflorescences are axillary, umbellar, and four- to eight-flowered. The peduncles are compressed. The flower buds are 1.4–2  cm long. The hypanthia are semiglobose or obconic and 7–9  mm long. The calyptras are as long as the hypanthia, and the apexes are constricted into beaks. The stamens are numerous and 1–1.2 cm long, and the anthers are longitudinally dehiscent. The capsules are ovate-urceolate, 1–1.5 cm long, and constricted in the middle. There are three to four valves, which are included in the hypanthia. The flowering period is from April to September. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: Originating in Australia, it is cultivated in south China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected all year round and dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is slightly pungent, bitter in taste, and neutral in nature. It belongs to the lung and intestine meridians.

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Functions: Expelling pathogenic wind and relieving fever, fighting bacteria and reducing inflammation, serving as antisepsis, and relieving itches; it is used to prevent flu and epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis and treat infection in the upper respiratory tract, sphagitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, acute and chronic pyelonephritis, enteritis, dysentery, and filariasis. For external use, it treats burns, cellulitis, mastitis, furuncles, erysipelas, paddy-field dermatitis, skin eczema, and athlete’s foot and serves as a sterilizer. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Do not overdose. For external use, wash the affected areas with the decoctum. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Cold  – decoct 2000  g of fresh Eucalyptus robusta leaves and 1500 g of Folium Mori in water. After it boils twice, filter out the dregs and continue to boil it down to a fluid extract. Add 500  g of wild Chrysanthemum flower powder, stir the mixture even, dry it up, and grind it into powder. Mix the powder with refined white sugar and pack 10 g in a bag. Take one to two bags of the medicine after mixing it with boiled water, one to two times per day. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Filariasis – mince up 90 g of fresh Eucalyptus robusta leaves and add water (three times the amount of leaves). Boil them for 3 hours, remove the dregs, and continue to boil the fluid down to 60–100 ml. Drink it between 8:30 and 10:00 p.m. Reduce the dosage for children. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Furuncle and skin ulcer – boil down one portion of Eucalyptus robusta leaves and three portions of water, until only one-­ sixth of them are left. Filter out the dregs and continue to boil it down until the fluid becomes thick. Mix it even with Vaseline at a ratio of 3:1and apply the mixture to the affected areas. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Impetigo and eczema  – decoct appropriate amount of Eucalyptus robusta leaves and Melia azedarach tree barks in water, and wash the affected areas with the decoctum, twice a day. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Dermatitis  – make a solution of 20% Eucalyptus robusta leave decoctum with 80% of water and apply to the skin. It is used before acupuncture, hypodermic injections, intramuscular injections, and intravenous injections. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Paddy-field dermatitis  – mash up fresh Eucalyptus robusta leaves and fresh Excoecaria sebifera leaves, 5000 g each, and add water to make a 50-kg mixture. Boil it for 5 hours and remove the dregs to make a fluid extract of 4 kg. Add preservatives and it is ready for use. (1) For prevention: apply it to skin every 2–3 days. (2) For treatment: apply it to the affected areas many times, contingent on the seriousness of the symptoms.

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7. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Mycosis  – (a) for enteromycosis, decoct Eucalyptus robusta leaves, Excoecaria sebifera leaves, Schefflera octophylla leaves, and Evodia lepta leaves, 15–30 g each in water for oral use twice per day for 7 days (a course of treatment). b. For vaginomycosis, decoct equal amounts of the aforementioned medicinal plants in appropriate amount of water to make a fluid extract. Wash the affected areas, and apply the extract inside the vagina, once per day for 7 days (a course of treatment).

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4.10  Family: Myrtaceae 4.10.1  Eugenia caryophyllata [3] Chinese Name(s): ding xiang, ding zi xiang Source: This medicine is made of the flower buds of Eugenia caryophyllata (Eugenia caryophyllata Thunb. [Syzygium aromaticum (Linn.) Merr. et Perry]). Morphology: The tree is evergreen and 10 m tall. The barks are yellowish brown. The leaves are simple and opposite. The petioles are conspicuous. The leaf blades are rectangular-ovate or rectangular obovate, 5–10 cm long, 2.5–4 cm wide, acuminate or acute at the apex, narrow at the base, and decurrent to become the stem. The margins are entire, leathery, and with dense oil glands. The flowers are fragrant. The inflorescences are terminal, panicles of cymes, and 6 mm in diameter. The calyxes are stout, terete or long-tubular, green at first and turning to purple later, and quadrilid at the apex. The lobes are triangular. The flower crowns are white, slightly lilac, shortly tubular, and quadrilid. The flowers are aromatic, with many stamens. The anthers are longitudinal dehiscent. The ovaries are inferior and adnate with the hypanthia. The styles are thick, without conspicuous stigma. The berries are red brown, rectangular-elliptic, slightly glossy, 1–1.5 cm long, and 5–8 cm in diameter, with calyx lobes at apex. The seeds are rectangular and ovate-elliptic. The flowering period is between March and June, and fruiting period is between June and September. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated in south China. It originates in Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: The flower buds are collected in May and June before being dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent in taste, neutral in nature, and fragrant. It belongs to the spleen, stomach, lungs, and kidney meridians. Functions: Warming the stomach and descending the adverse-rising Qi, strengthening yang, and tonifying kidneys; it is used to treat deficiency and cold of the spleen and stomach, hiccup, vomiting, crymodynia of the heart and stomach, dysentery, hypochondrium or abdominal mass, and hernia. Use and Dosage: 1.5–3 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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4.11  Family: Myrtaceae 4.11.1  Melaleuca leucadendron Chinese Name(s): bai qian ceng, qian ceng pi, qian ceng zhi, yu shu Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Melaleuca Leucadendron (Melaleuca leucadendron Linn.) Morphology: The tree is 18 m tall. The barks are grayish white, thick, soft, and exfoliating. The branchlets are grayish white. The leaves alternate and are leathery, lanceolate or narrowly rounded, 4–10 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, acute on both ends, and fragrant. There are three to five (to seven) basal veins, with numerous oil glands. The petioles are very short. The flowers are white and in pseudoterminal spikes, up to 15  cm long. The rachises are usually with short trichomes. The hypanthia are ovate, 3  mm, and pubescent or glabrous. There are five sepals, which are ovate, 2–3 mm long, and 3 mm wide. The stamens are 1 cm long, often in five to eight fascicles. The styles are linear and slightly longer than the stamens. The capsules are subglobose and 5–7 mm in diameter. The plant flowers several times a year. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: Originating in Australia, it is now cultivated in south China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The branches are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent in taste, cold in nature, and fragrant. Functions: Expelling pathogenic wind from the body surface, relieving exterior syndrome, and reducing blood stasis; it is used for treating cold, fever, rheumatic bone pains, esoenteritis, and dysentery. When used externally, it treats allergic dermatitis and eczema. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, wash the affected areas with the decoctum.

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4.12  Family: Myrtaceae 4.12.1  Psidium guajava Chinese Name(s): fan shi liu, ji shi guo Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and fruits of Psidium guajava (Psidium guajava Linn.). Morphology: The tree is 13 m tall. The barks are smooth, gray, and exfoliating. The branchlets are ribbed and puberulent. The leaf blades are leathery, oblong to elliptic, 6–12 cm long, 3.5–6 cm wide, acute or obtuse at the apex, and subrounded at the base. Adaxially, the leaves are rough. Abaxially, they are puberulent, with 12–15 pairs of secondary veins which are impressed, and the reticulate veins are obvious. The petioles are 5 mm long. The flowers are solitary or in two- or three-­ flowered cymose inflorescences. The hypanthia are campanulate, 5 mm long, and pubescent, and the calyx caps are nearly rounded and 7–8 mm long. The styles are of the same length as the stamens. The berries are globose, ovate or pyriform, and 3–8 cm long, with persistent lobes at the apex. The flesh is white or yellow, and the placentas are well developed, fleshy, and reddish. The plant is many-seeded. Habitat: It is cultivated or wild. It grows in the wilderness and near villages. Distribution: It is cultivated in Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Fujian, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan in China. Native to South America, the plant is now widely distributed in all tropical areas. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The leaves and fruits are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Astringing and stopping diarrhea, diminishing inflammation, and stopping bleeding; the leaves and fruits can be used for treating acute and chronic

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gastroenteritis, dysentery, and children’s indigestion. Fresh leaves of the plant can be used to treat bruises, sprains, bleeding from injuries, and nonhealing ecthyma. Use and Dosage: 25–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh leaves are mashed up and applied to the affected areas. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Gastroenteritis and diarrhea – mince 30 g of Psidium guajava leaves and sauté them with a handful of rice until they are browned. Add water for oral use, twice per day. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Children’s indigestion – sauté 30 g of Psidium guajava leaves, 30  g of Lysimachia fortunei, and 9–12  g of black tea with 15–30 g of rice powder. Add 1000 ml of water and boil them down to 500 ml. Then add appropriate amounts of refined white sugar and salt. Dosage: 250 ml for children aged 1–6 months and 500 ml for the 1-year-olds. Add dosage discretionarily for those aged between 6 months and 1 year. Divide the whole amount evenly into several doses. For patients with serious symptoms, integrate Chinese and western therapies. Make the patients fast for 6–12 hours discretionarily. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Bacterial dysentery and esoenteritis – Psidium guajava leaves 30  g, Polygonum flaccidum 30  g, Bidens bipinnata 30  g, and Herba pteridis multifidae 30 g, decocted with 1000 ml of water. Boil them down to 500 ml. Drink 50 ml per dose, twice per day.

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4.13  Family: Myrtaceae 4.13.1  Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Chinese Name(s): tao jin niang, gang ren Source: This medicine is made of the roots, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub which is 1–2 m tall. The branchlets are tomentose with grayish trichomes. The leaves are opposite, leathery, elliptic or obovate, 3–8 cm long, 1–4 cm wide, rounded or obtuse at the apex (often slightly impressed, occasionally pointed), and broadly cuneate at the base. Adaxially, the leaves are puberulent at first, glabrous later, and glossy. Abaxially, the leaves are tomentose with gray trichomes. There are three basal veins, meeting at the apex. The intramarginal veins are 3–4 mm away from the margins. There are four to six pairs of tertiary veins on each side of midvein, and the tertiary reticulations are conspicuous. The petioles are 4–7 mm long. The flowers have long pedicels and are often solitary, purple red, and 2–4 cm in diameter. The hypanthia are obovate, 6 mm long, and tomentose with gray trichomes. There are five lobes which are subrounded, 4–5 mm long, and persistent. The flowers have five petals which are obovate and 1.3–2 cm long. The stamens are red and 7–8  mm long. The ovaries are inferior and three-­ loculed, and the styles are 1 cm long. The berries are ovate-urceolate and purplish black when mature. The seeds are in two rows in each cell. The flowering period is between April and May, and the fruiting period is between August and October.

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Habitat: It grows in thickets on mountains, hills, hummocks, and mountain slopes. Distribution: It is found in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Hunan. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are collected in summer and autumn, and the flowers are collected in early summer. The fruits are collected in autumn and dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: The fruits function in supplementing blood, nourishing, and stabilizing the fetus. The leaves function in astringing and stopping diarrhea and hemostasis. The roots function in dispelling convergence and diarrhea. The roots are often used in treatment of acute and chronic gastroenteritis, gastralgia, dyspepsia, hepatitis, dysentery, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar muscle strain, functional uterine bleeding, and anal prolapse, as well as in external use for burns and scalds. The leaves are often used in treatment of acute gastroenteritis, dyspepsia, and dysentery, as well as external treatment of traumatic bleeding. The fruits are often used in treatment of anemia, deficiency of body, neurasthenia, tinnitus, and spermatorrhea. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, mash up fresh plants or grind dry plants and apply to the affected areas. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chronic or acute hepatitis  – compound Rhodomyrtus tomentosa hepatitis tablets, two tablets, three times a day. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Esoenteritis and dysentery – decoct 1500 g of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa roots, puberulous glochidion root, Plantago asiatica, Lysimachia fortunei, and Agrimonia pilosa, 500 g each in 10 kg of water. Boil it down to 2.5 kg. Drink 15 ml per dose, three times a day. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Children’s indigestion  – decoct 60  g of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa roots and 60 g of Nandina domestica roots in water for oral use, a dose per day. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Dysfunctional uterine bleeding – sauté 60 g of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa roots, 60 g of Nandina domestica roots, and 15–30 g of Artemisia indica leaves until they are browned. Add three bowls of water and half a bowl of vinegar (excluded from the prescription for patients with ulcers) and boil it down to one bowl of decoctum. Drink half at a time. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Burns – clean, slice, and dry up proper amount of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa roots and then sauté them until they are half black. Grind the roots into powder, autoclave it, and mix it with oil. Apply the mixture to the affected areas.

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4.14  Family: Myrtaceae 4.14.1  Syzygium buxifolium Chinese Name(s): chi nan pu tao, chi nan Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Syzygium buxifolium (Syzygium buxifolium Hook. et Arn.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree which is 4 m tall. The branchlets are angled and blackish brown when dry. The leaf blades are leathery, broadly elliptic to elliptic, sometimes broadly obovate, 1.5–3 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, rounded or obtuse at the apex, sometimes obtuse cuspidate, and cuneate or obtuse at the base.

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Adaxially, the leaves are dark brown and not glossy when dry. Abaxially, they are paler, with glandular dots. The secondary veins are many and dense, 1–1.5  mm apart, and oblique. They converge into intramarginal veins 1–1.5 mm away from the margins. They are not conspicuous adaxially and raised abaxially. The petioles are 2 mm long. The inflorescences are in terminal cymes, 1 cm long, and many-­flowered. The pedicels are 1–2 mm long, and the flower buds are 3 mm long. The hypanthia are obconic and 2 mm long. The calyx lobes are shallowly wavy. There are four petals on the flower which are distinct and 2 mm long. The stamens are 2.5 mm long, and so are the styles. The fruits are globular and 5–7 mm in diameter. The flowering period is between June and August. Habitat: It grows in thickets on hills. Distribution: It is found in Anhui, Zhejiang, Taiwan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou provinces in China. It is also seen in Vietnam and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in autumn. The roots and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, inducing urination, and relieving asthma; the roots and root barks can be used to treat edema, asthma, and burns when used externally. The leaves can be used to treat whitlow, furuncle, rhus dermatitis, and burns. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decoct the roots and root barks in water for oral use. For external use, grind them in powder and mix it with camellia oil to be applied to the affected areas.

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4.15  Family: Myrtaceae 4.15.1  Syzygium grijsii Chinese Name(s): lun ye pu tao, san ye chi nan Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Syzygium grijsii (Syzygium grijsii (Hance) Merr. et Perry). Morphology: The plant is a shrub which is 1.5 m tall. The young branchlets are slender, four-sided, and blackish brown when dry. The leaf blades are leathery, small, usually ternate verticillate, narrowly oblong or narrowly lanceolate, 1.5–2 cm long, 5–7 cm wide, obtuse or subacute at the apex, and cuneate at the base. Adaxially, the leaves are dark brown and not glossy when dry. Abaxially, the leaves are paler and

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with many glandular dots. The secondary veins are dense, oblique at an angle of 50 degrees, 1–1.5 mm apart, and more conspicuous abaxially than adaxially. The intramarginal veins are very close to the margins. The petioles are 1–2  mm long. The inflorescences are in terminal cymes, 1–1.5 cm long, and few-flowered. The pedicels are 3–4  mm long. The flowers are white, and the hypanthia are 2  mm long, with extremely short calyx lobes. There are four petals which are distinct, subrounded, and 2 mm long. The stamens are 5 mm long, of the same length as the styles. The fruits are globular and 4–5 mm in diameter. The flowering period is between May and June. Habitat: It grows in thickets. Distribution: It is found in Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots of the plant are collected all year round and dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent in taste and slightly warm in nature. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness, activating the blood flow, removing blood stasis, and relieving pains; it is used for treating bruises, swellings, colds, and rheumatic headache. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decoct in water for oral use. For external use, mash up fresh plants to be applied to the affected areas.

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4.16  Family: Myrtaceae 4.16.1  Syzygium jambos Chinese Name(s): pu tao, shui pu tao Source: This medicine is made of the stems, root barks, and fruits of Syzygium jambos (Syzygium jambos (Linn.) Alston). Morphology: The tree is 10 m tall. The bole is very short and many-branched. The branchlets are terete. The leaf blades are leathery, lanceolate or oblong, 12–25 cm long, 3–4.5 cm wide, narrowly acuminate at the apex, and broadly cuneate at the base, with pellucid adaxial gland dots. There are 12–16 pairs of the lateral veins which are oblique at an angle of 45 degrees and converge into intramarginal veins 2 mm away from the margins. The lateral veins are 7–10 mm apart from one another and raised abaxially, and the reticulate veins are conspicuous. The petioles are 6–8  mm long. The inflorescences are in terminal cymes and many-flowered, with the peduncles being 1–1.5 cm long. The pedicels are 1–2 cm long. The flowers are white and 3–4 cm in diameter. The hypanthia are obconical and 8–10 mm long. There are four calyx lobes which are semiorbicular, 6 mm long, and 8–9 cm wide. The petals are distinct, broadly ovate, and 14 mm long. The stamens are 2–2.8 cm long, and the anthers are 1.5 mm long. The styles are of the same length as the stamens. The fruits are globose, 3–5 cm in diameter, and yellow when ripe, with fleshy pericarp and oil glands. The plant is one- to two-seeded, with many embryos. The flowering period is between March and April, and the fruiting period is between May and July. Habitat: It grows along mountain creeks and on roadsides in rural areas. Distribution: It is found in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer. The stems, root barks, and fruits are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Cooling the blood and astringing; it is used for treating dysentery and diarrhea. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For treating bleeding from cuts, mash up fresh root bark and apply to wounds or grind it into powder and sprinkle on wounds.

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4.17  Family: Melastomataceae 4.17.1  Blastus cochinchinensis Chinese Name(s): bai la mu, ye jin xiang Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Blastus cochinchinensis (Blastus cochinchinensis Lour.) Morphology: It is a shrub which is 0.6–3 m tall. The leaf blades are papery or substiffly papery, lanceolate, narrowly elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, 6–12 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, acuminate at the apex, and cuneate at the base. Adaxially, there are three (to five) basal veins, and the leaf blade is covered with sparse glandular dots which come off later. The basal veins are impressed, and the lateral veins are slightly convex on this surface. Abaxially, the leaf blade is covered with glandular dots. Both the basal veins and the lateral veins are conspicuous and convex. The tertiary

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reticulation is visible. The margins are entire and inconspicuously denticulate. The petioles are 1–2 cm long and with glandular dots. The inflorescences are axillary, umbellate cymose, and with 2-mm-long peduncles and densely covered with glandular dots. The pedicels are 3 mm long and covered with dense glandular dots. The calyxes are campanulate-funnelform, 4 mm long, with dense glandular dots, obtuse, and four-sided. There are four (to five) calyx lobes which are broadly ovate, 1 mm long, and with trichome at tip. There are four (to five) petals which are white to pink, ovate, acuminate or subacute apically, 4 mm long, and with one small petal sticking out in the upper-right corner. There are four (to five) stamens, which are equally long. The filaments are 4 mm long. The anthers are 4 mm long, pink, and geniculate. The connectiva are slightly inflated, and the ovaries are urceolate, inferior, four-loculed, and four-tuberculate at the apex and covered with sparse glandular dots. The capsules are elliptic, quadrilid, and wrapped by the persistent calyxes which are as long as the fruits and obtuse at the apex. The flowering period is from June to August, and fruiting period is from October to December. Habitat: It grows in open forests at altitudes between 200 m and 1300 m. Distribution: It is found in Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, and Yunnan provinces in China. It is also seen in India and Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is astringent and sour in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Reducing swellings and detoxicating, astringing, and stopping bleeding; it is used for treating postpartum bleeding, hypermenorrhea, esoenteritis, and diarrhea. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For treating bruises, bleeding from injuries, ulcers, and festering, mash up fresh leaves to be applied to the affected areas or grind dry leaves into powder and sprinkle on affected areas.

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4.18  Family: Melastomataceae 4.18.1  Fordiophyton faberi Chinese Name(s): yi yao hua, suan hou er, chou gu cao, fu mao fei rou cao, er mei yi yao hua Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Fordiophyton faberi (Fordiophyton faberi Stapf). Morphology: The plant is herbaceous and 30–80 cm tall. The stems are four-­ sided, grooved, glabrous, and unbranched. The leaf blades are membranous. The leaves growing on the same node are fairly uneven in size, broadly lanceolate to

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ovate, 5–14.5 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, acuminate at the apex, and subcordate at the base. The margins are inconspicuously serrulate. There are five basal veins. The petioles are 1.5–4.3 cm long. The inflorescences are terminal, cymose, or umbellate. The peduncles are 1–3 cm long, glabrous, and with a pair of opposite leave at the base which are often caducous. There is a ring of imbricate bracts at the base of pedicel. The calyxes are funnel-shaped, four-sided, 1.4–1.5 cm long, with glandular trichomes and white glandular dots, and eight-ribbed (four are conspicuous). The calyx lobes are long triangular to ovate-triangular, apically obtuse, 4.5 mm long, with sparse glandular trichomes and white glandular dots, and squamose with hair resembling glandular trichomes. The petals are red or purple red, oblong, and apically oblique, with one glandular trichome at the tip which is 1.1 cm long. The filaments of long stamens are 1.1 cm long, and the anthers are linear, 1.5 cm long, and curved. The filaments of short stamens are 7 mm long. The anthers are oblong and 3 mm long, with the base lengthened and forming a forked spur. The ovaries are with membranous ciliate crown at the apex. The capsules are obconical, quadrilid at the apex, and 5 mm in diameter in the widest part. The flowering period is from August to September, and fruiting period is in June. Habitat: It grows in forests at altitudes of 600–1100 m or on damp rocks. Distribution: It is found in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, and Guangdong provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent and bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Replenishing deficiency, dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness, nourishing the lungs, and detoxification; it is used to treat weakness of old people and children, rheumatism, arthralgia, cough, lung heat, and rhus dermatitis. Use and Dosage: 5–15 g per dose, decoct in water for oral use. For external use, mash up fresh plants and apply to the affected areas.

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4.19  Family: Melastomataceae 4.19.1  Fordiophyton fordii Chinese Name(s): fei rou cao, suan jiu zi, suan gan, fu di mu, yang dao jian, ling jing mu Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Fordiophyton fordii (Fordiophyton fordii (Oliv.) Krass). Morphology: The plant is herbaceous and 30–80 cm tall. The stems are four-­ sided, often with grooves. The ribs have narrow wings and are glabrous. The leaf blades are membranous. The leaves growing from the same node are usually asymmetric, broadly lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, 6–10 cm long, 3–5 cm wide, acuminate at the apex, and subcordate to round at the base. The margins are serrulate, with setae on the tips. There are five (to seven) basal veins which are adaxially sessile or sparsely strigose between the veins and abaxially glabrous, with dense white glandular dots. The petioles are 2–6 cm long. The inflorescences are panicle, terminal, and 12–20 cm long. The peduncles are 6–15 cm long, sessile, and four-sided. The involucres are oblately rounded or broadly ovate, membranous, 1–1.8  cm long, 1.2–2 cm wide, and sessile, with white glandular dots and caducous. The pedicels are 5–15 cm long, four-sided, and densely covered with glandular trichomes. The calyxes are 1.3 cm long and four-ribbed. The bracts are oblong, rounded apically, 5 mm long, and squamose with hair resembling glandular trichomes and white glandular dots. The petals are white and red, reddish, red or purple red, obovate-oblong, and rounded apically, with one glandular trichome at the tip, which is 12 mm long, 5 mm wide, and sessile. The longer stamens are 24 mm long, and the anthers are linear, obtuse at the base, not tuberculate, and 14 mm long. The ovaries have membranous crowns and squamose on the rims. The capsules are obconical, four-ribbed, and 4–5 mm in diameter in the widest part.

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Habitat: It grows in damp and cold open forests in high-altitude (540–1700 m) valleys. Distribution: It is found in Zhejiang, Hainan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Guangxi, Hunan, and Guizhou provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, cooling blood, and reducing swelling; it is used for treating dysentery, diarrhea, hematemesis, and bleeding from hemorrhoids. Use and Dosage: 6–15 g per dose, decoct in water for oral use.

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4.20  Family: Melastomataceae 4.20.1  Melastoma affine Chinese Name(s): duo hua ye mu dan Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Melastoma affine (Melastoma affine D. Don [M. polyanthum DC.]). Morphology: The plant is a shrub which is about 1 m tall. The stems are four-­ sided and densely strigose with squamose hair. The leaf blades are stiffly papery, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate or subelliptic, acuminate at the apex, rounded or subcuneate at the base, 5.4–13 cm long, and 1.6–4.4 cm wide. The margins are entire. There are five basal veins, which are adaxially densely strigose and impressed but abaxially strigose, pilose, and convex. The lateral veins are convex and densely strigose. The petioles are 5–10 mm long. The inflorescences are terminal, corymbose, subcapitate, and more than ten-flowered, with two bracteal leaves at the base. The pedicels are 3–10 mm long and strigose, and the calyxes are 1.6 cm long and densely strigose with squamose hair. The calyx lobes are broadly lanceolate, equal to the calyx lobes in length or a little longer, acuminate apically, and cuspidate, strigose, and pilose adaxially, abaxially, and marginally. The petals are pink to red, sometimes purplish red, obovate, 2 cm long, and rounded apically, only with tricholoma in the upper part. The connectiva of longer stamens are extended at the base, two-lobed, and curved, while the connectiva of short stamens do not extend and are one-tuberculate at the base of the anther cell. The ovaries are semi-inferior and densely strigose with a ring of apical setae. The capsules are urceolate-globose, truncate apically, and adnate with the persistent calyx which is densely strigose with squamose hair. The flowering period is from February to May, and fruiting period is from August to December, sometimes January. Habitat: It grows on mountain slopes, hills, and open fields. Distribution: It is found in Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian, and Taiwan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: The medicinal function of the plant is to clear heat, remove dampness through diuresis, reduce blood stasis, and stop bleeding. It is used for treating indigestion, esoenteritis, diarrhea, hepatitis, and epistaxis. For external use, it treats bruises and bleeding from cuts. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up fresh plant or grind dry leaves into powder and apply it to the affected areas.

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4.21  Family: Melastomataceae 4.21.1  Melastoma candidum Chinese Name(s): ye mu dan, guan guan cao Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Melastoma candidum (Melastoma candidum Don). Morphology: The plant is a shrub which is 0.5–1.5 m tall and many-branched. The stems and branches are densely strigose, with appressed scales and fringe-like trichomes. The leaf blades are papery, ovate or broadly ovate, 4–10 cm long, and 2–6 cm wide. The margins are entire, strigose, and pilose on both surfaces. There are five to seven basal veins. The petioles are 5–15 mm long and densely strigose, with squamose trichomes. The inflorescences are subcapitate corymbose, terminal, and three- to five-flowered, with two leaflike bracts at base. The pedicels are 3–20 mm long and densely strigose with squamose trichomes. The hypanthia are 2.2 cm long and densely strigose or pilose. The calyx lobes are ovate. The petals are obovate, with dense tricholoma. The connectiva of long stamens are extended, curved, and two-lobed apically, while the connectiva of short stamens are not extended and two-tuberculate at the base. The ovaries are ovoid, hidden in the bending cupular hypanthia which are densely squamose strigose. The flowering period is from May to July, and fruiting period is from October to December. Habitat: It is an indicating plant of acidic soil, often growing in open moors. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces in China. It is also seen in Vietnam and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet, sour, and astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, reducing swelling, relieving pain, eliminating stasis, and stopping bleeding; the roots are used for treating indigestion, esoenteritis, diarrhea, hepatitis, epistaxis, hematuria, and thromboangiitis obliterans. The leaves are used for treating bruises and bleedings from traumatic injuries. Use and Dosage: 30–60 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up fresh plant or grind dry plant to powder to be applied to the affected areas. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Bacterial dysentery  – decoct 60  g of Melastoma malabathricum and 60 g of Polygonum chinense in water for oral use three times, a dose per day. Alternatively, use the same dose for retention enema. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, and pyretic thirst – decoct 60 g of Melastoma malabathricum and 60 g of Polygonum chinense in water for oral use three times.

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3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Urinary infection  – decoct 15  g of fresh Melastoma malabathricum, 30 g of fresh Rosa laevigata Michx. root, 15 g of fresh sarsaparilla, 9 g of fresh Lygodium japonicum, and 9 g of fresh Centella asiatica in water for oral use. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Carbuncle swellings  – decoct 30–60  g of fresh Melastoma malabathricum leaves and 10–15 g of herba taching in water for oral use. Mash up the dregs to be applied to the affected areas. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Eczema, skin ulcer, and pustules  – decoct appropriate amount of Melastoma malabathricum, 10–20 g of Radix sophorae flavescentis, and white bark of Sophora flavescens in water and wash the affected areas with the decoctum. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Thrombus closed cold vasculitis  – decoct 30–60 g of Melastoma malabathricum roots, 60 g of calculate pan root, 12 g of soil angelica root, and 12 g of red peony root in water for oral use or wash the affected areas with the decoctum. 7. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Knee swellings – decoct 24 g of Melastoma malabathricum and 9 g of honeysuckle vine in water for oral use, twice a day. 8. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Bruises – stew 30 g of Melastoma malabathricum and 15 g of cherokee root with lean meat and wine to eat. 9. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Latex obstruction – stew 30 g of Melastoma malabathricum and 120 of lean pork with water and alcohol to eat. 10. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Cassava poison  – decoct 60–90  g of Melastoma malabathricum in water for oral use.

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4.22  Family: Melastomataceae 4.22.1  Melastoma dodecandrum Chinese Name(s): di nie, pu di nie, di qie zi Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Melastoma dodecandrum (Melastoma dodecandrum Lour.). Morphology: The plant is creeping herbaceous which is 10–30 cm long. The leaf blades are stiffly papery, ovate or elliptic, acute at the apex, broadly cuneate at the base, 1–4 cm long, and 0.8–2 (~3) cm wide. The margins are entire or shallowly serrated. There are three to five basal veins which are usually adaxially strigose at margins only or sometimes sparsely strigose among the veins and abaxially very remotely strigose along the veins. The lateral veins are parallel. The petioles are 2–6 mm long, sometimes 15 mm long, and strigose. The inflorescences are cymose, terminal, and one- to three-flowered, with two bracteal leaves. The pedicels are 2–10  mm long and strigose, with two bracts on the upper part which are ovate, 2–3 mm long, 1.5 mm wide, with tricholoma, and abaxially strigose. The hypanthia are 5 mm long and strigose. The base of trichomes is conically inflated. The petals are lavender to purple, rhomboid-obovate, slightly oblique apically, 1.2–2 cm long, and 1–1.5 cm wide, with a tuft of apical seta and sparse tricholoma. The connectiva of longer stamens are extended at the base, curved, and two-tuberculate apically. The filaments are slightly shorter than the extended connectiva. The connectiva of shorter stamens are not extended. The base of the connectiva is two-tuberculate. The ovaries are inferior and apically bristly. The fruits are urceolate-globular, obtuse, slightly contracted near the apex, fleshy, indehiscent, 7–9 mm long, and 7 mm in diameter. The persistent calyxes are strigose. The flowering period is from May to July, and fruiting period is from July to September. Habitat: It often grows in acidic soil. Distribution: It is found in provinces to the south of the Yangtze River. It is also produced in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: It is dug up from the ground in winter. The stems and leaves are removed to get the roots. After washing, the roots are dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet as well as astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness, replenishing blood, and stopping bleeding; it is used for the prevention of epidemic meningitis and the treatment of esoenteritis, diarrhea, lungs abscess, pelvic inflammation, metrorrhagia, anemia, leukorrhea, waist and leg pains, rheumatic bone pain, bleeding from injuries, and venomous snake bites. Use and Dosage: 30–60 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Epidemic meningitis  – spray 50% diluted Melastoma dodecandrum decoctum to the throat, 2 ml at a time. For nasal dripping, use 0.5 ml per nostril at a time.

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2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Acute esoenteritis  – 1000  g of Melastoma dodecandrum, 1000 g of Glochidion puberum roots and leaves, 500 g of Vitex negundo fruit, and 750 g of Folium callicarpae pedunculalae, decoct in water and boil down to 1000 ml, 20–30 ml per dose, three to four times a day. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Diarrhea – decoct 60 g of Melastoma dodecandrum roots in water and drink it after eating crystal sugar as the guiding drug, one dose per day. For treating chronic diarrhea, add 30 g of Herba pteridis multifidae and 6 g of Centipeda minima and decoct them in water for oral use. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Rheumatic arthritis  – decoct 30–60  g of Melastoma dodecandrum roots and 9 g of bidentate achyranthes roots, in water or alcohol for oral use. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Leukorrhea  – (1) boil 30  g of Melastoma dodecandrum, 15 g of Saururus chinensis roots, 9 g of white atractylodes rhizome, and 9 g of hibiscus flower, with 60 g of pork in water. Drink the broth and eat the meat, one dose a day. (2) Decoct 15 g of Melastoma dodecandrum roots and 15 g of fructus rosae laevigatae root in water for oral use. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Children’s injuries and bleeding – decoct 5 kg of Melastoma dodecandrum in 10 kg of water, boil down to 2.5 kg of decoctum, filter the dregs out, and add preservative. Take in 20–40 ml with warm water (not hot water), three times a day.

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4.23  Family: Melastomataceae 4.23.1  Melastoma intermedium Chinese Name(s): xi ye ye mu dan, pu di lian Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Melastoma intermedium (Melastoma intermedium Dunn). Morphology: The plant is a shrublet which is 30–60 cm tall. The leaf blades are stiffly papery, thick, elliptical or oblong-elliptical, acute or obtuse at the apex, broadly cuneate or subrounded at the base, 2–4 cm long, and 8–20 cm wide. The margins are entire and strigose with coarse appressed tricholoma. There are 3–5 basal veins, densely strigose and impressed adaxially, abaxially sparsely strigose but more so on veins. The lateral veins are parallel. The petioles are 3–6 mm long and strigose. The inflorescences are terminal, corymbose, and (one-) three- to fiveflowered. There are two bracteal leaves, often smaller than the leaves. The pedicels are 3–5 mm long and densely strigose. There are two bracts which are lanceolate, 5–10 mm long, 2–4 mm wide, and strigose. The hypanthia are 7 mm long, 5 mm in diameter, and densely strigose with oblate trichomes which are sometimes branched. The calyx lobes are lanceolate, 7 mm long, strigose, and with tricholoma. There is a lobelet between two lobes which is terete and shorter than the lobes. The petals are rose-colored to purple, rhomboidal-obovate, 2–2.5 cm long, 1.5 cm wide, and emarginate, with some seta. The connectiva of the longer stamens are decurrent, slightly prolonged, retroflexed, and two-tuberculate at apex. The base of the anthers is also two-tuberculate. The ovaries are semi-inferior and apically hispidulous. The fruits

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are urceolate-globose, truncate, with the apex contracted into a neck, fleshy, indehiscent, 8 mm long, and 1 cm in diameter. The persistent calyxes are strigose. The flowering period is from July to September, and fruiting period is from October to December. Habitat: It grows in open wetlands. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian, and Guizhou provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Reducing swelling and detoxicating. It is used for the treatment of diarrhea, aphtha, furuncle, and venomous snake bites. Use and Dosage: For external use, mash up fresh plant and apply to wound, or decoct the plant in water and wash the wound with the decoctum.

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4.24  Family: Melastomataceae 4.24.1  Melastoma normale Chinese Name(s): zhan mao ye mu dan, xiao ye mu dan, bai bao ya lang Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Melastoma normale (Melastoma normale D. Don). Morphology: It is a shrub which is 0.5–3 m tall. The stems are four-sided or nearly terete, and often densely strigose and pilose. The leaf blades are stiffly papery, ovate to elliptic or elliptic-lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, rounded or subcordate at the base, 4–10.5 cm long, and 1.4–3.5 (~5) cm wide. The margins are entire. There are five basal veins, which are densely strigose adaxially and impressed but abaxially convex. The lateral veins are not clearly visible and abaxially strigose and pilose. The petioles are 5–10 mm long and densely strigose. The inflorescences are terminal, corymbose, and three- to seven (ten)-flowered. There are two bracteal leaves at the base. The pedicels are 2–5  mm long and densely strigose. The trichomes are oblate, fringe-like on the margins, and sometimes branched. The lobes are lanceolate, sometimes ovate-lanceolate, equally long as or slightly longer than the hypanthia, apically acuminate, squamose, and strigose or pilose abaxially, adaxially, and marginally. There is one lobelet between two lobes. The petals are purple red, obovate, 2.7  cm long, and rounded apically, with only tricholoma. The long stamens grow from the base of the connectiva and are two-lobed and retroflexed, while the connectiva of the short ones are not prolonged. Both sides of the anther base are one-tuberculate. The ovaries are semi-inferior and densely strigose, with a ring of apical seta. The capsules are urceolate-globose and truncate at the apex. The persistent calyxes are adnate with the fruits, 6–8 mm long, 5–7 mm in diameter, and squamosely strigose.

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Habitat: It grows in low-altitude open brushwoods of forests. Distribution: It is found in Sichuan, Tibet, Taiwan, Fujian, and provinces to the south of them. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet, sour, and astringent in taste and slightly warm in nature. Functions: Detoxicating, astringing, reducing swelling, removing stagnated food, stopping bleeding, and relieving pain; it can be used to treat dysentery, bruises, bleeding, indigestion, esoenteritis, diarrhea, hematochezia, hypermenorrhea, leukorrhea, tooth pain, sore, and festering. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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4.25  Family: Melastomataceae 4.25.1  Melastoma sanguineum Chinese Name(s): mao nie, hong bao ya lang, hong mao nie Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Melastoma sanguineum (Melastoma sanguineum Sims). Morphology: The plant is a shrub which is 1.5–3 m tall. The stems, branches, petioles, pedicels, and calyxes are densely hirsute, with trichomes basally flattened. The leaf blades are stiffly papery, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, 8–15 cm long, and 2.5–5 cm wide. The margins are entire, strigose on both surfaces (trichomes hidden under the epidermis), acuminate at the apex, and rounded to cuneate at the base. There are five basal veins, which are abaxially convex. The petioles are 1.5–2.5  cm long. The inflorescences are terminal, corymbose, and three- to five-flowered or solitary. The pedicels are 5 mm long, and the hypanthia

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are 1–2  cm long. The calyx lobes are triangular to triangular-lanceolate or rhomboidal-­oblong. The petals are purplish pink, broadly obovate, and 3–5  cm long. The connectiva are long and decurrent, prolonged at the base, and basal-­ adaxially with two lobes. The stamen connectiva are not prolonged and are two-­ tuberculate at the base. The ovaries are semi-inferior and densely setose. The capsules are subglobose and hidden in the cupular hypanthia. The persistent calyxes are strigose with red trichomes. The seeds are embedded in the fleshy placenta. The plant flowers are nearly all year round. Habitat: It grows on hills, mountain slopes, and moors. Distribution: It is found in south China provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Astringing and stopping bleeding and curing dysentery; it is used for treating diarrhea, hypermenorrhea, and hematochezia. When used externally, it treats injuries and bleeding. Use and Dosage: 9–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, grind dry leaves into powder and apply to affected areas.

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4.26  Family: Melastomataceae 4.26.1  Osbeckia chinensis Chinese Name(s): jin jin xiang, yang tian zhong, jin xiang lu Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Osbeckia chinensis (Osbeckia chinensis Linn.). Morphology: The plant is herbaceous or subshrubs which is 20–60 cm tall. The stems are four-sided and appressed strigose. The leaves are opposite, linear, linear-­ lanceolate, sometimes ovate-lanceolate, acute at the apex, obtuse or subrounded at the base, 2–6 cm long, and 3–8 (~15) mm wide. The margins are entire and strigose on both surfaces. There are three to five basal veins, which are convex abaxially. The petioles are short or nearly none and strigose. The inflorescences are terminal, capitate, and two- to ten-flowered, with two to six bracteal leaves at the base. The bracts are ovate or ovate-lanceolate, tomentose, or abaxially glabrous. The calyxes are glabrous or with one to five setose tuberculate. There are four calyx lobes which are ciliate on the margins. There are eight stamens, inclined to one side. The anthers are apically beaked. The ovaries are subglobose, with 16 apical setae, and four-­ loculed. The capsules are purplish red, ovate-globose, and four-ribbed. The persistent calyxes are urceolate. The seeds are tiny and bent like a horseshoe. The flowering period is from July to September, and fruiting period is from September to November.

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Habitat: It grows in open mountain slopes. Distribution: It is found in provinces to the south of the Yangtze River. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is chopped and dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bland in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, reducing swellings, detoxicating, stopping coughing, and reducing phlegm; it is used for treating acute bacillary dysentery, amebic dysentery, amoeba liver abscess, esoenteritis, cold, cough, sore throat, bronchial asthma in children, hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis, appendicitis, venomous snake bite, and furunculosis. Use and Dosage: 15–60 g per dose, decoct in water for oral use. For external use, mash up appropriate amount of fresh Osbeckia chinensis and apply to affected areas. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Diarrhea and esoenteritis  – 60–120  g of Osbeckia chinensis root, decocted in water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Amebic dysentery – 30–60 g of Osbeckia chinensis, decocted in water for oral use, twice every day in the morning and evening, and drank on empty stomach. Do not take in with food like bean curd and eggs. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Bronchial asthma in children  – 30  g of Osbeckia chinensis and 120 g of lean pork, stewed with water for oral use, six doses as a course of treatment. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Amoeba liver abscess – 30 g of Osbeckia chinensis, 15 g of raw Atractylodes macrocephala, and five red dates, decocted in water twice and drank in the morning and evening, a dose per day. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Cough due to wind-cold evil  – 15  g of Osbeckia chinensis, decocted in water for oral use.

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4.27  Family: Melastomataceae 4.27.1  Osbeckia opipara Chinese Name(s): chao tian guan, guan zi cao, xian ji tui, da jin zhong Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Osbeckia opipara (Osbeckia opipara C. Y. Wu et C. Chen). Morphology: It is a subshrub which is 1.2 m tall. The stems are four-sided and sometimes six-sided and setose or appressed strigose. The leaves are opposite or sometimes in three whorls. The leaf blades are stiffly papery, ovate to ovate-­ lanceolate, acuminate at the apex, obtuse or rounded at the base, 5.5–11.5 cm long, and 2.3–3  cm wide. The margins are entire and fringed with fine hairs. The leaf blades are coarsely strigose on both surfaces and are with soft pilose and pellucid glandular dots. There are five basal veins. The petioles are 0.5–1  cm long and densely strigose. The inflorescence is cymose, forming a panicle, terminal, and 7–22 cm long. The calyxes are 2.3 cm long, covered with several rings of setae, stalked stellate hairs, and also fine soft hairs. The calyxes have four lobes which are

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narrowly deltoid or ovate-triangular and are 1.1 cm long. The petals are crimson to purple, ovate, and 2 cm long. There are eight stamens. The anthers are with long beaks. The connectiva is dilated at the base and apically bristly. There is a ring of setae around the apex of the ovary whose upper part is pilose. The capsule is oblong-­ ovate, wrapped by persistent calyx which is narrowly urceolate and contracted in the middle, 1.4 (~2) cm long, and covered by setose stalked stellate hairs. The flowering and fruiting periods are both from July to September. Habitat: It grows on open mountain slopes. Distribution: It is found in provinces to the south of the Yangtze River. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried after being collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is astringent in taste and warm in nature. Functions: Clearing heat, astringing and stopping bleeding, relieving coughing, and fighting cancer. It is used to treat bacillary dysentery, esoenteritis, coughing, hemoptysis, aconuresis, leukorrhea, hemoptysis of pulmonary tuberculosis, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, mammary cancer, and chronic bronchitis. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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4.28  Family: Melastomataceae 4.28.1  Sonerila cantonensis Chinese Name(s): feng dou cao, sang le cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Sonerila cantonensis (Sonerila cantonensis Stapf). Morphology: The plant is herbaceous which is 15–50  cm tall. The stems are obtusely four-sided. The leaf blades are papery or submembranous, ovate or elliptic-­ ovate, 3–6  cm long, 1.3–3  cm wide, acuminate or acute at the apex, cuneate or obtuse at the base, and slightly oblique sometimes. The margins are serrulate with each tooth having a terminal seta. The leaf blades are glabrous or sparsely setose or strigose. The midvein is impressed and sometimes purple red abaxially. The veins are coarsely tomentose and convex. There are two pairs of the lateral veins, one of which is basal. The petioles are 5–18 mm long, with dense long coarse hair or soft hair. The inflorescences are terminal, scorpioid cymes or dichasia, and three- to seven-flowered. The peduncles are 1.5–3  cm long, densely puberulous, and with sparse glandular trichomes or densely villous. The bracts are tiny and caducous. The hypanthia are tubular-campanulate, 7 mm long, puberulous or with sparse glandular trichomes, three-sided, and six-ribbed. The lobes are short, broadly deltoid, less than 1 mm long, and acute at the apex. The petals are pink to pale rose-colored, oblong, 7 mm long, and acute at the apex, with sparse glandular trichomes or pilose on the ridge. There are three stamens which are equal in length and inclined to one side. The filaments are 7 mm long, and the anthers are 8 mm long. The ovaries are flask-shaped, with membranous crown at the apex and three notches. The capsules are conic, three-sided, 5–7  cm long, 4–5  cm in diameter, with three longitudinal dehiscence, and adnate with the persistent calyxes which are glabrous and six-ribbed. Habitat: It grows in damp places in valleys. Distribution: It is found in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: The plant is used when fresh. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing and activating the channels and collaterals; it is used to treat injuries from falls, swellings, and eye pannus. Use and Dosage: For external use, mash up fresh plant and apply to affected areas.

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References 1. Xie Z W et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 838 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975. 2. Xie Z W et  al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 2: 1242 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975. 3. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 4) [S], The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China, 2015.

Chapter 5

Medicinal Angiosperms of Combretaceae, Rhizophoraceae, and Hypericaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 5.1  Family: Combretaceae 5.1.1  Combretum alfredii 5.2  Family: Combretaceae 5.2.1  Quisqualis indica 5.3  Family: Combretaceae 5.3.1  Terminalia catappa 5.4  Family: Combretaceae 5.4.1  Terminalia chebula 5.5  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.5.1  Carallia longipes  5.6  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.6.1  Ceriops tagal 5.7  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.7.1  Kandelia candel

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

© Chemical Industry Press 2021 H. Ye et al. (eds.), Common Chinese Materia Medica, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8_5

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250 5.8  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.8.1  Rhizophora mucronata 5.9  Family: Hypericaceae 5.9.1  Cratoxylum cochinchinense 5.10  Family: Hypericaceae 5.10.1  Hypericum ascyron  5.11  Family: Hypericaceae 5.11.1  Hypericum attenuatum 5.12  Family: Hypericaceae 5.12.1  Hypericum chinense 5.13  Family: Hypericaceae 5.13.1  Hypericum erectum  5.14  Family: Hypericaceae 5.14.1  Hypericum japonicum  5.15  Family: Hypericaceae 5.15.1  Hypericum patulum 5.16  Family: Hypericaceae 5.16.1  Hypericum perforatum 5.17  Family: Hypericaceae 5.17.1  Hypericum sampsonii References

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This chapter introduces 17 species of medicinal plants in three families, mainly including Combretum alfredii, Quisqualis indica, and Terminalia chebula of Combretaceae; Carallia longipes, Kandelia candel, and Rhizophora mucronata of Rhizophoraceae; and Cratoxylum cochinchinense, Hypericum ascyron, Hypericum chinense, Hypericum japonicum, and Hypericum sampsonii of Hypericaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

5.1  Family: Combretaceae 5.1.1  Combretum alfredii Chinese Name(s): hua feng che zi, shui fan tao, qing liang shu Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Combretum alfredii (Combretum alfredii Hance). Morphology: The plant is a climbing shrub. The leaves are opposite or subopposite. The leaf blades are elliptic or broadly lanceolate, 12–16 cm long, 4.8–7.3 cm wide, acuminate at the apex, and cuneate at the base. The margins are entire, glabrous, and rough on both surfaces. There are six to ten pairs of the lateral veins and tufts of coarse hairs in axils of the lateral veins. The veinlets are clearly visible, amphitropous, and parallel. The petioles are 1–1.5 cm long. The inflorescences, in

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narrowly cylindrical spikes, are terminal and axillary, forming a large panicle. The peduncle is tomentose, with brown-yellow hair and golden, orange scales. The flowers are 9 mm long. The calyxes are campanulate, coarsely hairy and with yellow glossy scales, 3.5 mm long, and around two times the length of the ovary. There are four or five calyx lobes, which are deltoid, erect, acuminate, and 1.5 mm long, with a ring of dense, lemon-yellow, coarse glossy hairs. The petals are 2 mm long, yellow white, narrowly obovate, attenuate to a stalk at the base, and obtuse-rounded or mucronate at the apices. There are eight stamens. The filaments are long, sticking far beyond the calyxes, borne from the base of the hypanthia, and 4.5 mm taller than the calyx lobes. The ovaries are cylindrical, 1.5 mm long, angustate and truncate at the base, four-sided, and squamose. The fruits are elliptical, rounded, subrounded or pyriform, four-winged, and 1.7–2.5  cm long, with yellow or orange scales. The wings are papery, equal in size, and red or purple when ripe. The carpopodium is 2–4 mm long. The flowering period is from May to August, and the fruiting period is from September onward. Habitat: It grows in open forests, forest boundaries, and roadsides on mountains and in valleys. Distribution: It is found in Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The roots and leaves are dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet, bland, or slightly bitter in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Root  – clearing heat and serving as cholagogue. Leaf  – expelling parasite. The root is used for treating icteric hepatitis, while the leaves are used to treat ascariasis and trichocephaliasis. The fresh leaves are used externally to treat empyrosis. Use and Dosage: 15–30  g of Combretum alfredii root per dose, decocted in water for oral use. 9–18 g of dry Combretum alfredii leaves or 30 g of fresh leaves, decocted in water for oral use. Drink on empty stomach twice a day. For external use, mash up fresh leaves and mix it with water used for washing rice. Apply the mixture to affected areas.

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5.2  Family: Combretaceae 5.2.1  Quisqualis indica [1] Chinese Name(s): shi jun zi, liu qiu zi Source: This medicine is made of the seeds of Quisqualis indica (Quisqualis indica Linn.). Morphology: It is a climbing shrub which is 2–8 m tall. The branchlets are with brownish yellow soft hairs. The leaves are opposite or subopposite, membranous, ovate or elliptical, 5–11  cm long, 2.5–5.5  cm wide, acuminate at the apex and rounded to obtuse at the base, glabrous adaxially, and with sparse brown hair

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abaxially. There are seven to eight pairs of the lateral veins. The petioles are 5–8 mm long, without joints, with rust-colored hair when young. The inflorescences are in terminal spikes which form cymes. The bracts are ovate to linear lanceolate and tomentose. The hypanthia are 5–9 cm long, covered in yellow soft hairs, spreading at the apices, and curved. There are five small lobes and five petals which are 1.8–2.4 cm long, 4–10 mm wide, rounded to obtuse at the apices, white when young, and turning reddish later. There are ten stamens which do not stick out of the corollas. The outer ones are borne from the base of the corolla and inner ones from the center of the hypanthia. The anthers are 1.5 mm long. The ovaries are inferior, with three ovules. The fruits are ovate, mucronate, 2.7–4 cm long, 1.2–2.3 cm in diameter, glabrous, and five-ridged. The exocarp is thin and fragile when ripe and greenish black or in chestnut color. The seed is solitary, white, 2.5 cm long, 1 cm in diameter, and cylindrical to spindle-shaped. The flowering period is in early summer, and fruiting period is in late autumn. Habitat: It grows on hills, plains, mountain slopes, roadsides, and sunlit brushwoods. Distribution: It is found in Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Sichuan provinces in China. It is also found in India, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: The fruits ripen in autumn when the pericarp turns from green to brown yellow. The fruits are picked and dried. The shell can be removed. Medicinal Properties: The medicine is ovate or elliptic. The outline is nearly olive-shaped. It is five-ribbed or occasionally four-ribbed as well as six- to nine-­ ribbed. It is 2.5–4 cm long and 2 cm in diameter. The shell is smooth and purple black or black brown, though in some places (like Lian Zhou in Guangdong province), it can be reddish brown. It is acuminate at the apex and obtuse to rounded at the base. The pericarp is rigid, star-shaped in the transverse section, hollow and round in the center, with one seed inside which is oblong or narrowly elliptic to spindle-shaped, 2 cm long, 1 cm in diameter, with many vertical wrinkles, and grayish black or brownish black with thin and fragile testa which can be easily detached to reveal two white or yellow-green oily cotyledons. The medicine smells fragrant and tastes slightly sweet. The big, full, and yellow-white seeds are in better quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet in taste and warm in nature. It is slightly poisonous and belongs to the spleen and stomach meridians. Functions: Expelling parasites and food stagnation; it is used to treat children’s malnutritional stagnation, ascariasis, enterobiasis, and abdominal pain due to parasitic infestation. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decoct in water for oral use or stir-bake the seeds of Quisqualis indica simply. Children take in the same number of seeds as their ages, and adults take in 10–15 seeds. Chew all the seeds at one time on an empty stomach.

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5.3  Family: Combretaceae 5.3.1  Terminalia catappa [2] Chinese Name(s): lan ren shu, jia pi pa Source: This medicine is made of the barks and leaves of Terminalia catappa (Terminalia catappa Linn.). Morphology: The tree is up to 15 m tall. The leaf blades are broad and alternate, often crowded at the apices of the branchlets. The leaf blades are obovate, 12–22 cm long, 8–15 cm wide, obtuse or mucronate at the apex, narrowed in proximal half, truncate or cordate at the base, glabrous on both surfaces, or abaxially tomentose when young. The leaf margins are entire and sparsely undulate. The midvein is stout, impressed adaxially to form groove, convex abaxially, and tomentose at the base of the leaf near the petiole. There are 10–12 pairs of the lateral veins and dense veinlets. The petiole is stout, 10–15 mm long, and tomentose. The inflorescences are in slender spikes which are axillary and 15–20 cm long. Staminate flowers grow near the apices and bisexual flowers near the base. The bracts are small and caducous. The plant is numerous-flowered. The flowers are green or white and 10 mm long, with petals being absent. The hypanthia are distally copular, 8 mm long, adaxially glabrous, and abaxially white tomentose. There are five triangular lobes which are equally long as the hypanthia as well as ten stamens which stick out of the calyxes and are 2.5 mm long. The disks are formed by five glands, with white thick hairs. The ovaries are conical, tomentose when young, and nearly glabrous when ripe. The style is solitary and stout with two ovules growing on top of the ovaries. The fruits are elliptic, often slightly oblate, two-ridged to two-winged, 3–4.5  cm long, 2.5–3.1 cm wide, and acuminate at both ends. The pericarp is woody, rigid,

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and glabrous. The flowering period is from March to June, and fruiting period is from July to September. Habitat: It is cultivated. Distribution: Originally from Malaysia, it is introduced to south China and cultivated there. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The barks and leaves are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is slightly astringent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Astringing, reducing phlegm, and stopping coughing; it is used to treat diarrhea, cold, coughing, and bronchitis. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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5.4  Family: Combretaceae 5.4.1  Terminalia chebula Chinese Name(s): he zi, he li le Source: This medicine is made of the fruit of Terminalia chebula (Terminalia chebula Retz.). Morphology: The tree is up to 30 m tall and 1 m in diameter. The leaves are alternate or subopposite. The leaf blade is ovate or elliptic to narrowly elliptic, 7–14 cm long, 4.5–8 cm wide, mucronate at the apex, obtuse or cuneate at the base, oblique, with entire or slightly undulate margins, glabrous on both surfaces, and with dense tiny glandular dots. There are six to ten pairs of the lateral veins. The petiole is stout, 1.8–2.3 cm long, and occasionally 3 cm long, with two (to four) glands 1–5 mm below the apex. The plant is numerous-flowered. The flowers are bisexual, 8 mm long, in simple spike inflorescences, axillary or terminal, sometimes grouped at branchlet apex, and forming a panicle which is 5.5–10  cm long. The calyx tube is distally copular, greenish or greenish yellow, and turning yellowish when dried. It is 3.5 mm long, five-lobed, with the lobes being 1 mm deep, triangular, mucronate at the apex, abaxially glabrous, and adaxially tawny tomentose. There are ten stamens which are taller than the calyx. The anther is small and elliptic. The ovary is cylindrical, 1 mm long, puberulous, and brownish black when dry. The style is long and thick, conical, and with two narrowly ellipsoid ovules. The stones are rigid, ovate or elliptic, 2.4–4.5 cm long, 1.9–2.3 cm in diameter, rough on the surface, green, black brown when ripe, glabrous, and obtusely five-ridged. The flowering period is in May, and fruiting period is from July to September. Habitat: It is cultivated.

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Distribution: It is cultivated in south China and originates in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Nepal, and India. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in late autumn and early winter when the fruits are fully ripe. It is exposed to the sun and dew until it is dry enough. When being dried, the fruits should not be turned over; otherwise, they would turn dark and have blisters which negatively affect the look of the medicine. Medicinal Properties: It is oblong or ovate, 2–4 cm long, and 1.2–2 cm in diameter. It is greenish yellow or brownish yellow on the surface, glossing, with five longitudinal ridge (rarely six), and irregular wrinkles. It is obtuse at the apex. There are rounded scars at the base. The exocarp is rigid and adjoins the sarcocarp. The flesh is 2–4 mm thick and yellowish or yellow brown. The stone is rigid and cannot be easily cracked open. Inside it is a spindle-shaped seed and yellowish brown, with thin testa and two cotyledons which are white and fused into each other. When made into medicine, the plant hardly has any smell and tastes sour, astringent first but sweet later. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter, sour, and astringent in taste and neutral in nature. It belongs to the lung channel and large intestinal meridian. Functions: Astringing diarrhea, arresting persistent cough and dissipating phlegm, lowering Qi, and relieving sore throat; it is used to treat asthma, wheezing cough because of lung deficiency, sore throat, hoarse voice, persistent diarrhea and dysentery, hemafecia, and archoptosis. It is also used to treat chronic enteritis, chronic tracheitis, chronic laryngitis, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, and hemorrhoid hemorrhage. Use and Dosage: 6–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Chronic bronchitis – prepare Terminalia chebula, licorice 1.5 g each, lily bulb 15 g, and Stemona japonica 12 g. Grind 1.5 g of licorice, 0.75 g of Terminalia chebula, and 7.5 g of lily bulb into powder. Boil 12 g of Stemona japonica, 7.5 g of lily bulb, and 0.75 g of Terminalia down to a thick paste. Mix the powder and paste to make pills. Take in 4.5 g of pills per dose, three times a day after meal. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer  – grind Terminalia chebula 3.6 g, rhizoma bletillae 0.6 g, licorice 0.6 g, rhizoma corydalis 1.2 g, and henbane 0.09 g together into powder. Make a pellet by mixing the powder with honey. Take a pellet per dose, three to four times a day.

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5.5  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.5.1  Carallia longipes Chinese Name(s): ju ye zhu jie shu, pang qi mu Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Carallia longipes (Carallia longipes Chun ex W. C. Ko). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree. The branchlets and branches are purplish brown when dry and are with visible spindle-shaped suberin lenticels. The leaf blades are papery, oblong, rarely lanceolate, 5–13 cm long, 2.5–5.5 cm wide, acuminate or caudate, cuneate at the base, and finely denticulate along the margins. The petioles are 5–6 mm long. The peduncles are short. The inflorescence is dichasial cymose, 1.5–2 cm long, or slightly longer. They are with short pedicels. Two to three of the flowers are terminal. The bracteoles are tiny and membranous. The calyxes are suborbiculate, 4–6 mm in diameter, and six- to seven-lobed. The lobes are narrowly triangular. The petals are white, 1.8–2 mm both in length and width when the flowers are in full bloom, bifid at the apex, folded and unevenly lobed on margins. The petal stalks are 1–1.8 mm long. The fruits are ovate, 6–7 mm in diameter, red when mature, and with persistent red calyx lobes. The seeds are oblong or reniform. The flowering and fruiting period are both in spring and summer. Habitat: It grows in thickets or bushes on the mountains. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected all year round. The whole plant is dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and slightly cold in nature. It belongs to the meridians of the liver and kidneys. Functions: Activating blood to promoting menstruation and strengthening tendons and bones; it is used to treat rheumatism, bruises, and bleeding of traumatic wounds. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up some fresh plant to be applied to the wound.

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5.6  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.6.1  Ceriops tagal Chinese Name(s): jiao guo mu, jian zi shu, hai jia zai, hai dian zi Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Ceriops tagal (Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C. B. Rob.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or tree which is 2–5 m tall. The trunks are often curvy. The barks are grayish brown and smooth, with tiny cracks. There are visible leaf scars on the branches. The leaf blades are obovate to obovate-oblong, 4–7 cm long, 2–3 (~4) cm wide, rounded at the apex or emarginate, cuneate at the base, fleshy on the margins, and reflexed if dry. The midveins are raised on both surfaces, and the lateral veins are not clearly visible. The petioles are thick and 1–3  cm long. The stipules are lanceolate and 1–1.5  cm long. The flowers are 2–2.5  cm long, in cymose inflorescence, axillary, and with peduncles as well as branches. Each plant is two- to four (ten)-flowered. The flowers are small and 5–7 mm long when in full bloom. The calyx lobes are small, papery, erect when flowering, and outwardly reflexed or spreading when the plant is in fruit. The petals are white and shorter than the calyx lobes, with three club-shaped terminal appendages. The stamens are uneven in length and shorter than the calyx lobes. The fruits are conic-ovate, 1–1.5  cm long, and 0.7–1  cm in diameter. The hypocotyls are 15–30 cm long, with the middle and upper parts being slightly thicker. The flowering period is in autumn and winter, and the fruiting period is in winter. Habitat: It grows in mudflat forests near the sea. Distribution: It is cultivated in Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, and Zhejiang provinces in China. It is also found on the east coast of Africa and tropical mudflats in Asia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn, and the whole plant is dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and astringent in taste and cold in nature.

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Functions: Reducing swelling and detoxicating, astringing, and stopping bleeding; it is used to treat ulcer, erysipelas, impetigo, and insect and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 3–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up fresh plants and apply to affected areas.

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5.7  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.7.1  Kandelia candel Chinese Name(s): qiu qie shu, shui bi zai, qie xing shu, hong lang Source: This medicine is made of the barks of Kandelia candel (Kandelia candel (Linn.) Druce). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or a tree which is 2–3 m tall. The barks are smooth and reddish brown. The trunks are thick, with protruding gnarls. The leaf blades are elliptic, oblong to subobovate, 5–9 cm long, 2.5–4 cm wide, obtuse or rounded at the apex, and cuneate at the base. The margins are entire, without visible veins. The petioles are thick and 1–1.5 cm long. The stipules are 1.5–2 cm long and caducous. The plant is four- to nine-flowered, in bifurcate cymose inflorescence. The peduncles are uneven in length. One to three of them are borne from the axils in the upper part of the plant and are 2–4 cm long. The flowers have short pedicels which are 1–2 cm long and 2–2.5 cm in diameter when flowers bloom. The calyx lobes are leathery, 1–1.5 cm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, acuminate, and reflexed after anthesis. The petals are white and membranous and shorter than the calyx lobes. The stamens are numerous, uneven in length, and 6–12 mm long. The styles are filiform and equal to the stamens in length. The fruits are conic, 1.5–2 cm long, and 8–10 mm in diameter at the base. The hypocotyls are long and thin and 12–20 cm long. The flowering and fruiting period last all year round. Habitat: It grows in mangrove swamps on the beach. Distribution: It is found in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and Taiwan provinces in China. It is also seen in India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The barks of the plant are collected and used when fresh throughout the year. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Stopping bleeding and heeling injuries; it’s often used in treatment of incised wound, traumatic hemorrhage, and burns. Use and Dosage: The fresh plant is mashed up and applied to the wound.

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5.8  Family: Rhizophoraceae 5.8.1  Rhizophora mucronata Chinese Name(s): hong qie dong, qie teng Source: This medicine comes from the barks and roots of Rhizophora mucronata (Rhizophora mucronata Lam.). Morphology: The tree is with brown barks which bear longitudinal dehiscence lenticels. The buttress roots grow down into the ground. The leaf blades are broadly elliptic to oblong, 10–16 cm long, 5–10 cm wide, obtuse or shortly acute, and cuneate at the base. Both the midvein and petiole are green, the latter being thick and 2.5–5 cm long. The stipules are 5.5–8.5 cm long. The peduncles grow from the axils that appear in the same year, as long as petioles, and bear two or more flowers. The flowers have short pedicels and cohering bracteoles at the base. The calyx lobes are ovate, 12–15 mm long, 5–7 mm wide, and yellowish. The flower petals are shorter than the calyx lobes and pilose on the margins. There are eight stamens, with four being adnate to the base of petals and four adnate to sepals. The upper part of the

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ovary which emerges far beyond disk is conic and 2.5–3 mm long. The styles are not clearly visible, 0.5–1.5 mm long, and two-lobed at the apex. The mature fruits are elongate-ovate, slightly contracted at the apex, rough at the base, brownish green, 5–7 cm long, and 2.5–3.5 cm in diameter. The hypocotyls are cylindrical, rough, 36–64 cm long, and 1.8 cm in diameter. Habitat: It grows in salt flats near the bay or swamps within the reach of ocean tides. Distribution: It is found in Taiwan and Guangdong provinces in China. It is also seen on the east coast of Africa, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the north of Australia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The barks and roots are dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour and astringent in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Detoxicating and relieving sore throat, clearing heat and dampness, cooling the blood, and stopping bleeding; it is used to treat swelling and pain in the throat, diarrhea, dysentery, hematuria, and bleeding wound. Use and Dosage: 6–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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5.9  Family: Hypericaceae 5.9.1  Cratoxylum cochinchinense Chinese Name(s): huang niu mu, huang niu cha, huang ya cha Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Cratoxylum cochinchinense (Cratoxylum cochinchinense (Lour.) Bl. [C. ligustrinum Bl.]). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or tree, with clusters of long thorns on lower part of the trunk. The leaf blades are elliptical or narrowly elliptical-lanceolate, 3–10.5 cm long, 1–4 cm wide, cuspidate or acute at the apex, obtuse or cuneate at the base, thickly papery, glabrous on both surfaces, abaxially gray green, and adaxially green, with pellucid or dark glands. The midveins are impressed on the upper surface. There are 8–12 pairs of the lateral veins, which are convex on both surfaces and oblique. The petiole is about 2–3 mm long and glabrous. The plant is two- to three-flowered, with the flowers in cymose inflorescence, axillary or extra-axillary and terminal, having stalks (2–3 mm long), and 1–1.5 cm in diameter. The sepals are elliptical, 5–7 mm long, 2–5 mm wide, and rounded at the apex, with dark linear glands on the entire surface, and grow bigger when the plant is in fruit. The petals are pink, crimson or pinkish yellow, oblanceolate, 5–10 cm long, 2.5–5 mm wide, rounded at the apex, and cuneate at the base, with dark linear glands between veins, without petal scale. The stamens are three-fascicled and 4–8 mm long. The pedicels are broad flat to long and narrow. The fleshy glands on the lower parts are oblong to oblanceolate, cucullate, 3 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, thickened, and recurved apically. The ovary is conical, 3 mm long, glabrous, and three-loculed. The capsule is ellipsoid, 8–12 mm long, 4–5 mm wide, brown, and glabrous, with two-thirds being covered by persistent calyx lobes.

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Habitat: It grows on mountains, in open forests on hills, or brushwoods. Distribution: It is found in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces in China. It is also found in countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is sliced and dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet or slightly bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, eliminating dampness, and removing stagnated food; it is used to treat cold, heat stroke fever, acute gastroenteritis, and jaundice. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. It can also be made into a cooling drink.

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5.10  Family: Hypericaceae 5.10.1  Hypericum ascyron Chinese Name(s): huang hai tang, hu nan lian qiao Source: The medicine is made of the whole plant of Hypericum ascyron (Hypericum ascyron Linn.). Morphology: The herb is perennial and about 0.5–1.3 cm tall. The leaf blades are sessile, thickly papery, lanceolate, 4–10  cm long, 1–2.7  cm tall, acuminate, acute or obtuse at the apex, cuneate or cordate and amplexicaul at the base, with entire margins, green adaxially, and paler abaxially, with scattered glaucous glandular dots which are visible near the midvein, the lateral veins, and marginal veins. The tertiary reticulation is dense. The plant is 1–35-flowered. The flowers are

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terminal, in corymbose cyme or narrowly conical inflorescence, sometimes many-­ branched, 3–8 cm in diameter, and spreading or reflexed. The flower buds are ovoid, rounded, or obtuse at the apex. The flower pedicels are 0.5–3 cm long. The sepals are ovate, lanceolate-ellipsoid or oblong, 5–15 mm long, 1.5–7 mm wide, acute or obtuse at the apex, with entire margins, and erect when the plant is in fruit. The petals are brightly yellow, oblanceolate, 1.5–4 cm long, 0.5–2 cm wide, curvy, with or without glandular dots, and persistent. The stamens are many and five-fascicled, with 30 stamens in each fascicle. The anther is brightly yellow, with turpentine-like gland dots. The ovary is broadly ovate or ovate-triangular, 4–7 mm long, and five-­ loculed. There are five styles. The capsules are narrowly or broadly ovate or ovate-­ triangular, 0.9–2.2 cm long, 0.5–1.2 cm wide, brown, and five-lobed when mature. The flowering period is between July and August, and the fruiting period is between August and September. Habitat: It grows on mountains, open forests, brushwood, or meadowland of low-altitude areas. Distribution: It is widely found in China, in areas to the south of Heilongjiang, to the north of Guangdong, to the east of Taiwan, and to the west of Sichuan. It is also found in countries like Russia, North Korea, Japan, Canada, and America. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Cooling the blood and stopping bleeding, promoting blood circulation to restore menstrual flow, clearing heat, and detoxicating. It is used to treat hemoptysis, hematemesis, hematuria, hematochezia, metrorrhagia, metrostaxis resulting from blood heat, traumatic injuries, bleeding wound, irregular menstruation, dysmenorrheal, agalactosis, anemopyretic cold, malaria, hepatitis, dysentery, diarrhea, venomous snake bites, burns, eczema, and yellow fluid ulcers. Use and Dosage: 5–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up appropriate amount of fresh plant to be applied to the wound.

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5.11  Family: Hypericaceae 5.11.1  Hypericum attenuatum Chinese Name(s): gan shan bian, ye jin si tao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Hypericum attenuatum (Hypericum attenuatum Choisy). Morphology: It is a perennial herb which is about 70  cm tall. The stems are numerous, cespitose, erect, ellipsoid, and two-lined, with black glandular dots and streaks on lines. The leaf blades are ovate-oblong or ovate-lanceolate or oblong-­ obovate, 1.5–3 cm long, 0.5–1.2 cm wide, obtuse or acuminate at the apex, subcordate to cuneate at the base, slightly amplexicaul, smooth on both surfaces, and almost sessile, with entire margins and glandular dot abaxially and two pairs of the lateral veins which are impressed adaxially with the midvein. The flowers are terminal, in corymbose cyme or panicle inflorescence. The bracts are oblong and about 0.5 cm long. The flowers are 1.3–1.5 cm in diameter and plane. The flower buds are ovate, and the pedicels are 3–4 cm long. The sepals are ovate-oblanceolate, 5 mm long, 2 mm wide, and acute at the apex, with scattered laminar and marginal gland dots. The petals are yellowish, oblong-obovate, 1 cm long, 0.4 cm wide, obtuse at the apex, with sparse black laminar and marginal gland dots, and persistent. The stamens are three-fascicled, with 30 stamens in each fascicle and black glandular dots on the anthers. The ovary is ovate, 3.5 mm long, and three-loculed. There are two styles, which are free and as long as the ovary or slightly longer. The capsules are ovate or oblong-ovate, 0.6–10 mm long, and 4 mm wide, with unequal glandular streaks. The flowering period is between July and August, and fruiting period is between August and September.

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Habitat: It grows among the grass on mountain slopes. Distribution: It is found in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Hunan, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, Sichuan, and Xin Jiang provinces in China. It is also found in countries like Vietnam, Japan, North Korea, Mongolia, and Russia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: The medical function of the plant is to stop bleeding, relieve pain, and stimulate lactation. It is used to treat hemoptysis, hematemesis, uterine bleeding, rheumatoid joint pain, neuralgia, traumatic injuries, agalactosis, and mammitis. For external use, it treats bleeding wounds and impetigo. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up proper amount of fresh plant to be applied to affected areas or sprinkle dried powder of plant to affected areas.

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5.12  Family: Hypericaceae 5.12.1  Hypericum chinense Chinese Name(s): jin si tao, jin si hai tang, wu xin hua Source: This medicine is made of the root of Hypericum chinense (Hypericum chinense Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a perennial shrub and 0.5–1.3 m tall. The leaves are opposite, and the blades are oblanceolate, elliptic or oblong, 2–11.2  cm long, 1–4.1 cm wide, acute to rounded at the apex, apiculate, and cuneate to rounded at the base (the upper leaf blades are truncate or cordate at base). The leaf blades are green adaxially and paler abaxially. The main veins are three- or four-paired. The leaf blades are sessile or with short petioles.

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The plant is 1–15 (~30)-flowered, in lax subcorymbose cyme inflorescence. The flower buds are obovoid and subacute to obtuse at the apex. The sepals are broadly or narrowly ellipsoid or oblong-lanceolate and acute to rounded at the apex, with entire margins. The petals are yellow, wide open, triangular-obovate, 2–3.4 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, and eglandular, with entire margins and lateral apiculus. The stamens are five-fascicled, with 25–35 stamens in each fascicle, the longest being 1.8–3.2 cm, nearly as long as the petals. The anther is yellow or dark orange, and the ovary is obovoid or ovate-conic, 2.5–5  mm long, and 2.5–3  mm wide. The styles are 1.2–2 cm long, united nearly to apices, and then outcurved or very rarely to half free, with small stigma. The capsule is broadly ovate or rarely ovate-conic to subglobose, 6–10  mm long, and 4–7  mm wide. The seeds are dark reddish brown, cylindrical, 2 mm long, and narrowly carinate, with linear-reticulate or honeycomb testa. The flowering period is between May and August, and fruiting period is between August and September. Habitat: It grows on mountain slopes and open fields in low-altitude to middle-­ altitude areas. Distribution: It is found in Shan Dong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Hong Kong, etc., in China. It is now also cultivated in some regions in Asia and Europe. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The root is dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, removing pathogenic wind, and reducing swellings. It is used to treat acute laryngopharyngitis, conjunctivitis, hepatitis, and snake bite. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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5.13  Family: Hypericaceae 5.13.1  Hypericum erectum Chinese Name(s): xiao lian qiao, qian jin zi, han mei cao, xiao jin que, pai cao, pai xiang cao Source: This medicine in made of the whole plant of Hypericum erectum (Hypericum erectum Thunb. ex Murray). Morphology: The herbs are perennial and 0.3–0.7 m tall. The leaves are sessile, ellipsoid or ovate-oblong, 1.5–5 cm long, 0.8–1.3 cm wide, obtuse at the apex, cordate as well as amplexicaul at the base, with entire incurved margins, papery, green adaxially, paler abaxially, and with intramarginal laminar gland dots and more or less scattered black gland dots. There are five pairs of the lateral veins, growing diagonally toward the blade. The lateral veins and midveins are impressed adaxially and convex abaxially, with dense tertiary reticulations which are more visible abaxially. The flowers are many, terminal, in corymbose cyme inflorescence, and with axillary flower branches. The bracts and bracteoles are leaflike and 0.5 cm long. The

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flowers are 1.5 cm in diameter and nearly flat-topped, with 1.5–3-mm-long petiole and ovate-lanceolate sepals which are 2.5 mm long and less than 1 mm wide and acute at the apex. The margins are entire and have intramarginal and scattered black gland dots. The petals are yellow, obovate-oblong, 7 mm long, and 2.5 mm wide, with distal dots and streaks. The stamens are three-fascicled and persistent, with eight to ten stamens in each fascicle. The anther is with black gland dots, and the ovary is ovate, 3 mm long, and 1 mm wide. There are three styles, which are widely spreading, as long as the ovary. The capsule is ovate, 10 mm long, and 4 mm wide, with vertical stripes. The flowering period is between July and August, and fruiting period is from August to September. Habitat: It grows in valleys and among thick grass on mountain slopes. Distribution: It is found in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Hunan, and Guangdong provinces in China. It is also seen in North Korea and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The whole plant is dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Detoxicating and reducing swellings, dissipating blood stasis, and stopping bleeding. It treats hematemesis and epistaxis, pyogenic infections for unknown reasons, venomous snake bites, and pain and swelling from injuries. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Hematemesis, epistaxis, and premenstrual abdominal pain – decoct 12 g of Hypericum erectum for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Pains and swellings from injuries – decoct 12 g of Hypericum erectum in water and proper amounts of white spirits for oral use. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: For treating pyogenic infections – mash up 60 g of Hypericum erectum and 30 g of Japanese violet with distillers’ grains to be applied to the wound. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Bleeding from injuries – mash up appropriate amount of Hypericum erectum to be applied to the wound.

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5.14  Family: Hypericaceae 5.14.1  Hypericum japonicum Chinese Name(s): tian ji huang, di er cao, xiao tian ji huang, que she cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Hypericum japonicum (Hypericum japonicum Thunb. ex Murray). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb and 2–45 cm tall. The leaf blades are sessile, usually ovate or ovate-triangular to oblong or elliptic, 0.2–1.8  cm long, 0.1–1 cm wide, obtuse to rounded on the apex, cordate-amplexicaul to truncate at the base, with entire margins, hard papery, green adaxially, paler abaxially or green white, with one to two pairs of the lateral veins, and no visible tertiary reticulation. The leaves have scattered pellucid gland dots but no intramarginal gland dots. It is

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1–30-flowered, in monochasial or dichasial inflorescence. The bracts and bracteoles are linear and lanceolate or leaflike, with the sizes varying from tiny to being equally long as the leaves. The flowers are 4–8 mm in diameter and flat. The flower buds are cylindrical-ellipsoid and obtuse at the apex. The peduncles are 2–5 mm long, and the sepals are narrowly oblong, lanceolate or elliptic, 2–5.5  cm long, 0.5–2  mm wide, acute or obtuse at the apex, and erect when the plant is in fruit. The margins are entire, without intramarginal gland dots, but with scattered pellucid gland dots and laminar gland lines. The petals are pale, bright yellow or orange, obovate to oblong or elliptic, 2–5 mm long, 0.8–1.8 mm wide, obtuse at the apex, persistent, and with no gland dots. There are 5–30 stamens, not in fascicles, about 2 mm long, and persistent. The anthers are yellow, with terpentine-like glands. The flowering period is from March to August, and fruiting period is from June to October. Habitat: It grows in damp places on fields or near ditches. Distribution: It is found along the Yangtze River and in provinces to the south of it. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet as well as a little bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, detoxicating and reducing swelling, dispersing blood stasis, and relieving pain; it is used to treat hepatitis, inchoate liver cirrhosis, appendicitis, conjunctivitis, and tonsillitis. Applied externally, it treats skin itch and impetigo, venomous snake bite, and traumatic injuries. Use and Dosage: 30–60  g of fresh plants or 15–30  g of dry plant per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh plant or grind dry plant to powder and apply to wound. Prescriptions: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Acute jaundice hepatitis: (a) Shugan Pian, four tablets at a time, three times a day. (b) Inject Hypericum japonicum solution into muscles, one to two times per day, 2 ml at one time (equivalent to crude drug in whole 2 g to 4 g). 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Acute simple appendicitis – decoct Hypericum japonicum and Chinese lobelia, 15 g each, Herba lycopi and Dutchman’s pipe root, 9 g each, and dandelion 30 g, in water to drink. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Acute conjunctivitis  – decoct Hypericum japonicum 30–60 g, in water, and wash eyes with it, three times per day. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Impetigo and infected wounds – decoct fresh Hypericum japonicum 1500 g in 10 kg of water, remove the dregs, and boil it down to 3  kg. Then filter the decoctum, add preservatives, and autoclave it. Early-stage impetigo and abscess can be treated by applying the ointment made by mixing the decoctum of Hypericum japonicum with mashed henbane to the affected area and change fresh dressing for it every day. For serious abscess, cut the abscess to evacuate the pus. Then, soak gauze in Hypericum japonicum

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decoctum and dress the wound. For infected wounds, dress them with gauze soaked in Hypericum japonicum decoctum and change fresh dressing every day. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Preventing colds – decoct fresh Hypericum japonicum (15 g) in water twice, stir the decoctum, and drink it, twice every day in the morning and evening. Keep drinking for 6 days. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Venomous snake bites – mash up 60 g of fresh Hypericum japonicum, take the liquid, mix it with 9 g of vinegar, and dilute the mixture by adding warm water or a little white spirit for drinking. Take the dregs and mix it with water and spirits, mash it up further, and apply to the areas around the wound.

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5.15  Family: Hypericaceae 5.15.1  Hypericum patulum Chinese Name(s): jin si mei, mang zhong hua, jian er hua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Hypericum patulum (Hypericum patulum Thunb. ex Murray). Morphology: The plant is a fasciculate perennial shrub and 2 m tall. The leaf blades are lanceolate or oblong-ovate, 1.5–6  cm long, 0.5–3  cm wide, obtuse-­ apiculate to rounded-apiculate at the apex, narrowly or broadly cuneate or short angustate at the base, and adaxially green and abaxially pale, with three pairs of main veins and laminar glands in short streaks or dots. The petiole is about 0.5–2 mm long. It is 1–15-flowered, with flowers in umbel inflorescence, and 2.5–4  cm in diameter. The flower buds are broadly ovate and obtuse at the apex. The sepals are borne singularly and erect when flowers are in buds and when the plant is in fruit. They are broadly ovate or broadly elliptic or subcircular to oblong-elliptic or obovate-spatulate, 5–10 mm long, 3.5–7 mm wide, obtuse to rounded or retuse, and usually apiculate at the apex. The margins are eroded-denticulate to ciliolate with markedly hyaline margin and reddish. The petals are golden yellow, not tinged red, slightly curved, oblong-obovate to broadly obovate, 1.2–1.8 cm long, and 1–1.4 cm wide. The margins are entire or slightly eroded-denticulate with a row of intramarginal gland dots on each petal and usually apiculate on the surfaces. There are five stamen fascicles, each with 50–70 stamens, the longest being 7–12 mm. The anthers are brightly yellow, and the ovaries are broadly ovate, 5–6 mm long, and 3.5–4 mm in diameter. The capsules are broadly ovoid, 0.9–1.1 cm long, and 0.8–1 cm wide. The flowering period is between June and July, and fruiting period is between August and October. Habitat: It grows on mountain slopes and in valley woods or bushes.

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Distribution: It is found in Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Fujian provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is slightly bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, cooling the blood and stopping bleeding, and killing parasite to stop itching; the whole plant can be used to treat upper respiratory tract infection, hepatitis, diarrhea, and nephritis. The fruits are used to treat metrorrhagia and epistaxis. The leaves are applied externally to treat skin itch and impetigo. The roots are used as ascaricide. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, wash the infected part with the decoctum or sprinkle dried leaf powder on it.

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5.16  Family: Hypericaceae 5.16.1  Hypericum perforatum [3] Chinese Name(s): guan ye lian qiao, qian ceng lou, xiao dui ye cao, xiao guo lu huang, gan shan bian Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Hypericum perforatum Linn (Hypericum perforatum Linn.). Morphology: It is a perennial herb, 20–60cm tall, and glabrous. The leaf blades are sessile, ellipsoid or linear, 1–2 cm long, 0.3–0.7 cm wide, obtuse at the apex, and nearly cordate-amplexicaul at the base. They have entire margins, which are curved

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abaxially and are thickly papery, adaxially green, and white green abaxially, with scattered laminar pale or black gland dots. There are two pairs of lateral veins, growing from lower one-third of the midvein, oblique to join the margin. The lateral veins and midveins are clearly visible on both surfaces. The plant is five- to sevenflowered, in dichasia. Many cymes form a terminal panicle. The bracts or bractlets are linear and 4  mm long. The sepals are oblong or lanceolate, 3–4  mm long, 1–1.2 mm wide, acuminate or acute at the apex, with black gland dots on the margin and two rows of laminar streaks and dots, and erect when the plant is in fruit and growing slightly bigger to 4.5 mm long. The pedals are golden yellow, oblong to oblong-elliptic, asymmetric, 1.2 mm long, and 0.5 mm wide, with black laminar gland dots on the margin. The numerous stamens are three-fascicled, with about 15 stamens in each of the fascicles, and the filaments are uneven in length, the longest being about 8 mm. The anthers are yellow, with black gland dots. The ovaries are ovoid and about 3 mm long. The capsules are oblong to ovate, 5 mm long, 3 mm in diameter, and with abaxial vittae and lateral yellowish vesicles. The flowering season is from July to August, and fruiting season is from September to October. Habitat: It grows in the valleys and on the slopes of mountains 500–2100 m tall. Distribution: It can be found in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Hebei, Shan Dong, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Hunan, and Guangdong provinces in China. It is also distributed in areas like the southern Europe, Cyprus, northwestern Africa, Near East Asia, Central Asia, India, Mongolia, and Russia. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn, and the plants are dried as a whole. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and pungent in taste and neutral in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating and regulating menstruation; it is used to treat hematemesis and irregular menstruation. When applied externally, it treats traumatic bleeding, suppurative inflammation, and empyrosis. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water to drink. For external use, mash up fresh plant or grind dry plant to powder and apply to wound.

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5.17  Family: Hypericaceae 5.17.1  Hypericum sampsonii Chinese Name(s): yuan bao cao, he zhang cao, xiao lian qiao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Hypericum sampsonii (Hypericum sampsonii Hance). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb and about 80 cm tall. The leaves are in perfoliate pairs, without petioles. The bases of the leaves are aggregated into a whole, with the petioles penetrating through. The leaf blades are lanceolate, oblong or oblanceolate, 2.5–7 cm long, 1–3.5 cm wide, rounded or obtuse at the apex and

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board at the base, entire, thickly papery, adaxially green, and abaxially paler, with dense intramarginal gland dots and laminar gland dots. The midvein runs straight to the leaf apex, and there are four lateral veins. The flowers are terminal, in corymbose cyme inflorescence, 6–12 mm in diameter, and flat-topped, with cupped base. The sepals are oblong to oblong-spatulate or linear-oblong, 3–7 mm long, 1–3 mm wide, rounded at the apex, and integrifolious, with sparse intramarginal gland dots and pale or rarely black laminar streaks or dots. The petals are bright yellow, elliptic-oblong, 4–8 mm long, 1.5–4 mm wide, and persistent, with sessile or subsessile black marginal glands and pale (very rarely a few black) laminar glands and short streaks or dots. The stamens are three-fascicled and persistent, each with 10–14 stamens. The anthers are yellowish, with black gland dots. The ovary is ovate to narrowly pyramidal, 3 mm long, and three-loculed. The capsules are broadly ovate to broadly or narrowly ovate-pyramidal, 6–9 mm long, and 4–5 mm wide, with scattered ovate to elongate amber vesicular glands. Habitat: It grows in the wet and shaded places on mountain slopes or roadsides. Distribution: It is found in provinces south of the Yangtze River Valley and in Taiwan in China and also in Japan, the north of Vietnam, the east of Myanmar, and the northeast of India. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The plants are dried as a whole after the mud is removed. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent and spicy in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing and activating collaterals, clearing heat and detoxicating, stopping bleeding, and cooling blood; it is used to treat children’s fever, diarrhea, enteritis, hematemesis, epistaxis, irregular menstruation, and leukorrhea. When applied externally, it treats bruise, bleeding, injuries from falls, mastitis, empyrosis, and venomous snake bite. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water and drink. For external use, mash up fresh plant or grind dry plant into powder and apply to wound.

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References 1. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 199) [S], The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China, 2015. 2. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 121) [S], The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China, 2015. 3. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 215) [S], The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China, 2015.

Chapter 6

Medicinal Angiosperms of Guttiferae, Tiliaceae, Sterculiaceae, and Bombacaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 6.1  Family: Guttiferae 6.1.1  Garcinia multiflora 6.2  Family: Guttiferae 6.2.1  Garcinia oblongifolia 6.3  Family: Tiliaceae 6.3.1  Corchoropsis tomentosa 6.4  Family: Tiliaceae 6.4.1  Corchorus aestuans 6.5  Family: Tiliaceae 6.5.1  Corchorus capsularis 6.6  Family: Tiliaceae 6.6.1  Grewia biloba 6.7  Family: Tiliaceae 6.7.1  Grewia eriocarpa 6.8  Family: Tiliaceae 6.8.1  Microcos paniculata

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

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290 6.9   Family: Tiliaceae 6.9.1  Triumfetta rhomboidea 6.10  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.10.1  Ambroma augusta 6.11  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.11.1  Byttneria aspera 6.12  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.12.1  Firmiana simplex 6.13  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.13.1  Helicteres angustifolia 6.14  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.14.1  Helicteres isora 6.15  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.15.1  Pterospermum heterophyllum 6.16  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.16.1  Pterospermum lanceifolium 6.17  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.17.1  Sterculia nobilis 6.18  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.18.1  Waltheria indica 6.19  Family: Bombacaceae 6.19.1  Bombax ceiba References

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This chapter introduces 19 species of medicinal plants in four families, mainly including Garcinia multiflora and Garcinia oblongifolia of Guttiferae; Microcos paniculata and Triumfetta rhomboidea of Tiliaceae; Ambroma augusta, Byttneria aspera, Firmiana simplex, Helicteres isora, Pterospermum heterophyllum, Pterospermum lanceifolium, and Waltheria indica of Sterculiaceae; and Bombax ceiba of Bombacaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

6.1  Family: Guttiferae 6.1.1  Garcinia multiflora Chinese Name(s): duo hua shan zhu zi, shan zhu zi Source: This medicine is made of the barks and fruits of Garcinia multiflora (Garcinia multiflora Champ. ex Benth.) Morphology: It is a tree. The leaf blades are subleathery, obovate, oblong-­ obovate or oblong-obovate, 7–16 cm long, 3–6 cm wide, acute, acuminate or obtuse

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at the apex, and cuneate or broadly cuneate at the base, with slightly reflexed edges. When the leaves are dry, the back surface is white green or brown. The midvein of the leaves is impressed adaxially. There are 10–15 pairs of lateral veins which anastomose on the edge. The petiole is about 0.6–1.2 cm long. The flowers are polygamous and monoecious. The staminate flowers are in cymose panicle inflorescence, 5–7 cm long, and occasionally solitary. There are joints on the pedicles. The diameter of the staminate flowers is around 2–3 cm, and the pedicles are about 0.8–1.5 cm long. There are two large sepals and two small ones on each flower. The petals are orange yellow, obovate, and roughly 1.5 times as long as the sepals. The filaments are conjoint into four bundles, which are taller than the pistillodes. The fascicle stalk is about 2–3 mm long. Each fascicle is with 50 anthers which aggregate into a head. The anthers are two-loculed, some of which are ramiform. The pistillode is columnar, with distinctly peltate stigma, and quadrilid. There are 1–5 pistillodes. The staminode fascicles are short, with the stalks being 1.5 mm long, shorter than pistil. The ovary is oblong, wider in the upper half, and two-loculed. The stigma is sessile, large, thick, and peltate. Mature fruits are yellow, ovate to obovate, 3–5 cm long, and 2.5–3 cm wide. The peltate stigma is persistent. The flowering period is between June and August, and the fruiting period is from November to December. Habitat: It grows in sparse or dense woods. Distribution: It can be found in Guangxi, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian, and Taiwan provinces in China. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in autumn and winter. The barks and fruits are dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and astringent in taste, cold in nature, and slightly poisonous. Functions: Subduing inflammation, relieving pain, and astringing and promoting tissue regeneration; it is used to treat enteritis, children’s dyspepsia, ulcers on stomach and duodenum, mild bleeding of ulcers, stomatitis, and paradentitis. Used externally, it treats empyrosis, ulcer of lower limb, and eczema. Use and Dosage: Decoct 1.5–3 g of dry powder made from the barks and drink it (30 ml per dose, twice a day). For external use, grind the proper quantity of barks into powder and apply to the wound. Prescriptions: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Gastroenteritis and indigestion – drink 30 ml of 50% solution of Garcinia oblongifolia with water, twice a day. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Gastroenteritis – boil 6 g of Garcinia oblongifolia tree bark and 18 g of Arcangelisia loureiri, with 3 g of Negundo chaste tree leaf twice until they concentrate to 30 ml. Drink half of it per dose. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Empyrosis  – mix the powder of Garcinia oblongifolia barks and boiled peanut oil and apply the mixture to the wound, once or twice per day. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Leprosy foot ulcer – sprinkle the powder of Garcinia oblongifolia barks on ulcers after surgical management, dress the wound up with gauze, and change dressing once a day.

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6.2  Family: Guttiferae 6.2.1  Garcinia oblongifolia Chinese Name(s): ling nan shan zhu zi, huang ya guo, ling nan dao ren zi Source: This medicine is made of the barks of Garcinia oblongifolia (Garcinia oblongifolia Champ. ex Benth.). Morphology: The tree is 5–15 m tall, with a diameter at breast height of up to 30 cm. The bark is dark gray, with some interrupted rings on old branches. The leaf blades are subleathery, oblong, obovate or oblanceolate, 5–10 cm long, 2–3.5 cm wide, acute or obtuse at the apex, and cuneate at the base. When the leaves are dry,

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the margins are reflexed. The midvein of the leaf is slightly raised adaxially, and there are 10–18 pairs of the lateral veins together with a 1-cm-long petiole. The flowers are small, about 3 mm in diameter, unisexual, and dioecious. They can be either solitary or in an umbel-like cymose inflorescence. The pedicel is about 3–7 mm long. The sepals of staminate flowers are the same in size, suborbiculate, and 3–5 mm long. The petals are yellow or yellowish, obovate-oblong, and 7–9 cm long. Many stamens conjoin into one bundle. The anthers are aggregated into a head, and there are no pistillodes. The sepals and petals of the female flower are similar to those of the male one. The staminodes are conjoint into four bundles which are shorter than the pistils. The ovaries are ovoid and eight- to ten-loculed, with no style. The stigma is peltate, convex, radiately lobed, and papillate. The fruits are ovate or globose, 2–4 cm long, 2–3.5 cm in diameter, subtended by persistent sepals at the base, and crowned by convex stigma. The flowering period is from April to May, and the fruiting period is from October to December. Habitat: It grows on mountains, dense woodland at the feet of mountains, hills, and sparse forests on flat terrain. Distribution: It can be found in Hong Kong, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan in China and also in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The plants are collected in summer and autumn. The barks are dried after collecting. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and astringent in taste, cold-­ natured, and slightly poisonous. Functions: Subduing inflammation, relieving pain, and astringing and promoting tissue regeneration; it is used to treat enteritis, children’s dyspepsia, ulcers on the stomach and duodenum, mild bleeding of ulcers, stomatitis, and paradentitis. Used externally, it treats empyrosis, ulcer of lower limb, and eczema. Use and Dosage: Decoct 1.5–3 g of dry powder made from the barks and drink it (30 ml per dose, twice a day). For external use, grind the proper quantity of barks into powder and apply to the wound. Prescriptions: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Gastroenteritis and indigestion – drink 30 ml of 50% solution of Garcinia oblongifolia with water, twice a day. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Gastroenteritis – boil 6 g of Garcinia oblongifolia tree barks and 18 g of Arcangelisia loureiri, with 3 g of Negundo chaste tree leaf twice until they concentrate to 30 ml. Drink half of it per dose. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Empyrosis  – mix the powder of Garcinia oblongifolia barks and boiled peanut oil and apply the mixture to the wound, once or twice per day. 4. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Foot ulcer – sprinkle the powder of Garcinia oblongifolia barks on ulcers after surgical management, dress the wound up with gauze, and change dressing once a day.

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6.3  Family: Tiliaceae 6.3.1  Corchoropsis tomentosa Chinese Name(s): tian ma, mao guo tian ma Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Corchoropsis tomentosa (Corchoropsis tomentosa (Thunb.) Makino). Morphology: It is an annual herb, which is 40–60 cm tall. The branches bear tiny stellate soft hair. The leaf blades are ovate or narrowly ovate, 2.5–6 cm long, 1–3 cm wide, bluntly serrated on the edge, and densely puberulent with short stellate hairs on both surfaces, with three basal veins. The petiole is 0.2–2.3 cm long. The stipules are subulate and 2–4  mm long which comes off as the leaves grow further. The flowers are 1.5–2 cm in diameter, have thin stems, and grow solitarily from the axils. Each flower has five sepals which are narrowly lanceolate and about 5 mm long. The flowers have five yellow obovate petals and 15 stamens, three of which are clustered in a bundle. There are five degenerated stamens which are 1-cm-­ long spoonlike strips growing opposite to the sepals. The ovary is tomentose. The capsules are angularly cylindrical and 1.7–3 cm long, with stellate soft hairs. The fruiting period is in autumn. Habitat: It grows on mountains, open fields, and roadsides. Distribution: It is found in Guangxi, Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Henan, and Shaanxi provinces in China and also in North Korea and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: Collected in summer and autumn; the plants are dried as a whole. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Calming the liver, removing dampness, detoxifying, and stopping bleeding. It is used to treat malnutrition and indigestion syndrome in children, leukorrhea, suppurative inflammation, and injury and bleeding.

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Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, mash up proper amounts of fresh leaves and apply to affected areas.

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6.4  Family: Tiliaceae 6.4.1  Corchorus aestuans Chinese Name(s): tian ma, ye huang ma, jia huang ma, zhen tong cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Corchorus aestuans (Corchorus aestuans Linn. [C. acutangulus Lam.]). Morphology: The herb is annual and about 1 m tall, with reddish brown stem which is covered with soft yellowish hair. The branches are slender and hang down loosely. The leaf blades are ovate or broad ovate, 4.5–6.5 cm long, 3–4 cm wide, shortly acuminate or acute at the apex, rounded at the base, with sparse long thick hair on both surfaces, and serrate on the edge. Near the base, a pair of serrations is extended to taillike lobelets. There are five to seven basal veins. The petiole is about 0.9–1.6 cm long and puberulent with yellowish long thick hair. The flowers are solitary or cymose and borne in or outside the axil, with or without tiny peduncle or pedicel. There are five sepals which are oblong, about 5 mm long, purple red, and impressed at the top to form a boat-like shape with an apical angle. Each flower has five obovate yellow petals which are almost as long as the sepals and numerous yellow 3-mm-long stamens. The ovary is in long cylindrical shape and puberulent. The style is rodlike, and the stigma is beaklike and five-toothed. The capsule is in a long column shape, 2.5 cm long, and 5 mm in diameter, with eight ridges, three to four of which protrude to form wings. There are three to four extending angles which are forked. When fully grown, the capsule is three- to four-valved. The seeds are separated by transverse septum. The flowering period is in summer. Habitat: It often grows in villages and gardens, on roadsides, open fields, mountain slopes, and along the ridges of fields. Distribution: It is widely found in provinces south of the Yangtze River and also in tropical Asia, Central America, and Africa. Acquisition and Processing: Collected in summer and autumn; the plants are dried as a whole. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, drawing out toxin, and dispersing swelling. It is often used to treat heatstroke, fever, diarrhea, and sore throat. When used externally, it treats skin ulcer and sepsis. Use and Dosage: 15–30  g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Pregnant women should not drink it. For external use, mash up proper amount of fresh leaves and apply to the affected area.

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6.5  Family: Tiliaceae 6.5.1  Corchorus capsularis Chinese Name(s): huang ma, ku ma ye, luo ma Source: This medicine is made of the leaves, seeds, and roots of Corchorus capsularis (Corchorus capsularis Linn.). Morphology: It is a woody erect herb, 1–2 m tall, and glabrous. Its leaf blade is ovate-lanceolate or narrowly lanceolate, 5–12 cm long, 2–5 cm wide, acuminate at the apex and rounded at the base, and glabrous on both surfaces. Two of the three basal veins ascend to the mid-leaf. There are six to seven pairs of the lateral veins growing from the midveins. The leaf edge is coarsely serrated. Its petiole is 2 cm and puberulous. The flowers are solitary or arranged in cymes and axillary inflorescences, with short peduncle and flower stem. There are four or five sepals, each 3–4 mm long. The petals are yellow, obovate, and of the similar length to the sepals. There are 18–22 stamens, borne singly. The ovary is glabrous and stigma lobed. The capsule is globose with a diameter of 1 cm or a little bigger, obtusely angled at the top, and five-lobed, with straight obtuse edge and verrucose. The flowering is in summer, and the fruiting period is in late autumn. Habitat: It often grows in the wilderness and wasteland. Distribution: It is widely cultivated all over the south of Yangtze River. It is native to tropical Asia and is now widely cultivated in the tropics. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn. The leaves, seeds, and roots are dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter in taste and cold in nature. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, drawing out toxin, and dispersing swelling. It is often used to prevent heatstroke and cure heatstroke fever and dysentery. When used externally, it treats swollen toxicum of sore and furuncle. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Mash up an appropriate amount of fresh leaf and apply the affected area for external use. Pregnant women should not use it.

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6.6  Family: Tiliaceae 6.6.1  Grewia biloba Chinese Name(s): bian dan gan, wa wa quan, ma tang guo, ge jing ma, yue liang pi Source: This medicine is made of the roots or the whole plant of Grewia biloba (Grewia biloba G. Don). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree, which is 1–3 m tall, with its branchlets covered by stellate hairs. Its leaf blades are ovate-orbicular or obovate-­ elliptic, 2–9  cm long, and 1–4  cm wide, with jagged edge. The leaf is adaxially rough, with sparse stellate hairs, and, abaxially, it is sparsely covered with hard stellate hairs. The leaves are obtuse at the apex and wedge at the base, with three basal veins. Its petiole is 6–15 mm long and covered with stellate hairs. The flowers are arranged in cymose inflorescences, opposite to its leaves, lightly yellowish green or

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yellowish green, and less than 1 cm in diameter, with five sepals covered with short gray hairs. Each flower has five petals and many stamens. The ovaries are pubescent, and the styles are long. Its drupes are orange red, 7–12 mm in diameter, glabrous, and two-lobed, each lobe with one drupelet and two to four seeds. The flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from August to September. Habitat: It grows in thickets or sparse forests of hills or low mountains, roadsides, and meadows. Distribution: It is distributed in Hebei, Henan, Shaanxi, Shandong, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Sichuan provinces. Acquisition and Processing: It is collected in summer and autumn, and the roots or whole plant is dried for later use. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is pungent and sweet in flavor and warm in nature. Functions: Strengthening spleen and benefiting vital energy, preventing spermatorrhea and arresting leukorrhea, dispelling pathogenic wind, and eliminating dampness; it is commonly used for the treatment of children’s infantile malnutrition, spleen deficiency, long diarrhea, spermatorrhea, flooding, leukorrhea, uterine prolapse, archoptoma, rheumatism, and arthritis. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use; also soak it in wine for drink. Prescriptions: 1. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Rheumatoid arthritis – (A) soak 120–150 g of Grewia biloba root in 1000 ml of white spirits for several days, and take it two times a day, one wine cup each time. Decoct the branches and leaves of Grewia biloba and Siegesbeckia herb, 30 g each, in water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Metrorrhagia and threatened abortion – cook Grewia biloba (15–30 g) with water and eggs. After the eggs become solid, remove eggshells and dregs, and then bring the decoctum to the boil again and drink it. 3. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Spermatorrhea and enuresis – decoct 30–60 g of Grewia biloba fruit in the water for oral use. 4. For treating weakness from chronic illness and child malnutrition: Steam the pulp of Grewia biloba fruit (60–90 g), and add sugar on it for oral use. 5. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Osteomyelitis – first, wash the open sore with disinfectant. Then, mash up the white barks of Grewia biloba roots and apply to the affected area, once each day. Patients can take detoxifying and heat-clearing medications at the same time. 6. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Leukorrhea – Grewia biloba, purple jasmine roots (peeled), the flowers of frangipane, Hypoestes cumingiana, 30 each g, stewed with meat for oral use. 7. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Testicular swelling pain – Grewia biloba roots 60 g, stewed with pig bladder for oral use. 8. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Insufficiency of the spleen and poor appetite and children’s infantile malnutrition – decoct Grewia biloba 30 g, Memorialis hirta, Chinese fever vine herb, and Nogra guangxiensis, 15 g each, in water for oral use.

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9. Clinical diagnosis and symptoms: Flatulence due to stagnation of vital energy – decoct 30 g of Grewia biloba and 12 g of hawthorn leaves in water for oral use.

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6.7  Family: Tiliaceae 6.7.1  Grewia eriocarpa Chinese Name(s): mao guo bian dan gan, gang mu, shan ma shu Source: This medicine is made of the flowers and leaves of Grewia eriocarpa (Grewia eriocarpa Juss.) Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 8 m in height. Its branchlets are grayish-brown stellate tomentose. The leaves are papery, obliquely ovate to ovate-oblong, 6–13 × 3–6 cm, apically acuminate or acute, basally oblique, obliquely round or obliquely truncated, sparsely covered with stellate hairs adaxially, which turned black brown when dry, and softly gray stellate tomentose abaxially; the lateral pairs of ternate veins reached three-fourths the length of the leaf blades, and the other three to four pairs of lateral veins originated from the upper part of the middle veins, with margins being serrulate. The petioles are 5–10 mm long. The stipules are linear-lanceolate and 5–10 mm long. There are one to three cymes, which are axillary and 1.5–3 cm long. The peduncles are 3–8 mm long. The pedicels are 3–5 mm long. The bracts are lanceolate. The flowers are bisexual. The sepals are narrowly oblong, 6–8 mm long, and hairy on both surfaces. The petals are 3 mm long and eglandular. The androgynophores are hairy. The stamens are free, irregular in length, and shorter than sepals. The ovaries are pubescent. The styles are puberulent, with the stigma being peltate, four-cleft, or undivided. The drupes are subglobose, 6–8 mm in diameter, stellate hairy, and shallowly furrowed. Habitat: It grows in hilly areas, valleys, and open shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Taiwan, and Jiangsu in China, as well as in Central South Peninsula, India, Philippines, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: The flowers and leaves are collected and dried in the sun.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly bitter and astringent in flavor and cool in nature. Functions: Diminishing inflammation and relieving pain; it is commonly used for the treatment of stomachache. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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6.8  Family: Tiliaceae 6.8.1  Microcos paniculata [1] Chinese Name(s): po bu ye, bu zha ye Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Microcos paniculata (Microcos paniculata Linn. [Grewia microcos Linn.]). Morphology: The plant is a small tree and 3–12  m tall. Its barks are grayish black. The leaves are papery, ovate or oval-oblong, 8–18 × 4–8 cm, apically acuminate, basally rounded, sparsely stellate at first, and glabrescent both abaxially and adaxially, with margins being serrated. The petioles are stout and about 1.5 cm long. The stipules are linear-lanceolate, about half the length of petioles. The inflorescences are large and terminal or axillary on upper leaves. The bracts and pedicels are grayish-yellow pubescence. The pedicels are thin and short. There are five sepals, which are oblong, about 5 mm long, and stellate pubescence. There are five petals, which are pale yellow, oblong, about one-third to one-half the length of sepals, and grayish-yellow pubescence on both sides. The glands are about half the size of petals. The ovaries are subglobose, glabrous, and dark brown, with the stigmas being conical. The drupes are subglobose or obovate, ca. 1 cm long, ca. 7 mm wide, dark brown, glabrous, and three-loculed. The pedicels are slender and short. The flowering period is in summer and autumn. The fruiting period is in winter. Habitat: It grows in the shrubs of valleys, hills, plains, villages, and roadsides. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in Central South Peninsula, India, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn, removed off the branches, and dried in shades. The medicine should not be exposed to the sun; otherwise, it turns yellow and is degraded in quality. Medicinal Properties: The complete leaf blades are papery, oval or obovate-­ oblong, 10–15 × 4–8  cm, yellowish green, withered yellow or yellowish brown, short stalked, apically acuminate often, and basally obtuse round. The veins are prominent on the back of the leaves. There are three main veins, with reticulate veinlets. The veins and petioles are stellate pubescence. The margins are serrate. It is brittle and fragile in quality. It is slightly fragrant in odor and slightly sour in taste. The products with integrate leaves, yellow-green color, and no petioles are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bland and a little sour bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing of summer heat, promoting digestion, and reducing phlegm; it’s often used in treatment of colds, heatstroke, food stagnation, indigestion, diarrhea, and jaundice. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water, or it can also be used as herbal tea. Prescription Sample(s):

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1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Indigestion and diarrhea – leaves of Microcos paniculata, Psidium guajava, and Polygonum hydropiper 18 g each, decocted in water for oral use. Take two doses a day. In severe cases, the patients should also be treated with fluid infusion and antibiotics. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Autumn diarrhea in children  – leaves of Microcos paniculata, tuckahoe, and Huaiyao yam, 12 g each, Atractylodes macrocephala 6  g, fried Psidium guajava leaf 9  g, and Herba Plantaginis 15  g, decocted in water, added with 6 g Scutellaria baicalensis in cases of severe heat, and added with 6 g of Agastache rugosa in cases of abdominal pain and borborygmus, cooperating with fluid infusion, correcting acid-base imbalance and other symptomatic treatment. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Abdominal pain due to food stagnation  – leaves of Microcos paniculata, Radix Ilicis Asprellae, hawthorn, and malt, 9 g each, decocted in water for oral dose.

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6.9  Family: Tiliaceae 6.9.1  Triumfetta rhomboidea [2] Chinese Name(s): ci shuo ma Source: This medicine is made of the whole grass of Triumfetta rhomboidea (Triumfetta rhomboidea Jacq. [T. bartramia Linn.]). Morphology: The plant is a subshrub and 0.5–1.5 m tall. Its branchlets are gray-­ brown tomentose. The leaves are papery. The lower leaf blades are broadly ovate, 3–8 cm in length, 2–6 cm in width, apically three-lobed, and basally rounded. The upper leaf blades are oblong, adaxially sparsely hairy, and abaxially stellate pilose. There are three to five basal veins, the lateral ones reaching tip of lobes, with margin being irregularly bluntly serrate. The petioles are 1–5 cm long. The cymes are axillary, with very short peduncles and pedicels. The sepals are narrowly oblong, 5 mm in length, villous, and appendaged at the tip. The petals are yellow, slightly shorter than sepals, and hairy along margins. There are ten stamens. The ovaries are spiny. The capsules are spherical, indehiscent, and grayish-yellow puberulent, with spines of 2 mm. There are two to six seeds. The flowering period is in summer and autumn, and fruiting is in winter. Habitat: It grows in the bushes or meadows of a wilderness, village, and roadside. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Fujian, and Taiwan in China, as well as in tropical Asia and Africa. Acquisition and Processing: The whole grasses are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sweet and bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Relieving exterior syndrome and clearing heat, diuresis, and diminishing nodules; it’s often used in treatment of cold due to pathogens of wind and heat and urinary calculi. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Radix Triumfetta rhomboidea, Lophatherum gracile, Kummerowia striata, and elephant’s-foot 9 g each and Mentha haplocalyx 3 g, decocted in water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Urinary calculi – Radix Triumfetta rhomboidea 60  g, decocted in water. Take one dose each day, added with 60  g of Lysimachia japonica and 30 g of Plantago japonica after 3 consecutive days.

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6.10  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.10.1  Ambroma augusta Chinese Name(s): ang tian lian, yang tian zhong Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Ambroma augusta (Ambroma augusta (Linn.) Linn. f.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1–4 m tall. Its branchlets are densely stellate velutinous when young. The leaf blades are cordate or ovate-cordate, sometimes three- to five-lobed, 10–22 × 9–18 cm, with apex being acute or acuminate and base being cordate or oblique-cordate, glabrous or sparsely stellate pubescent on the surface, and densely pubescent at the back. There are three to seven basal veins, which are prominently raised on both sides, base cordate or obliquely cordate, and apex acute or acuminate. The petioles are 1–10 cm long. The stipules are clavate, 5–10 mm long, and shedding. The inflorescences are in cymes and one- to five-flowered. The flowers are red purple and about 5 cm in diameter. There are five sepals, which are connate near the base, lanceolate, 15–18  mm in length, and densely pubescent on both sides. There are five petals, which are red purple, 2.5 cm in length, apically acute or blunt, basally recessed and hairy, and conjoint with the base of staminodes. There are 15 stamens, three clustered, conjoint at the base of staminodes and alternate with it. There are five staminodes, which are subspatulate and hairy on both surfaces. The ovaries are oblong, about 1.5 mm long, sparsely hairy, five-loculed, and five-grooved. The styles are triangular ligulate and about one-half the length of ovaries. The capsules are membranous, obconical, about 3–6 cm in diameter, stellate hairy, five-winged, villous on margins, and truncated at the top. The seeds are mostly oblong, black, and about 2 mm in length. The flowering is in spring and summer, and the fruiting is in autumn. Habitat: It grows in valleys or forest margins. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Activating blood circulation and scattering blood stasis, relieving swelling, promoting healing of fracture, and restoring menstrual flow; it’s often used in treatment of fractures, irregular menstruation, sores, and swellings. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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6.11  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.11.1  Byttneria aspera Chinese Name(s): ci guo teng Source: This medicine is made of the roots and rhizomes of Byttneria aspera (Byttneria aspera Colebr.). Morphology: The plant is a big liana. Its branchlets are sparsely puberulent. The leaf blades are broadly ovate, cordate or suborbicular, 7–23 × 5.5–16  cm, apically obtuse or acute, basally cordate, abaxially white stellate puberulent, and adaxially glabrous, with five basal veins. The petioles are 2–8 cm long and hairy. The flowers are small and yellowish white, with purplish red inside. The sepals are ovate, 2 mm long, pubescent, and acute at the apex. The petals and sepals are alternate, apically two-lobed and with ligulate appendix, and about the same length as sepals. There are five stamens with anthers, which are alternating with staminodes. The ovaries are five-loculed, with two ovules in each locule. The capsules are spherical or ovoid, 3–4 cm in diameter, and spiny, and the spines are short and robust and puberulent. The seeds are oblong, about 12 mm in length, and black at maturity. The flowering is in spring and summer. Habitat: It grows in the open forests or beside the valleys and streams. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in countries of India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and rhizomes are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is bitter and pungent in taste and neutral in property, belonging to the meridians of the liver and kidneys. Functions: Replenishing blood, expelling wind, relieving swelling, and promoting healing of fracture; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatism bone pain, injuries, and fractures. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh roots and rhizomes are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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6.12  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.12.1  Firmiana simplex Chinese Name(s): wu tong Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Firmiana simplex (Firmiana simplex F. W. Wight). Morphology: The tree is deciduous and up to 16  m in height. The barks are green and smooth. The leaves are cordate, 15–30  cm in diameter, and palmately three- to five-lobed. The lobes are triangular, apically acuminate, and basally cordate, with both surfaces being glabrous or minutely puberulent. There are seven basal veins. The petioles and blades are equal in length. The inflorescences are paniculate, terminal, and about 20–50 cm long. The lower branches are 12 cm long. The flowers are pale yellow green. There are five calyces which are deeply divided to the base. The lobes are linear, twisted outward, 7–9 mm long, abaxially puberulent and yellowish, and adaxially villous only at the base. The pedicels are almost equal in length with the calyces. Male flowers: the androgynophores are as long as calyx, thicker in lower part, and glabrous, with 15 anthers, which are irregularly

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fascicled. The pistillodes are pear-shaped and very small. Female flower: the ovaries are globose and hairy. The follicles are membranous, stalked, foliaceous, 6–11 × 1.5–2.5 cm, two- to four-seeded, and abaxially puberulent or nearly glabrous. The seeds are spherical, rugose on the surface, and about 7 mm in diameter. The flowering is in June. Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated in North and South China, as well as in Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn, sliced, and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: Roots and stem barks are bitter in taste and cool in property. The seeds are sweet in taste and neutral in property. The leaves are sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: The roots and stem barks function in dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness and killing insects. The seeds function in depressing Qi, harmonizing the stomach, and tonifying kidneys. The leaves function in sedation, lowering blood pressure, dispelling wind, and detoxification. The roots function in treatment of rheumatic arthralgia, tuberculosis hemoptysis, injury, leukorrhea, schistosomiasis, and ascariasis. The stem barks function in treatment of hemorrhoids and anal prolapse. The seeds function in treatment of stomachache, diarrhea, aphthous sores in children, and early whitening. The leaves function in treatment of coronary heart disease, hypertension, rheumatic arthralgia, impotence, spermatorrhea, neurasthenia, psoriasis, and carbuncle swelling. The flowers function in treatment of burns, scalds, and edema. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Sample(s): Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Hypertension – take serum of Firmiana simplex leaf, 10 ml (equaling to 2 g of raw medicine) each time, three times a day, or, in addition, use the injection of Firmiana simplex leaf, once daily (containing 20 mg of total flavonoid glycosides), for intramuscular injection.

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6.13  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.13.1  Helicteres angustifolia Chinese Name(s): shan zhi ma, ye zhi ma, po you ma, shan you ma, bai tou gong Source: This medicine is made of the roots or whole plant of Helicteres angustifolia (Helicteres angustifolia Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a small shrub and up to 1 m tall. Its branchlets are grayish green pubescent. The leaf blades are narrowly oblong or linear-lanceolate, 3.5–5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, apically obtuse or acute, basally rounded, glabrous or nearly so adaxially, gray or yellowish stellate tomentose, or sometimes also hirsute abaxially. The petioles are 5–7 mm long. The inflorescences are in cymose and two- or many-­ flowered. The pedicels are usually with 4 pointed bracteoles. The calyces are tubular, ca. 6 mm, stellate puberulent, and five-lobed, with lobes being triangular. There are five petals, which are unequal in length, reddish or purple, and slightly longer than calyx, with two auriculate claws at the base. There are ten stamens and five staminodes, which are linear and very short. The ovaries are five-celled, hairy, and slightly shorter than styles, with about ten ovules in each locule. The capsules are ovoidoblong, 12–20 × 7–8 mm, apically acute, and densely setose mixed with villi. The seeds are small and brown, with elliptic spots. The flowering is almost all year round. Habitat: It grows in hot and dry mountains, hilly shrubs or wilderness, and hillside grasslands. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of India, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in summer and autumn, removed off the fibrous roots, washed, cut into sections, and dried. Medicinal Properties: The products are cylindrical, slightly curved, 0.3–1.5 cm in diameter, and black brown to gray brown, occasionally with irregular longitudinal wrinkles and fine root marks. It is hard in quality, not easy to break, and uneven

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on cross section, with light brown skins, which are easy to be peeled off, fibrous, and yellow white at xylem. It is slightly odored and bitter in taste. The products that are stout and firm with thick skins are preferred. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and slight sweet in taste, cold in property, and a little toxic, belonging to the meridians of the lungs and large intestine. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating and relieving cough; it’s often used in treatment of cold, high fever, tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis, mumps, measles, cough, and malaria, as well as in external treatment of venomous snake bites, traumatic bleeding, and hemorrhoids. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of dried roots are mashed for powder and applied to the affected areas or mixed with rice wine for application. The pregnant women and weaklings should not take it. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Cold and fever – Helicteres angustifolia 9 g, Artemisia apiacea, Carthamus tinctorius, Urena lobata 6 g, and Radix zanthoxyli 1.5 g decocted in water. Take the decoctum twice a day. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Cold and cough  – Helicteres angustifolia 15  g, zanthoxyli leaf, Griffith streptocaulon leaf, and loquat leaf 9  g each, decocted in water. Take the decoctum two times a day. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Hemorrhoids – disinfect the anal routinely, do sensitivity test firstly with procaine, and, if negative, inject 1–2% procaine 4–6 ml from the base of the hemorrhoid’s nucleus for infiltration of local anesthesia. Fix the hemorrhoid root with hemostasis curvature clamp, and then slowly inject 0.3–0.6 ml of the Helicteres angustifolia from the top of the hemorrhoids, and stay until the hemorrhoid nucleus turns gray black. Around 15 min after the hemorrhoids are blackened, remove the forceps, rinse with disinfectant water (benzalkonium bromide), and insert a small piece of Vaseline gauze. Cover the anus with gauze blocks, and fix it with adhesive tape.

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6.14  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.14.1  Helicteres isora Chinese Name(s): huo suo ma, huo suo mu, bian long, niu shuo shan zhi ma Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Helicteres isora (Helicteres isora Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and up to 2 m tall. Its branchlets are stellate pubescent. The leaf blades are ovate, 10–12 × 7–9 cm, apically short-acuminate and often with small lobes, basally round or oblique-cordate, with serrated margins, adaxially stellate pubescence, and abaxially densely stellate pubescence, with five basal veins. The petioles are 8–25 mm long and pubescent. The stipules are strip-­ shaped, 7–10  mm long, and caducous. The inflorescences are in cymes, axillary, usually two or three per axil, densely clustered, and up to 2 cm long. The bracts are subulate and 7 mm long. The flowers are red or purple red and 3.54 cm in diameter. The sepals are 17 mm long, usually four- to five-lobed, with lobes being triangular, and ± two-lipped. There are five petals, which are unequal in length. The upper two petals are larger, which are 12–15 mm long and oblique falcate. There are ten stamens and five staminodes, which are equal to filaments in length. The ovaries are slightly verrucose and spirally twisted after pollination. The capsules are cylindrical, conspicuously spirally twisted, black at maturity, 5  cm long, 7–9  mm wide, apically acute, with a long beak, densely stellate puberulent at first, and glabrescent later. The seeds are small, less than 2 mm in diameter. The flowering is from April to October. Habitat: It grows in hot and dry shrubs of hills or plains. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, and Yunnan in China, as well as in countries of Thailand, India, Indonesia, and Java. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn. The roots are sliced and dried in the sun.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and slightly bitter in taste and warm in property. Functions: Relieving exterior syndromes, regulating QI, and soothing pain; it’s often used in treatment of cold, fever, chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and intestinal obstruction. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Chronic gastroenteritis – Helicteres isora 9 g, Cyperus rotundus 9 g, and Radix zanthoxyli 6 g, decocted with water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Gastric ulcer – Helicteres isora, Sedum tatarinowii, rhizoma acori graminei, and Cyperus rotundus, 9 g each, and dried tangerine peel 6 g, decocted in water for oral use.

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6.15  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.15.1  Pterospermum heterophyllum [3] Chinese Name(s): fan bai ye shu, ban feng he, yi ye chi zi shu, bai bei feng, ban wu tong, fan gong chang ma Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Pterospermum heterophyllum (Pterospermum heterophyllum Hance). Morphology: The plant is a tree, which is up to 20 m tall. Its barks are gray or grayish brown. The branchlets are yellow-brown pilose. The leaves are dimorphic. The juvenile and coppice leaves are peltate, about 15  cm in diameter, palmately three- to five-lobed, truncated and slightly rounded at the base, glabrous adaxially, densely yellowish brown stellate pubescence abaxially, with petioles of 12 cm long, and hairy. The growing leaf blades are oblong-ovate to oblong, 7–15 × 3–10 cm, apically acute, acuminate, basally obtuse, truncate or obliquely cordate, abaxially densely yellow-brown stellate pubescent, with petioles of 1–2 cm long, and hairy. The flowers are solitary or in cymes of two to four and axillary. The pedicels are 5–15 mm long without joints. The epicalyx lobes are closely adnate to calyx and scalelike. The sepals are linear, up to 2.8 × 0.4 cm, and pubescent on both sides. There are five petals, which are greenish white, oblanceolate, and as long as sepals. The androgynophore is ca. 2.5  mm. There are 15 stamens and five staminodes, which are filiform and slightly longer than stamens. The ovaries are ovate, five-­ loculed, and villous, with glabrous styles. The capsules are woody, cylindrical-­ ovoid, ca. 6 × 2–2.5 cm, yellow- brown tomentose, obtuse at the apex, and attenuate at the base. The stipes are robust and 1–1.5 cm long. The seeds are with membranous wings. The flowering is in autumn. Habitat: It grows in hilly forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, and Guangxi in China. Acquisition and Processing: It can be harvested all year round. The roots are dug up, washed, sliced, and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The products are irregular, 3–6 cm wide, and 0.5–2 cm thick. The epidermises are grayish brown to reddish brown, with longitudinal wrinkles and wartlike pores. The phloem is brown, and the xylem is reddish brown. The texture of cross section is fine, and the longitudinal section is with longitudinal lines and irregular cracks. It’s hard in quality and slightly fibrous when tearing longitudinally. It’s light in odor and bland and slightly astringent in taste. The products that are thin, reddish brown, and with no white wood are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste, warm in property, and fragrant in odor, belonging to the meridians of the liver and kidneys. Functions: Removing pathogenic wind and dampness, relaxing tendons, and activating blood circulation; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatic bone pain, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar muscle strain, chronic low back

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and leg pain, hemiplegia, bruise and injury, and sprain and contusion, as well as external treatment of knife wound bleeding. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose. Prescription Sample(s): Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Rheumatism joint pain – (a) Pterospermum heterophyllum and Radix Dendropanax chevalieri, 30 g each, stewed with pig bone or pork. (b) Pterospermum heterophyllum stem 500 g, sliced and soaked in 2.5-kg alcohol. After 10 days, take three times a day, 15–30 ml each time. Or rub the skin until red with medicinal wine. It can also be used in treatment of rheumatic low back and leg pain.

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6.16  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.16.1  Pterospermum lanceifolium Chinese Name(s): zhai ye ban feng he, jia mu mian, chi zi shu, zhai ye chi zi shu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Pterospermum lanceifolium (Pterospermum lanceifolium Roxb.). Morphology: The plant is a tree, up to 25 m tall. Its barks are yellowish brown or gray, with longitudinal cracks. The branchlets are yellow-brown velutinous when young. The leaves are lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 5–9 × 2–3 cm, apically acuminate or acute, basally oblique or obtuse, marginally entire or with several teeth near the apex, abaxially densely yellow-brown or yellow-white velutinous, and adaxially glabrous. The petioles are about 5 mm long. The stipules are two- to three-­ lobed, hairy, and longer than petioles. The flowers are white and solitary in axil. The pedicels are 3–5 cm long, articulate, and velutinous. The epicalyx lobes are at the middle of pedicel, four- or five-fimbriate or linear, and 7–8  mm. There are five sepals, which are linear, ca. 2 × 0.3 cm, and pubescent on both surfaces. There are five petals, which are lanceolate, apically obtuse, and as long as sepals or slightly shorter. There are 15 stamens, with filiform staminodes, which are longer than stamens and basally villous. The ovaries are puberulent. The capsules are woody, cylindrical-ovoid, ca. 5 × 2  cm, apically obtuse, base tapering into slender, and yellow-brown tomentose. The petioles are soft and up to 3.5 cm long. The seeds are two to four per locule and 2–2.5 cm including wings. The flowering is in spring and summer. Habitat: It grows in hilly forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and stems are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s acrid and bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Removing pathogenic wind and dampness; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatism arthralgia, arthritis, and muscular and bone pain. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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6.17  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.17.1  Sterculia nobilis Chinese Name(s): ping po, feng yan guo, ji guan zi, jiu ceng pi, qi jie guo Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and nut shells of Sterculia nobilis (Sterculia nobilis Smith). Morphology: The plant is a tree. Its barks are brown black, and the branchlets are slightly stellate when young. The leaves are thin, leathery, oblong or elliptic, 8–25 × 5–15 cm, acute or obtuse at the apex, rounded or blunt at the base, and glabrous on both surfaces. The petioles are 2–3.5 cm long and caducous. The inflorescences are terminal or axillary, paniculate, slender and lax, up to 20 cm long, and pubescent. The pedicels are much longer than flowers. The calyces are cream white at the beginning and then turned pale red, campanulate, abaxially pubescent, ca. 10  mm long, five-lobed, with lobes of linear-lanceolate, apically acuminate, incurved and cohering, and as long as hypanthia. The male flowers are many, with androgynophore being curved, and glabrous, with anthers being yellow. The female flowers are fewer and slightly larger. The ovaries are globose, with five grooves, and densely hairy. The styles are curved. The stigmas are five-lobed. The follicles are bright red, thick leathery, oblong-ovate, and ca. 5 × 2–3 cm, with beak at the top and one to four seeds in each fruit. The seeds are ellipsoid or oblong, black brown, and ca. 1.5  cm. The flowering period is from April to May, sparsely in October to November for the second time. Habitat: It’s cultivated or wild, native to mountainous sparse forests or shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Fujian, Guangxi, Guizhou, etc., in China. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves and nut shells are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and warm in property. Functions: The leaves function in treating rheumatic bone pain and edema. The nut shells function in treating hemorrhagic dysentery. Use and Dosage: 20–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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6.18  Family: Sterculiaceae 6.18.1  Waltheria indica Chinese Name(s): she po zi, man di tan, he ta cao Source: This medicine is made of the roots and stems of Waltheria indica (Waltheria indica Linn. [W. americana Linn.]). Morphology: The plant is an erect or creeping subshrub, up to 1 m tall, and multibranched. Its branchlets are densely pubescent. The leaf blades are ovate or long oval-ovate, 2.5–4.5 × 1.5–3 cm, apically obtuse, basally rounded or shallowly cordate, with serrulate margins, and with both surfaces being densely pubescent. The petioles are 0.5–1 cm long. The inflorescences are in cymose, capitate, axillary, and with rachis of 1.5 cm or approximately not. The bracts are narrowly lanceolate and about 4 mm long. The calyces are tubular, five-lobed, and 3–4 mm long, with lobes being triangular and much longer than hypanthia. There are five petals, which are pale yellow, spatulate, apically truncated, and slightly longer than sepals. There are five stamens, with filament tube enclosing pistils. The ovaries are sessile and pubescent, with styles inserted obliquely, with fimbriate stigmas. The capsules are small, bivalvular fissured, obovate, about 3 mm long, hairy, enclosed by persistent calyx, and one-seeded. The seeds are obovate and very small. The flowering is in summer and autumn. Habitat: It’s born on hills, open fields, and slopes. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in the tropics of the world. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and stems are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s acrid and slight sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic dampness and wind, eliminating inflammation, and detoxicating; it’s often used in treatment of jaundice, hepatitis, diarrhea, hot eyes, malnutrition of children, and leukorrhea. Use and Dosage: 30–60 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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6.19  Family: Bombacaceae 6.19.1  Bombax ceiba Chinese Name(s): mu mian, hong mian, ying xiong shu, pan zhi hua Source: This medicine is made of the flowers of Bombax ceiba (Bombax ceiba Linn. [Gossampinus malabarica (DC.) Merr.]). Morphology: The plant is a large deciduous tree and up to 25 m tall. Its barks are gray white, with short and thick conical spines on the young trunk or old branches. The leaves are palmately compound and five- to seven-lobed. The leaflets are oblong to oblong lanceolate, 10–16 × 3.5–5.5 cm, apically acuminate, basally broad or narrow, entire on margins, and glabrous. There are 15–17 pairs of pinnate lateral veins on each side of midrib, which are ascending, with a thinner secondary lateral vein among them. The petioles are slightly longer than leaflets, which are 12–18 cm long. The petiolules are 1.5–2  cm long. The stipules are small. The flowers are solitary, terminal, blossomed without leaves, red or orange red, ca. 10 cm in diameter, with cupular calyces, 3–4.5 cm long, thick, and usually five-lobed. The petals are fleshy, 8–10 cm long, and stellate pubescent on both surfaces but sparser adaxially. The stamens are many and connate into short tubes of three whorls. The outermost whorl is in five fascicles. The petals are fleshy, obovate-oblong, 8–10 × 3–4 cm, fleshy, and stellate puberulent on both surfaces, but the hair adaxially is thicker. The stamen tubes are short. The filaments are thicker at the base than the apex. The inner series are bifid, each with ten stamens. The central filaments are shorter and entire, in five fascicles, each with more than ten longer stamens. The styles are longer than stamens. The ovaries are five-loculed. The capsules are large, woody, 10–15 × 4.5–5 cm, and villous inside. The seeds are mostly black. The flowering is from March to April, and fruiting is in summer. Habitat: It’s born in low mountains, trees, roadsides, and gardens. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Taiwan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of India, Sri Lanka, the Central South Peninsula, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: The flowers are harvested in spring and dried in the sun before storage. Medicinal Properties: The products often shrink into blocks, which are 5–8 cm long. The calyces are cupular, 2.5–4 × 2–3 cm, three- to five-cleft at the apex, thick leathery, and very brittle. The outer surfaces are brown and longitudinally wrinkled. The inner surfaces are covered with gray-yellow short villi. There are five petals, which are shrunken or broken, reddish brown or dark brown and stellate hairy on outer surface, and reddish brown and less stellate hairy on inner surface. The stamens are numerous, arranging in multiple rows, and connate at the base into tubular. The anthers are reniform and curly. It’s slightly odored and bland and slight sweet in taste. The flowers that are big and complete and brown and yellow in color are preferred. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and cool in property.

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Functions: Clearing heat and dampness and relieving heat; it’s often used in treatment for enteritis, dysentery, metrorrhagia, and hemorrhoids, and it can be used as herbal tea in summer. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose for flowers, 15–30 g per dose for barks, and 30–60 g per dose for roots, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Dysentery – Bombax ceiba, Lonicera japonica, and Herba Pteridis Multifidae 15 g each, decocted in water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Stomachache – Bombax ceiba root or barks 30 g and Radix zanthoxyli 6 g, decocted in water for oral use.

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References 1. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 88) [S], The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China, 2015. 2. Xie ZW et  al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 2: 1930 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975. 3. Xie ZW et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 244 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975.

Chapter 7

Medicinal Angiosperms of Malvaceae and Malpighiaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 7.1  Family: Malvaceae 7.1.1  Abelmoschus esculentus 7.2  Family: Malvaceae 7.2.1  Abelmoschus moschatus 7.3  Family: Malvaceae 7.3.1  Abelmoschus sagittifolius 7.4  Family: Malvaceae 7.4.1  Abutilon indicum 7.5  Family: Malvaceae 7.5.1  Abutilon theophrasti 7.6  Family: Malvaceae 7.6.1  Althaea rosea 7.7  Family: Malvaceae 7.7.1  Gossypium herbaceum

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

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340 7.8  Family: Malvaceae 7.8.1  Hibiscus mutabilis 7.9  Family: Malvaceae 7.9.1  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 7.10  Family: Malvaceae 7.10.1  Hibiscus syriacus 7.11  Family: Malvaceae 7.11.1  Hibiscus tiliaceus 7.12  Family: Malvaceae 7.12.1  Malva sinensis 7.13  Family: Malvaceae 7.13.1  Malva verticillata 7.14  Family: Malvaceae 7.14.1  Sida chinensis 7.15  Family: Malvaceae 7.15.1  Sida cordifolia 7.16  Family: Malvaceae 7.16.1  Sida rhombifolia 7.17  Family: Malvaceae 7.17.1  Sida szechuensis 7.18  Family: Malvaceae 7.18.1  Urena lobata 7.19  Family: Malvaceae 7.19.1  Urena procumbens 7.20  Family: Malpighiaceae 7.20.1  Hiptage benghalensis References

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This chapter introduces 20 species of medicinal plants in two families, mainly including Abelmoschus esculentus, Abelmoschus moschatus, Abutilon indicum, Althaea rosea, Gossypium herbaceum, Hibiscus mutabilis, Hibiscus syriacus, Malva sinensis, Sida chinensis, Sida rhombifolia, and Urena lobata of Malvaceae and Hiptage benghalensis of Malpighiaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

7.1  Family: Malvaceae 7.1.1  Abelmoschus esculentus Chinese Name(s): ka fei huang kui, yue nan zhi ma, yang jiao dou Source: This medicine is made of the roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds of Abelmoschus esculentus (Abelmoschus esculentus (Linn.) Moench).

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Morphology: The herb is annual and 1–2 m tall. Its stems are cylindrical and sparsely prickle. The leaf blades are palmately three- to seven-lobed, 10–30 cm in diameter, with broad to narrow lobes, with sparsely dentate and emarginate margins, and sparsely hirsute on both surfaces. The petioles are 7–15  cm long and long hirsute. The stipules are linear, 7–10  mm long, and sparsely hirsute. The flowers are solitary in leaf axil. The pedicels are 1–2 cm long and sparsely hirsute. There are eight to ten bracts, which are linear, about 1.5 cm long, and sparsely strigose. The calyces are campanulate, longer than bracts, and densely stellate puberulent. The flowers are yellow with dark-purple center and 5–7 cm in diameter. The petals are obovate and 4–5  cm long. The capsules are cylindrical to tower-shaped, 10–25 × 1.5–2 (~3) cm, long beaked, and sparsely strigose. The seeds are globose, numerous, 4–5 mm in diameter, and striate. The flowering is from May to September. Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: It is introduced in provinces of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hebei, Hunan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and India. It is now widely planted in the tropics. Acquisition and Processing: The roots, leaves, flowers, and seeds are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bland in taste and cold in property. Functions: Relieving sore throat, treating stranguria, promoting lactation, and regulating menstruation; it’s often used in treatment of swelling throat, urinary pain, scant breast milk, and irregular menstruation. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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7.2  Family: Malvaceae 7.2.1  Abelmoschus moschatus Chinese Name(s): huang kui, ye fu rong, jia mian hua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Abelmoschus moschatus (Abelmoschus moschatus (Linn.) Medicus). Morphology: The herb is annual or biennial, 1–2 m tall, and hirsute. The leaf blades are usually palmately five- to seven-parted, 6–15 cm in diameter, with lanceolate to triangular lobes, and irregularly serrated at margins. The blades on distal part of stems are narrower, with cordate base, both surfaces being sparsely hirsute. The petioles are 7–15  cm long and sparsely hirsute. The stipules are linear and 7–8 mm long. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils. The pedicels are 2–3 cm long and inverted hirsute. There are eight to ten bracts, which are linear and 10–13 mm long. The calyx bracts are spathe-shaped, 2–3  cm long, five-lobed, and usually caducous. The flowers are yellow, with dark-purple center, and 7–12 cm in diameter. The staminal columns are 2.5 cm long and glabrous. The styles are five-branched, with discoid stigmas. The capsules are oblong, 5–6  cm long, apically acute, and yellow hirsute. The seeds are reniform, glandular-reticulate, and fragrant. The flowering is from June to December. Habitat: It is common on plains, gardens, forest margins, open areas, roadside, and other shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in all provinces and regions in southern China and is originated in tropical Asia. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly sweet in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness and removing toxin and purulence; it’s often used in treatment of lasting high fever, cough due to lung fever, scant breast milk, constipation, amebic dysentery, and urinary calculi. The leaves are used externally in treatment of carbuncle, swelling, gangrene, and fracture. The flowers are used externally in treatment of burns and scalds. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, appropriate amounts of leaves are applied to the affected area, and the flower is soaked in oil for exterior coating.

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7.3  Family: Malvaceae 7.3.1  Abelmoschus sagittifolius Chinese Name(s): jian ye qiu kui, wu zhi shan shen Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Abelmoschus sagittifolius (Kurz.) Merr.). Morphology: The herbs are perennial and 40–100  cm tall, with radish-like fleshy roots. The branchlets are scabrous and hirsute with long hairs. The leaf blades are variable. The blades on proximal part of stems are ovate. Those in the middle

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and distal parts are ovate-hastate, sagittate, or palmately three- to five-lobed or three- to five-parted, with broadly ovate or broadly lanceolate lobes, 3–10 cm, apically blunt, basally cordate or hastate, marginally serrate or emarginate, abaxially long hirsute, and adaxially sparsely spiny. The petioles are 4–8 cm long and densely scabrous hirsute. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils. The pedicels are slender, 4–7 cm long, and densely sparsely hirsute. There are 6–12 bracts, which are linear, 15 × 1–1.7 mm, and sparsely hirsute. The calyces are spathe-shaped, 7 mm long, five-toothed at the apex, and densely minutely puberulent. The flowers are red or yellow and 4–5 cm in diameter. The petals are obovate, oblong, and 3–4 cm long. The staminal columns are 2 cm long and glabrous. There are five style branches, which are flat at stigma. The capsules are elliptic, ca. 3 × 2 cm, spiny, and shortly beaked. The seeds are reniform and glandular reticulately striate. The flowering is from May to September. Habitat: It is born on hillsides, fields, roadsides, or hilly grasslands. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other provinces and regions in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand, India, Malaysia, and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and warm in property. Functions: Nourishing and strengthening, promoting uresis, and clearing dampness; it’s often used in treatment of dizziness, stomachache, pain of low back and legs, arthritis, Qi deficiency, and scanty dark urine. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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7.4  Family: Malvaceae 7.4.1  Abutilon indicum [1] Chinese Name(s): mo pan cao, er xiang cao, mo zai cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Abutilon indicum (Abutilon indicum (Linn.) Sweet). Morphology: The plants are annual or perennial subshrublike herbs, erect, 0.5–2.5 cm high, and gray-white pubescent wholely. Its leaves are alternate, ovate to broadly ovate, 3–10 × 3–8 cm, apically short-pointed or acuminate, basally cordate, and marginally irregular serrate. The flowers are solitary, axillary, and yellow. The calyces are shallowly discoid, ca. 1 cm wide, pubescent on both sides, and fivelobed, with broadly triangular lobes. There are five petals. The stamens are numerous. The filaments are connate with stellate hairy staminal columns at the bottom. The capsules are discoid and about 1.5 × 2 cm. The pericarps are membranous and grayish yellow stellate hairy. There are 15–20 cocci. The seeds are reniform and white dotted. The flowering is from July to October, and fruiting is from September to November. Habitat: It is born near the villages and in the wilderness. Distribution: It is distributed in the provinces and regions on south of the Yangtze River in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, India, Indonesia, and other tropical areas. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and neutral in property, belonging to the meridians of the kidneys and bladder. Functions: Clearing pathogenic wind and heat, tonifying Qi and dredging orifices, expelling phlegm, and inducing urination; it’s often used in treatment of colds, persistent fever, mumps, tinnitus, deafness, tuberculosis, and dysuria.

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Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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7.5  Family: Malvaceae 7.5.1  Abutilon theophrasti [2] Chinese Name(s): qing ma, bai ma zi, dong kui zi, bai ma, qing ma, che lun cao Source: This medicine is made of the seeds of Abutilon theophrasti (Abutilon theophrasti Medicus [A. avicennae Gaertn.]). Morphology: The plants are annual subshrublike herbs and 1–2 m tall. Its stems and branches are pubescent. The leaves are alternate, circular-cordate, 5–10  cm long, apically long acuminate, basally cordate, marginally minutely crenate, and densely stellate pubescent on both sides. The petioles are 3–12 cm long and stellate pubescent. The stipules are caducous. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils. The pedicels are 1–13 cm long, pubescent, and articulate near the apex. The calyces are cupular, densely puberulent, five-lobed, ovate, and 6 mm long. The flowers are uniformly yellow. The petals are obovate and about 1 cm long. The filament tubes are glabrous. There are 15–20 carpels, which are 1–1.5 cm long, apical truncated, with two long spreading hairy awns, arranged in a whorl, and densely pubescent. The capsules are semiglobose and ca. 1.2 × 2. There are 15–20 cocci, which are stellate pilose and apically two-awned. The seeds are reniform, brown, and stellate pubescence. The flowering is from July to August. Habitat: It grows on roadsides or wastelands. Distribution: It is sporadically distributed all over the country. Now it has spread all over the world. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in autumn and dried in the sun. Its seeds are used instead of cluster mallow fruit. Medicinal Properties: The product is triangular reniform, 3.5–6  mm long, 2.5–4.5 mm wide, and 1–2 mm thick, grayish black or dark brown, sparsely white villous, with subovate hilum which is light brown, and surrounded by radial lines in the groove. The pericarp of seed is hard, and there are two cotyledons which are overlapped, folded, and oil-rich. It is slightly odored and bland in taste. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness and improving eyesight; it’s often used in treatment of corneal clouding, dysentery, and carbuncle. Use and Dosage: 6–12 g per dose, decocted in water or made into medicinal powder for oral use.

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7.6  Family: Malvaceae 7.6.1  Althaea rosea Chinese Name(s): shu kui, qi pan hua, ma gan hua Source: This medicine is made of the roots, flowers, leaves, and seeds of Althaea rosea (Althaea rosea (Linn.) Cavan). Morphology: The plant is a biennial erect herb and up to 2 m tall, with densely prickly stems and branches. Its leaf blades are subcordate, 6–16 cm in diameter, and palmately five- to seven-lobed or crenate-angled, with triangular or round lobes. The central lobes are about ca. 3 × 4–6 cm, abaxially long stellate hirsute or stellate tomentose, and adaxially sparsely stellate pilose. The petioles are 5–15 cm long and stellate hirsute. The stipules are ovate, 8 mm long, and apically three-pointed. The flowers are axillary, solitary or fascicled, and aggregated into a spikelike inflorescence. The bracts are foliaceous. The pedicels are about 5 mm long, 8–10 mm in fruit, and stellate hirsute. The bracts are cup-shaped, usually six- to seven-lobed, with ovate lanceolate lobes, 10 mm long, densely stellate hirsute, and connate at the base. The calyces are campanulate, 2–3 cm in diameter, five denticulate lobed, with ovate-triangular lobes, 1.2–1.5  cm, and densely stellate hirsute. The flowers are large, 6–10 cm in diameter, red, purple, white, pink, yellow, or black purple, with single or double petals, obovate triangle, about 4 cm long, emarginate at the apex, attenuate at the base, and claw-tipped with long thin hairs. The staminal columns are glabrous, about 2 cm long, with slender filaments, about 2 mm long, and yellow anthers. The styles are many-branched and minutely puberulent. The fruits are discoid, ca. 2  cm in diameter, and puberulent. The mericarps are many and nearly orbicular. The flowering is from February to August. Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Guangxi, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, etc., in China.

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Acquisition and Processing: The roots, flowers, leaves, and seeds are harvested in autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and cool in property. Functions: The roots function in clearing heat, expelling pus, and diuresis. The seeds function in inducing diuresis for treating stranguria. The flowers function in treating difficulty in urination and defecation, detoxicating, and eliminating stagnation. The roots are often used in treatments for enteritis, dysentery, urinary tract infection, dysuria, cervicitis, and leukorrhea. The seeds are often used in treatment for urinary calculi, stranguria, and edema. The flowers are often used in treatment for difficulty in urination and defecation, globus hystericus, and detoxification of tetrodotoxin. The flowers and leaves are used in external treatment for carbuncle, sores, burns, and scalds. Use and Dosage: 9–18 g per dose for roots and 3–6 g per dose for seeds and flowers, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of flowers and leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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7.7  Family: Malvaceae 7.7.1  Gossypium herbaceum Chinese Name(s): cao mian, a la bo mian, xiao mian Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Gossypium herbaceum (Gossypium herbaceum Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb, up to 2 m tall, and sparsely pubescent. Its leaves are palmately five-lobed, 5–10 cm in diameter, usually wider than long, basally cordate, adaxially stellate hirsute, and abaxially villous. The stipules are linear and 5–10 mm in length. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils. The pedicels are villous. The bracts are broadly triangular, 2–3 cm long, wider than long, and six- to eight-toothed. The calyces are cupular and five-lobed. The flowers are yellow, purple in the center, and 5–7 cm in diameter. The capsules are ovoid, ca. 3 cm, and usually three- to four-celled. The seeds are large, about 1 cm long, separated, oblique conical, covered with white wool, and persistent short fuzz. The flowering is from July to September, and fruiting is from September to November. Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: It is originated in Arabia and Asia Minor and is now cultivated in provinces of Guangdong, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hubei, Gansu, and Xinjiang in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are collected in autumn when cotton is harvested; the branches and trunks are removed, washed, and dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and warm in property. Functions: Relieving cough and asthma, inducing menstruation to alleviate menalgia, and tonifying deficiency; it’s often used for treatment of cough, asthma, metrorrhagia, hernia, disintegration, irregular menstruation, uterine prolapse, edema of limbs, etc. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Infantile malnutrition  – Gossypium herbaceum 30–50 g and dried jujube 10 g, decocted in water and added with some sugar when taking. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Asthma and cough belonging to syndromes of deficiency – Gossypium herbaceum, Malva parviflora head, and Rorippa indica, 50 g each, decocted in water. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Anemia – Gossypium herbaceum and Salvia miltiorrhiza, equal amount each, ground together into powder and made into pills. Take three times a day, 10 g each time. 4. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Uterine prolapse  – Gossypium herbaceum 300 g and raw Fructus Aurantii 20 g, decocted in water. Take twice a day for several days.

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7.8  Family: Malvaceae 7.8.1  Hibiscus mutabilis [3] Chinese Name(s): fu rong ye, mu fu rong ye, fu rong hua Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Hibiscus mutabilis (Hibiscus mutabilis Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a large shrub or small tree and 2–5 m tall. The whole plant is slightly gray stellate pubescence. The stem barks are rich in fibers and tough. The leaves are simple, opposite, broadly ovate to round ovate, 10–20 cm in diameter, palmately three- to five-lobed, with triangular lobes, basally cordate, and marginally obtuse serrate. The flowers are hermaphroditic, blooming in summer and autumn, solitary, or axillary on upper branches. There are ten bracts, which are light red and adnate to the base of calyces. The calyces are campanulate, five-parted, with broadly ovate lobes, and 3–4 cm long. The corollas are white, pink or crimson, and 5–8  cm in diameter, with five petals or more (double petals). The stamens are numerous, with filaments being connate into tubules at the base and divided into majority of filaments with anthers. There is one style, which is enclosed in staminal columns and apically five-branched, with capitate stigmas. The capsules are globose, dorsally dehiscent, and yellowish hispid. The seeds are reniform. The flowering is from August to October, and fruiting is from September to November. Habitat: It’s planted near gardens, villages or wilderness on wasteland, or in wet places on hillsides and ditches. Distribution: It is cultivated in provinces of Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Shaanxi, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, Hunan, Hubei, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou, as well as in Japan and Southeast Asian countries. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The products are mostly curled or broken. The whole leaf blades are oval cordate after flattening, 10–20 cm in diameter, usually palmate three- to five-lobed, with triangular lobes, blunt serrate on the margin, pubescent on both sides, yellowish green adaxially, and grayish green abaxially. There are 7–11 veins on both sides, which are raised on both sides. The petioles are 5–20 cm in length. It’s slightly odored and slightly pungent in taste. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent in taste and neutral in property, belonging to the meridians of the lungs and liver. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, eliminating swelling and purulence, cooling blood, and hemostasis; it’s often used for treatment of abscess due to lung heat, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, carbuncle abscess, hypertrophic rhinitis, appendicitis, and acute otitis media. For external treatment, it’s often used for carbuncles, sores, boils, mastitis, lymphadenitis, mumps, burns, scalds, snake bites, and injuries. Use and Dosage: 9–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected area, or dry leaves are ground with oil, Vaseline, wine, vinegar, or strong tea for application.

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Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Furuncles and abscess – Hibiscus mutabilis powder in appropriate amount, mixed with Vaseline to make 25% ointment (Hibiscus mutabilis powder/Vaseline = 1:3) and applied to the affected area. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Traumatic hemorrhage – appropriate amount of fresh Hibiscus mutabilis leaves, mashed and applied to the affected area. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Burn and scald – Hibiscus mutabilis leaves 500 g (double for fresh), added with Vaseline 1000 g, boiled on gentle fire until the leaves were scorched, filtered with gauze, and made into green Hibiscus mutabilis ointment. Spread the ointment on sterile dressing or gauze for external application. For first degree burns, the ointment can also be applied directly. Annotation: The flowers of Hibiscus mutabilis are also used as medicines with the same properties and functions as leaves.

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7.9  Family: Malvaceae 7.9.1  Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Chinese Name(s): fu sang, fo sang, da hong hua Source: This medicine is made of the root barks, flowers, and leaves of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub and 1–3 m tall. Its branchlets are terete and sparsely stellate pilose. The leaves are broadly or narrowly ovate, 4–9 × 2–5  cm, apically acuminate, basally rounded or cuneate, marginally dentate or emarginate, and glabrous on both sides except along veins at the back. The petioles are 5–20 mm long and villous. The stipules are linear, 5–12 mm long, and pilose. The flowers are solitary in the upper leaf axil and usually pendulous. The pedicels are 3–7 cm long, sparsely stellate pubescent or subglabrous, and articulate near the apex. There are six to seven bracts, which are linear, 8–15 mm long, sparsely stellate pubescent, and connate at the base. The calyces are campanulate, ca. 2 cm long, stellate pubescent, five-lobed, oval to lanceolate. corolla funnel-shaped, 6–10 cm in diameter, and oval to lanceolate. The corollas are rose red or reddish or yellowish. The petals are obovate, apically round, and abaxially sparse pubescent. The stamens are 4–8 cm long and glabrous. The styles are five-branched. The capsules are ovoid, about 2.5 cm long, glabrous, and beaked on the apex. The flowering is throughout the year. Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated in provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Taiwan, Fujian, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Sichuan, as well as in tropical Asia. Acquisition and Processing: The root barks, flowers, and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Detoxicating, diuresis, and regulating menstruation. The roots function in treating mumps, bronchitis, urinary tract infection, cervicitis, leukorrhea, irregular menstruation, and amenorrhea; the leaves and flowers function in external treatment of carbuncle, mastitis, and lymphadenitis. The flowers function in treating irregular menstruation. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g for roots or leaves and 30 g for flowers, decocted in water. For external application, proper amounts of flowers and leaves are mashed and applied to the affected area.

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7.10  Family: Malvaceae 7.10.1  Hibiscus syriacus Chinese Name(s): mu jin hua, fo sang hua, ji rou hua Source: This medicine is made of the flowers of Hibiscus syriacus (Hibiscus syriacus Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 3–6 m tall. Its stems are many-branched. The branchlets are pubescent and glabrescent. The leaves are alternate, usually two to three fascicled at the top of short branches, triangular ovate or rhomboid, 4–7 cm × 2.5–5 cm, variously three-lobed or entire, cuneate at the base, and irregularly round or sharp incised at the margin. There are three distinct main veins. The petioles are 1–2 cm long. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils. There are six to seven bracts, which are linear and about half the length of calyces. The calyces are five-lobed, ca. 1.5 cm, oval-lanceolate, and densely stellate pubescent. The corollas are purple red or white. The petals are connate with stamens at the base. The stamens are numerous, with filaments being connate into tubular. The ovaries are five-loculed, and the styles are five-lobed. The capsules are long elliptic and villous. The seeds are dark brown, with long brown hairs abaxially. The flowering is from July to October. Habitat: It often grows in gardens, villages, and hedgerows. Distribution: It is cultivated throughout the country and originated in the central part of China. It is now also planted in tropical and subtropical areas. Acquisition and Processing: The semi-open flowers are picked and dried in summer and autumn. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bitter in taste and cool in property, belonging to the meridians of the spleen and lungs. Functions: Clearing heat and cooling blood, detoxicating, and relieving swellings; it’s often used in treatment of dysentery with blood, leukorrhea, hematochezia, obstruction of phlegm, nausea, and vomiting hemorrhoids, as well as external treatment of sores, boils, and scalds. Use and Dosage: 6–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external application, the products are ground into powder and blended with sesame oil for application.

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7.11  Family: Malvaceae 7.11.1  Hibiscus tiliaceus Chinese Name(s): huang jin, hai ma, huang mu jin, tong hua, wan nian chun, yan shui mian tou guo Source: This medicine is made of the leaves, flowers, and barks of Hibiscus tiliaceus (Hibiscus tiliaceus Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and 4–10 m tall with a diameter of 60 cm at breast height. The bark is gray white. Branchlets are glabrous or nearly glabrous, with rarely stellate villi or stellate pubescence. Leaves are leathery, suborbicular or broadly ovate, 8–15 cm in diameter, with apical protuberance, sometimes short acuminate, heart-shaped at the base, entire or obscure crenulate, green at the leaf

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surface, with tender, very fine stellate hairs, gradually smooth and glabrous, and densely gray-white stellate pubescence at the back, with seven or nine veins. Petioles are 3–8 cm long. Stipules are oblong, long, about 2 cm wide, 12 mm wide, apex round, early falling, and stellate pubescence. Inflorescences are terminal or axillary; constant flowers are arranged in aggregated and scattered inflorescence. Total pedicel is 4–5 cm long. Pedicel is 1–3 cm long, with a pair of stipular bracts at the base. There are seven to ten bracts, which are linear lanceolate, villous, connate below the middle to form a cup. Calyx is 1.5–2.5 cm long and one-third to one-fourth connate at the base. Calyx is five cleft, lanceolate, villous, and 6–7 cm in diameter. Petals are yellow, basal dark purple, obovate, about 4.5 cm long, and densely covered with yellow stellate pubescence outside. Stamen column is about 3 cm long, smooth, and glabrous. Style is five-branched, covered with fine glandular hairs. Capsule is oval, about 2 cm long, villous, with 5 mericarps, and woody. Seed is smooth and kidneyshaped. Flowering is from June to August. Habitat: It grows or is cultivated in bays or tidal rivers, embankments, or shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangdong, Taiwan, Fujian, and Guangxi in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves, flowers, and barks are harvested and dried in summer and autumn. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and slightly cold in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, scattering blood stasis, and relieving swelling; it’s often used in treatment of cassava poisoning, sores, and furuncles. Use and Dosage: 30–60 g for fresh flowers or tender leaves for cassava poisoning. Mash the herb for juice and take with white sugar. For severe cases, take two to three doses daily. For treatment of sores and boils, fresh leaves or barks were mashed for external application.

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7.12  Family: Malvaceae 7.12.1  Malva sinensis Chinese Name(s): jin kui, jing kui, qian kui, xiao qian hua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Malva sinensis (Malva sinensis Cav.). Morphology: The plant is a biennial or perennial herb, erect, 50–90  cm tall, many-branched, and strigose. Its leaf blades are cordate or reniform, crenate on margins, five- to seven-crenate lobed, 5–12  cm long and almost equal in width, subcordate to round at the base, serrated at margins, and hirtellous or sparsely strigose adaxially along the veins. The petioles are 4–8  cm long, subglabrous, and strigose adaxially in grooves. The stipules are oblique, ovate, serrated, and apically acuminate. The flowers 3–11 fascicled, with pedicels of 1–2 cm, and glabrous or strigose. There are three bracts, which are oblong, 3–4 × 1–2 mm, apically rounded,

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and sparsely pubescent. The calyces are 6–7 mm long. There are five sepals, which are broadly triangular and stellate pubescent on both surfaces. The flowers are purple or white and 3.5–4 cm in diameter. There are five petals, spatulate, ca. 2 cm, and apically slightly emarginate. The claws are barbed. The staminal columns are 8–10 mm long and scabrous. The filaments are glabrous. The styles are 9–11-branched and minutely puberulent. The fruits are flat globose and 5–7 mm in diameter. There are 9–11 mericarps, which are reniform, pilose, abaxially puberulent, and reticulate. The seeds are dark brown, reniform, and ca. 2 mm. The flowering is from May to October. Habitat: It cultivated in gardens. Distribution: It is commonly cultivated throughout the country, as well as in temperate regions of Europe, Asia, and America. Acquisition and Processing: The whole grasses are harvested and dried in summer and autumn. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s salty in taste and cold in property. Functions: Regulating Qi and relieving constipation and clearing away heat and dampness; it’s often used in treatment of dyspepsia, lymph node tuberculosis, leukorrhea, umbilical abdominal pain, and sore throat. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water.

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7.13  Family: Malvaceae 7.13.1  Malva verticillata Chinese Name(s): dong kui, qi ye zi, dong kui zi, dong kui guo Source: This medicine is made of the fruits, seeds, roots, stems, and leaves of Malva verticillata (Malva verticillata Linn.) Morphology: The plant is an annual herb and 20–60 cm tall. Its roots are slender, sometimes branched, and yellowish white. The stems are erect, simple, longitudinally ribbed, and stellate hairy. The leaves are alternate and long petiolated. The leaf blades are globose-reniform, palmately five- to seven-lobed, with rounded or triangular lobes, apically obtuse-rounded, with cordate leaf base, with irregularly serrated margins, with five to seven main veins, bifurcated or flat strigose on both surfaces, and slightly denser abaxially. There are several to ten flowers, which are clustered in leaf axils. The pedicels are short. The calyces are campanulate and five-­ lobed, with wide triangular lobes. The are three accessory sepals, which are linear lanceolate. The petals are light reddish, obovate, about two times the length of calyces, and apically concave. The stamen filaments are connate to columnar. The ovaries are multilocular. The styles are 10–11-branched. The capsules are oblate globose, enclosed in persistent calyces, and composed of 10–11 carpels. After maturing, the carpels separate from each other and depart from the axis to form mericarps. The seeds are reniform, brown, or black brown. The flowering and fruiting are in June to September. Habitat: It grows near fields, roadsides, and villages. Distribution: It is distributed all over the country, as well as in countries of India, Myanmar, Sikkim, North Korea, Egypt, Ethiopia, and Europe. Acquisition and Processing: The mature fruits are collected in summer and autumn, removed off impurities, and dried in shades. The seeds are taken from dried ripe fruits. The roots are dug up in autumn, washed, and dried. The stems and leaves are harvested when the plants are in full bloom, cut from the overground part, and dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: The fruits are sweet and astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat, diuresis, and detumescence; the seeds are sweet in taste and cold in property, function in promoting diuresis and secretion of milk, moisten intestine, and relieve constipation. The roots are sweet in taste and warm in property and function in tonifying spleen and invigorating Qi. The stems and leaves are sweet in taste and cold in property and function in clearing heat and removing dampness. The fruits are often used in treating pyretic stranguria, edema, and thirst. The seeds are often used in treating pyretic stranguria, urolithiasis, breast milk stoppage, constipation, and placenta retention. The roots are often used in treatment of Qi deficiency, lumbar debility, deficiency, spontaneous sweating, prolapse of anus, uterus prolapse, chronic nephritis, and diabetes. The stems and leaves are often used for jaundice hepatitis.

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Use and Dosage: 3–9 g for fruit, 3–9 g for seeds, 15–30 g for roots, and 15–30 g for stems and leaves, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Urinary incompetence  – Malva verticillata seeds and talc 15 g each and Agastache rugosa 10 g, decocted in water. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Dysentery – Malva verticillata seeds fried to yellow and made into powder. Take 5 g per dose with water, three times a day. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Carbuncle and furuncles  – fresh leaves mashed with honey for external application. 4. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Postpartum breast milk stoppage, swelling, and pain – Malva verticillata seeds and Amomum seed in the same portion, 10 g per dose, taken with yellow rice wine. 5. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Urolithiasis – Malva verticillata root 100 g, decocted in water for oral use for several times. 6. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Night sweats – Malva verticillata seeds 15 g, decocted in water and taken with sugar.

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7.14  Family: Malvaceae 7.14.1  Sida chinensis Chinese Name(s): zhong hua huang hua nian Source: This medicine is made of the whole grass of Sida chinensis (Sida chinensis Retz.). Morphology: The plant is a small erect shrub, 70 cm tall, many-branched, and densely stellate pubescent. Its leaves are obovate, oblong or suborbicular, 5–20 × 3–10 mm, apically rounded, basally cuneate to orbicular, with finely serrated teeth, adaxially sparsely stellate pubescence, and abaxially sparsely stellate hairy or subglabrous. The petioles are 2–4 mm long and stellate pubescent. The stipules are subulate. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils. The pedicels are about 1 cm long, articulate at the middle, and stellate pubescent. The calyces are campanulate, ca. 6 mm in diameter, green, five-lobed, with triangular lobes, about 2.5 mm long, and densely stellate pubescent. The flowers are yellow and ca. 1.2  cm in diam. There are five petals, which are obovate and ca. 6 mm. The stamens are strigose and ca. 4 mm. The filaments are thin. The anthers are yellow. The schizocarps are spherical and ca. 4 mm in diameter. There are seven to eight mericarps, enclosed in persistent calyces, smooth and awnless, and apically sparsely pubescent. The flowering is in winter and spring. Habitat: It grows in the mountains. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China. Acquisition and Processing: The whole grasses are dug in summer and autumn and dried the whole plant.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: The fruits are sweet and astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing away heat and dampness, expelling pus, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of fever, bacillary dysentery, urolithiasis, dysentery, and abdominal pain, as well as in external treatment of sores, carbuncles, furunculosis, etc. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected area.

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7.15  Family: Malvaceae 7.15.1  Sida cordifolia Chinese Name(s): xin ye huang hua nian Source: This medicine is made of the whole grass of Sida cordifolia (Sida cordifolia Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an erect subshrub and ca. 1 m tall. Its branchlets are densely stellate pubescent with long hairs, with hairs of 3 mm long. The leaves are ovate, 1.5–5 × 1–4 cm, apically obtuse or rounded, basally cordate or rounded, marginally crenate, densely stellate pubescent on both surfaces, and abaxially velutinous on veins. The petioles are 1–2.5 cm long and densely stellate pubescent with long hairs. The stipules are filiform, about 5 mm long, and densely stellate pubescent. The flowers are solitary or fascicled at leaf axils or branching ends. The pedicels are 5–15 mm long, densely stellate pubescent with long hairs, and articulate in distal part. The calyces are campanulate with five lobes, which are triangular, 5–6 mm long, and densely stellate pubescent with long hairs. The flowers are yellow and ca 1.5 cm in diameter. The petals are oblong and 6–8 mm long. The staminal columns are 6 mm in diameter and strigose. The capsules are 6–8 mm in diameter. There are ten mericarps, which are apically two-awned, with awns of 3–4  mm, exceeding calyx, and retrorsely barbed. The seeds are long ovoid and shortly hairy at the apex. The flowering is year-round. Habitat: It grows in hillside shrubs or roadside grasses. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Sichuan in China, as well as in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and Africa. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxifying and diuresis. It’s often used in treatments of diarrhea, gonorrhea, etc. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g, decocted in water for oral use.

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7.16  Family: Malvaceae 7.16.1  Sida rhombifolia Chinese Name(s): bai bei huang hua nian, huang hua mu Source: This medicine is made of the whole grass of Sida rhombifolia (Sida rhombifolia Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a vertical subshrub, about 1  m tall, and many-­ branched. Its branchlets are stellate pubescent. The leaf blades are rhombic to oblong-lanceolate or 2–4.5 × 0.6–2 cm, apically rounded to cuspid, basally broadly cuneate, marginally serrated, abaxially gray-white stellate pilose, and adaxially

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sparsely stellate pilose to subglabrous. The petioles are 3–5 mm long and stellate puberulent. The stipules are slender and spinelike. The flowers are solitary in leaf axils. The pedicels are 1–2 cm long, densely stellate pubescent, and articulate above middle. The calyces are cupular, 4–5  mm long, and abaxially stellate pubescent. There are five lobes, which are triangular. The flowers are yellow and ca.1 cm in diameter. The petals are obovate, ca. 8 mm long, apically round, and basally attenuate. The staminal columns are glabrous, sparsely glandular papillate, and ca. 5 mm long. The styles are eight- to ten-branched. The fruits are semiglobose and 6–7 mm in diameter. There are eight to ten mericarps, which are stellate pubescent and apically two-awned. The flowering is in autumn and winter. Habitat: It grows in hilly and barren suburbs, villageside, roadsides, or wilderness grassland. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Hubei in China, as well as in the tropics and subtropics of the world. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing away heat and dampness, expelling pus, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of colds, fever, tonsillitis, bacillary dysentery, urolithiasis, jaundice, malaria, and abdominal pain, as well as in external treatment of boils and furuncles. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose. For external treatment, appropriate amounts of fresh herbs are made into decoctum for washing or mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Urolithiasis  – Radix Sida rhombifolia 60–120 g, added with 1500 ml of water and decocted to 500 ml; the dregs was removed and added with 60 g of lean pork and cooked thoroughly. Take the meat and drink the soup, two to four times per day. Around 30 g of Asiatic plantain and 60 g of Herba Lysimachia may be added into the fifth decoctum to reinforce the therapeutic effect. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Biliary tract diseases, peptic ulcers, acute gastroenteritis, and pain after abdominal surgery or trauma – Radix Sida rhombifolia 6 g, decocted in water for oral use or made into 10% injection for intramuscular injection, 2  ml per dose, or it can also be made into tincture for oral dose.

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7.17  Family: Malvaceae 7.17.1  Sida szechuensis Chinese Name(s): ba du san, wang bu liu xing, xiao nian yao Source: This medicine is made of the whole grass of Sida szechuensis (Sida szechuensis Matsuda.). Morphology: The plant is a vertical subshrub and 1 m tall. Its branchlets are stellate pubescent. The lower leaves are broadly rhombic or flabellate, 2–5 × 2.5–5 cm, apically acute to obtuse, rounded, basally cuneate, and marginally double dentate. The upper leaves are oblong or obtuse oval, 2–3  cm long, with both ends being obtuse or rounded, abaxially densely gray stellate tomentose, and adaxially sparsely stellate pubescent to subglabrous. The petioles are 5–10 mm long and stellate pubescent. The stipules are subulate and shorter than petioles. The flowers are solitary or clustered at the apex of branches. The pedicels are 1 cm long, densely stellate pubescent and viscid-hairy, and articulate above middle. The calyces are cupular, 7 mm

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long, and sparsely stellate pubescent, with triangular lobes. The corollas are yellow and ca. 1–1.5 cm in diameter. The petals are obovate and 8 mm long. The staminal columns are 5 mm long and long hirsute. The capsules are subspherical and about 6  mm in diameter. There are eight to nine mericarps, which are sparsely stellate pubescent and shortly awned. The seeds are 2 mm long, dark brown, glabrous, and umbilically white pubescent. The flowering is in summer and autumn. Habitat: It grows on slopes, roadsides, shrubs, or under sparse forests at altitudes of 300–2700 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangxi in China. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants can be harvested throughout the year. The whole plant can be pulled out, cut into segments, and dried. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Regulating menstruation and promoting lactation, detoxicating, and reducing swelling; it’s often used in treatment of amenorrhea, mastitis, enteritis, and dysentery, as well as in external treatment of bruise and injuries and carbuncles. Use and Dosage: 15–20 g per dose. For external treatment, appropriate amounts of fresh herbs are mashed and added with vinegar for application. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Carbuncles, furuncles, and gangrene – fresh Sida szechuensis leaves are mashed and applied to the affected area. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Bruise and injuries – fresh Sida szechuensis leaves are mashed, added with yellow sugar or alcohol, and applied to the affected area. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Breast milk stoppage  – Sida szechuensis 10–16 g, stewed with pig feet and taken orally.

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7.18  Family: Malvaceae 7.18.1  Urena lobata Chinese Name(s): di tao hua, xiao fan tian hua, ye mian hua, tian fu rong Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Urena lobata (Urena lobata Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a subshrublike herb, 0.5–1 m tall, and stellate tomentose throughout. The leaves are alternate. The leaf blades at the proximal part of stems are nearly orbicular. The blades at the middle part of stems are ovate. Those at the distal part of stems are oblong to lanceolate, 4–7 × 2–6 cm, lobed, abaxially gray stellate puberulent, and adaxially puberulent. The petioles are 2–6 cm long. There are two stipules, which are linear and caducous. The flowers are solitary or slightly aggregated, pale red, and 1.5 cm in diameter. The pedicels are short and hairy. There are five bracts, which are connate at the base. The calyces are cupular and five-lobed. There are five petals, which are obovate and abaxially stellate puberulent. The stamen filaments are tubular, with purple-red anthers. The ovaries are five-loculed. The styles are cylindrical and apically ten-lobed. The fruits are flattened globose and ca. 1 cm in diameter. The mericarps are spiny with hooked spines and separated from the midrib at maturity. The flowering is from June to October. Habitat: It grows in villages or roadside open fields or grasslands. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions on south of the Yangtze River Basin in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Japan, etc. Acquisition and Processing: It can be harvested all year round. The roots are dug up, removed from the aboveground parts, with the sediments being shaken off, and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: This product is cylindrical, slightly curved, with a few branched roots, more fibrous roots, and light yellow or gray, with fine longitudinal wrinkles and punctate root marks. It’s hard in quality, fractured on sections, pale brown skinned, and pale yellow at the xylem. It’s slightly odored and sweet and bland in taste. The products with strong roots, no sediments, few branches, and fibrous roots are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing away heat and dampness, dispelling wind and activating blood circulation, detoxicating, and detumescent; it’s often used for treatment of rheumatism, arthralgia, cold, malaria, enteritis, dysentery, dyspepsia in children, and leukorrhea. Use and Dosage: 15–24 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Example: Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Dysentery and dyspepsia  – Radix Urena lobata 30 g, Herba Polygoni Chinensis, Radix myrtle, and Herba Pteridis multifidae, 15 g each (added with Griffith streptocaulon root or leaf in some cases) decocted for 1 h. Take one dose daily, for 2–4 days. Those with moderate or higher dehydration were rehydrated at the same time.

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Annotation: The leaves can be mashed and applied to the affected areas in cases of bruises and injuries.

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7.19  Family: Malvaceae 7.19.1  Urena procumbens Chinese Name(s): fan tian hua, gou jiao ji, di mian hua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Urena procumbens (Urena procumbens Linn. [U. lobata Linn. var. sinuata (Linn.) Gagnip.]). Morphology: The plant is a small shrub and 80 cm tall. The branches are procumbent. The branchlets are stellate puberulent. The leaf blades at the proximal part

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of the stem are palmately three- to five-parted to one-half blade, round and narrow, 1.5–6 × 1–4 cm, with rhomboid or obovate lobes, gourd-shaped, basally rounded to subcordate, marginally serrated, and apically obtuse, with both surfaces being shortly stellate hirsute. The petioles are 4–15 mm long and villous. The stipules are subulate, about 1.5 mm long, and caducous. The flowers are solitary or nearly fascicled. The pedicels are 2–3 mm long. There bracts are 7 mm long, connate for ca. one-third their length, and sparsely stellate hairy. The calyces are shorter than or nearly as long as epicalyces, ovate, acute, and stellate. The corollas are light red, with petals of 10–15 mm long. The staminal columns are glabrous, as long as petals. The fruits are globose, ca. 6 mm in diameter, spiny, and hirsute with long hairs and hooked spines. The seeds are glabrous. The flowering is from June to September. Habitat: It grows in hilly wastelands or village roadsides and open grasslands. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Hunan, Hainan, Guangdong, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, and Zhejiang in China. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Removing wind and dampness, clearing heat, and detoxicating; it’s often used in treatments of colds, rheumatoid arthritis, enteritis, dysentery, and cough due to heat in lungs, as well as external treatment for injuries, sores and furuncles, and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external treatment, proper amounts of fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Example: Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Dysentery  – Urena procumbens 9–15  g, decocted in water for oral use.

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7.20  Family: Malpighiaceae 7.20.1  Hiptage benghalensis Chinese Name(s): feng che teng, huo long, gou jiao teng Source: This medicine is made of the stems of Hiptage benghalensis (Hiptage benghalensis (Linn.) Kurz). Morphology: The plant is a scandent shrub and 3–10 m long. Its leaf blades are leathery, oblong, elliptic-oblong, or ovate-lanceolate, 9–18 × 3–7 cm, apically acuminate, basally broad cuneate or subcircular, abaxially often with two glands, entire at margins, pubescent or glabrous, and protuberant at middle and lateral veins on both surfaces. The petioles are 5–10 mm long and grooved adaxially. The inflorescences are in racemes, axillary or terminal, 5–10  cm long, and yellowish-brown pubescent. The pedicels are 1–1.6  cm long, densely yellowish-brown pubescent, and articulate at the middle or distally. There are two bracts, which are subulate-­ lanceolate and 2–4 mm long. The flower buds are globular and 5–7 mm in diameter. The flowers are large, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter, and extremely fragrant. There are five sepals, which are broadly elliptic or oval, 5–6  mm long, apically rounded, and densely yellowish-brown pubescent. The gland is thick, large, oblong, and ca. one-­ half adnate on pedicel. The petals are white, orbicular or broadly elliptic, 8–15 × 5–10 mm, pubescent, apically rounded, basally clawed, and marginally fimbriate. There are ten stamens, which differ in size, with the longest being 8–12 mm and others being 3–5  mm. The anthers are elliptic and 1–2  mm long. The styles are about 12 mm long and circinate. The samaras are sericeous at the core but glabrous on wings. The abaxial wings are elliptic or obovate-lanceolate, 3.5–5 (~7) × 1–1.6 cm, and apically entire or retuse. The lateral wings are lanceolate-oblong and 1.5–3 cm. The flowering is from February to April. The fruiting is from April to May. Habitat: It grows in dense or sparse forests in valleys. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of India, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: The old stems are harvested in summer and autumn, sliced, and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly bitter and astringent in taste and warm in property. Functions: Astringing essence, strengthening kidneys, and invigorating yang; it’s often used for treatment of spermatorrhea, infantile night sweating, premature ejaculation, impotence, frequent urination, and arthralgia due to wind-cold. Use and Dosage: 15–90 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. The dosage should be decreased for children.

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References 1. Xie ZW et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 976 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975. 2. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1: 189) [S], The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China, 2015. 3. Xie ZW et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 184 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975.

Chapter 8

Medicinal Angiosperms of Euphorbiaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 8.1  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.1.1  Acalypha australis 8.2  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.2.1  Acalypha brachystachya 8.3  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.3.1  Alchornea trewioides 8.4  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.4.1  Antidesma bunius 8.5  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.5.1  Bischofia javanica 8.6  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.6.1  Breynia fruticosa

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

© Chemical Industry Press 2021 H. Ye et al. (eds.), Common Chinese Materia Medica, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8_8

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392 8.7  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.7.1  Claoxylon indicum 8.8  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.8.1  Cleidiocarpon cavaleriei 8.9  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.9.1  Cleidion brevipetiolatum 8.10  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.10.1  Croton crassifolius 8.11  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.11.1  Croton lachnocarpus 8.12  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.12.1  Croton tiglium 8.13  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.13.1  Endospermum chinense 8.14  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.14.1  Euphorbia esula 8.15  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.15.1  Euphorbia helioscopia 8.16  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.16.1  Euphorbia heterophylla 8.17  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.17.1  Euphorbia hirta 8.18  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.18.1  Euphorbia humifusa 8.19  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.19.1  Euphorbia hypericifolia 8.20  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.20.1  Euphorbia lathyris 8.21  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.21.1  Euphorbia pekinensis 8.22  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.22.1  Euphorbia thymifolia 8.23  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.23.1  Excoecaria cochinchinensis 8.24  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.24.1  Glochidion eriocarpum 8.25  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.25.1  Glochidion hirsutum 8.26  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.26.1  Glochidion lanceolarium 8.27  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.27.1  Glochidion puberum 8.28  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.28.1  Glochidion wrightii 8.29  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.29.1  Homonoia riparia 8.30  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.30.1  Macaranga adenantha 8.31  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.31.1  Macaranga denticulate 8.32  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.32.1  Macaranga henryi 8.33  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.33.1  Mallotus apelta

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8  Medicinal Angiosperms of Euphorbiaceae 8.34  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.34.1  Mallotus barbatus 8.35  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.35.1  Mallotus philippinensis 8.36  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.36.1  Mallotus repandus 8.37  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.37.1  Phyllanthus cochinchinensis 8.38  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.38.1  Phyllanthus emblica 8.39  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.39.1  Phyllanthus flexuosus 8.40  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.40.1  Phyllanthus glaucus 8.41  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.41.1  Phyllanthus parvifolius 8.42  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.42.1  Phyllanthus reticulatus 8.43  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.43.1  Phyllanthus urinaria 8.44  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.44.1  Phyllanthus virgatus 8.45  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.45.1  Phyllanthus ussuriensis 8.46  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.46.1  Ricinus communis 8.47  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.47.1  Sapium discolor 8.48  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.48.1  Sapium sebiferum 8.49  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.49.1  Sauropus bacciformis 8.50  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.50.1  Sauropus spatulifolius 8.51  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.51.1  Securinega suffruticosa 8.52  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.52.1  Securinega virosa 8.53  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.53.1  Speranskia cantonensis 8.54  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.54.1  Vernicia fordii 8.55  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.55.1  Vernicia montana References

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This chapter introduces 55 species of medicinal plants in one family, mainly including Acalypha australis, Acalypha brachystachya, Alchornea trewioides, Claoxylon indicum, Cleidiocarpon cavaleriei, Croton crassifolius, Croton tiglium, Euphorbia hirta, Euphorbia thymifolia, Glochidion puberum, Mallotus apelta, Mallotus repandus, Phyllanthus emblica, Sapium discolor, Sauropus spatulifolius, and Vernicia fordii of Euphorbiaceae.

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This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

8.1  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.1.1  Acalypha australis Chinese Name(s): tie xian cai, ren xian, hai bang han zhu Source: This medicine is made of the overground parts of Acalypha australis (Acalypha australis Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb and 20–50 cm tall. Its leaves are alternate, lanceolate, ovate-lanceolate or subrhombic-ovate, 2.8–8 × 1.5–3.5 cm, abaxially pilosulose along the veins, apically shortly acuminate, basally rounded, marginally serrated, and basally ternately veined. The petioles are 2–5  cm long. There are two stipules. The flowers are unisexual and apetalous. The stamens usually grow at the upper part of spikes and are extremely small and several clustered in small bracts. There are four sepals, which are ovate. There are seven to eight stamens, with anthers that are four-loculed. The female flowers are at the lower part of the inflorescence, often three to five gathered in the enlarged bracts after flowering. The bracts are oval, basally cordate, 7–8 mm wide, and pubescent. There are three sepals, which are ovate and ciliate. The ovaries are three- to four-loculed. There are three styles, which are pinnate. The capsules are two to three seeded. The seeds are subspherical, dark gray, carunculate, and crustaceous. The flowering and fruiting periods are from April to December. Habitat: It grows on the open lands beside the village roads. Distribution: It is distributed in most provinces and regions in China, except for the cold or dry areas in the west. It is also distributed in East Asian countries, Vietnam, Laos, India and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: It is cut in summer and autumn, removed roots and impurities, and dried. Medicinal Properties: The product is 20–40  cm and gray-white pubescence. The stems are subcylindrical, branched, brown, and linear. It’s hard in quality, easily broken, yellow white at cross section, and marrow. The leaves are alternate, often crinkled or broken, complete lanceolate to oval rhomboid, 2.5–8 × 1.2–3.5, and yellow green, with serrated edges. The spikes are often axillary. The bracts are ovate and enlarged post-anthesis. The capsules are small and triangular oblate. It’s slightly odored and bland in taste. The products with leaves and green color are better in quality.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly bitter and astringent in taste and cool in property, belonging to the meridians of the liver and large intestine. Functions: Clearing away heat and detoxicating, eliminating accumulation, and stopping dysentery and hemostasis; it’s often used for treatment of enteritis, bacillary dysentery, amebic dysentery, infantile chancre, hepatitis, malaria, hematemesis, epilepsy, hematuria, hemafecia, and metrorrhagia, as well as in external treatments of carbuncle sores, traumatic bleeding, eczema, dermatitis, and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external treatment, proper amounts of fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Example: 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Bacillary dysentery – (1) Acalypha australis 60  g (250  g for fresh) decocted in water and taken three times. (2) Acalypha australis 30 g and purslane 15 g, decocted in water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Acute enteritis and bacillary dysentery  – Acalypha australis and Herba Pteridis multifidae 60  g each and pomegranate rind 15 g, decocted in water. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Infantile malnutrition  – (1) external application: 4. Fresh Acalypha australis 15  g, ginger, scallion 30  g, and duck protein one, pounded evenly and applied to the sole of the foot. Remove the application overnight and apply it every 3 days, usually five to seven times. (2) Oral use: Acalypha australis 100  g, decocted, with dregs being removed, added with 150  g pork liver, and decocted again. Take the liver and drink the soup, five to six times. In mild case, choose one method from the above; for severe case, use the two together. 5. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Malaria – Acalypha australis 150 g, decocted in water. Take the decoctum 2–3 h before onset for one to three doses.

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8.2  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.2.1  Acalypha brachystachya Chinese Name(s): lie bao tie xian cai, duan sui tie xian cai Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Acalypha brachystachya (Acalypha brachystachya Hornem.).

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Morphology: The plant is an annual herb and 20–80 cm tall. Its leaves are membranous, ovate, broadly ovate or rhombic-ovate, 2–5.5 × 1.5–3.5 cm, apically acute or short acuminate, basally shallowly cordate, and sometimes cuneate, with crenate upper margin. There are three to five basal veins. The petioles are slender and 2.5–6 cm long. The stipules are lanceolate and about 5 mm long. The inflorescences are axillary, one to three together, and 5–9 mm long. There are three to five female bracts, which are 5 mm long and palmately deep fissured. The lobes are oblong and 1–2 mm wide. The outermost lobes are usually less than 1 mm long. There is one female flower in bract axils. The male flowers are fascicled in the upper part of inflorescence, capitate, or short spicate. The bracts are oval and 0.2  mm long. Sometimes there is an allomorphic female flower at the apex. Male flowers: calyx buds are globular, 0.3 mm long, and sparsely pubescent, with seven to eight stamens and pedicels of 0.5 mm long. Female flowers: there are three sepals, which are suboblong, ca. 0.4 mm, and ciliated. The ovaries are pilose and hirtellous. There are three styles, which are about 1.5 mm long, and three to five laciniate, with short pedicels. Heteromorphic female flowers: there are four sepals, which are about 0.5 mm long. The ovaries are gyroscopic, one-loculed, ca. 1 mm long, pubescent, with a ring of dentate cleft on apex, and membranous. There is one style located at the base of ovary, which is torn. The capsules are 2  mm in diameter, with three mericarps, which are pubescent on the pericarp and tuberculate. The flowering is from May to December. Habitat: It grows on mountain roadsides or streamsides. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hebei, Shanxi to Gansu, Sichuan, and the eastern provinces east of Yunnan in China, as well as in tropical Africa, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s astringent and slightly bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, stopping bleeding, and eliminating stasis; it’s often used in treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, hematemesis, epistaxis, hematuria, hemafecia, metrorrhagia, infantile malnutrition, carbuncles and ulcers, and skin eczema. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas. It should not be used in the elderly, the weak, and the pregnant women.

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8.3  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.3.1  Alchornea trewioides Chinese Name(s): hong bei sha ma gan, hong bei ye Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Alchornea trewioides (Alchornea trewioides (Benth.) Mull. Arg.). Morphology: The plants are shrubs and 1–2 m tall. Its leaves are thin papery, broadly ovate, 8–15 × 7–13 cm, apically acute or acuminate, basally subcordate or subtruncated, marginally obscurely serrulate, glabrous on upper surface, light red on the back, and puberulent along the veins only abaxially, with four macular glands at the base. It’s basally ternately veined. The stipels are lanceolate and 2–3.5 mm long. The petioles are 7–12 cm long. The stipules are subulate, 3–5 mm long, hairy, and withered. The plant is diecious. The male inflorescences are spikes, 7–15 cm long, puberulent, with triangular bracts, and about 1 mm long. The male flowers are 11–15-fascicled in bract axils. The pedicels are 2 mm long, glabrous, and articulate in the middle. The female inflorescences are racemose, terminal, 5–6  cm long, 5–12-flowered, puberulent, with narrow triangular bracts, about 4  mm long, and with two glands at the base. The bracteoles are lanceolate and 3 mm long. The pedicels are 1 mm long. Male flowers: calyx buds are globular, glabrous, and 1.5 mm in diameter, with four oblong sepals and seven to eight stamens. Female flowers: there are five to six sepals, which are lanceolate, 3–4 mm long, and pubescent, sometimes one of the five being with a basal gland. The ovaries are globular, pubescent, with three styles, linear, 12–15 mm in length, and connate at the base for less than 1 mm. The capsules are spherical, three-ridged, 8–10 mm in diameter, flat on the surface, and puberulent. The flowering is from March to May, and fruiting is from June to August. Habitat: It grows in coastal plains, mountain shrubs, or under sparse forests.

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Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, Thailand, and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing away heat and dampness, dispelling blood stasis, and stopping bleeding; it’s often used in treatment of dysentery, dysuria, hematuria, urinary calculi, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, pain of low back and leg, bruise, and injury, as well as in external treatment of traumatic bleeding, urticaria, and eczema. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g for roots and 9–15 g for leaves, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas or decocted in water for washing with.

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8.4  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.4.1  Antidesma bunius Chinese Name(s): wu yue cha, wu wei ye, suan wei shu Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Antidesma bunius (Antidesma bunius (Linn.) Spreng.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and up to 10 m tall. The branchlets are with obvious dermis and glabrous, except the midrib, petioles, calyces, and pistillodes. The leaf blades are papery, long elliptic, obovate or long obovate, 8–23 × 3–10 cm, apically sharp to round, mucronate, basally wide cuneate or cuneate, dark green adaxially, often lustrous, and green abaxially. There are 7–11 lateral veins, which are flat on the leaf surface but protrude when dried and slightly convex on the back. The petioles are 3–10 mm long. The stipules are linear and caducous. The male inflorescences are in spikes, terminal, and 6–17 cm long. Male flowers: the calyces are cupular and apically three- to fourlobed, with oval triangle lobes. There are three to four stamens, which are 2.5 mm long, inserted on the inner surface of the disk. The disks are cupular, entire, or irregularly divided. The pistillodes are clavate. The female inflorescences are racemes, terminal, and 5–18 cm long. Female flowers: The calyces and disks are the same as male flowers. The pistils are slightly longer than sepals. The ovaries are broadly oval. The styles are terminal, with short and wide stigmas, and apically slightly emarginate. The drupes are subspherical or elliptic, 8–10 × 8 mm, and red at maturity. The pedicels are about 4 mm in length. The flowering is from March to May, and fruiting is from June to November. Habitat: It grows in plains or dense forests at altitudes of 50–1000 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Guizhou in China, as well as in tropical Asian countries and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sour in taste and warm in property.

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Functions: Astringing, anti-diarrhea, relieving thirst and promoting secretion of saliva and other body liquid, and invigorating circulation of Qi and blood; it’s often used in treatment of body fluid deficiency, inappetence, indigestion, and external treatment of traumatic injury. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.5  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.5.1  Bischofia javanica Chinese Name(s): qiu feng, qie dong Source: This medicine is made of the roots, leaves, and barks of Bischofia javanica (Bischofia javanica Bl.). Morphology: The plant is a tree, 40 m tall, and 2.3 m in DBH. The leaves are palmately three (to five) foliolate, and the main petiole is 8–20 cm long. The leaflets are papery, oval, obovate or elliptic ovate, 7–15 × 4–8 cm, apically acute or caudate-­ acuminate, base broadly cuneate to obtuse, marginally shallowly serrated, only sparsely pubescent along the veins when young, and glabrescent. The apical petioles are 2–5 cm long. The lateral petioles are 5–20 mm long. The stipules are membranous, lanceolate, about 8  mm long, and caducous. The flowers are small and dioecious. The inflorescences are axillary, paniculate, and many flowered. The male inflorescences are 8–13 cm long and puberulent to glabrous. The female inflorescences are 15–27  cm long and pendent. Male flowers: 2.5  mm in diameter. The sepals are membranous, semiorbicular, adaxially concave, ladle-shaped, and abaxially puberulent outside. The filaments are short. The pistillodes are small, peltate, and pubescent. Female flowers: the sepals are oblong ovate, concave inside, ladle-­ shaped, sparsely puberulent outside, and marginally membranous. The ovaries are smooth and glabrous and three- to four-loculed, with three to four styles, which are linear and entire. The fruits are berrylike, globose or subglobose, 6–13 mm in diameter, and light brown. The seeds are oblong and about 5 mm in length. The flowering is from April to May, and fruiting is from August to October. Habitat: It grows in wet evergreen forests of plains or valleys. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Macao in China, as well as in Japan and southeast Asian countries, India, and Northern Oceania islands. Acquisition and Processing: The roots, barks, and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Activating circulation of Qi and blood, detumescence, and detoxification; the roots and barks are often used for rheumatism and bone pain. The leaves are often used for esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, infectious hepatitis, malnutritional stagnation of children, pneumonia, and pharyngitis, as well as external treatment for carbuncle and sores. Use and Dosage: 9–15  g for roots and barks and 60–90  g for fresh leaves, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Example:

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1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Esophageal cancer and gastric cancer – fresh Bischofia javanica leaves 60–90 g and fatty meat 60 g, stewed and taken orally for 30 doses. Or fresh Bischofia javanica leaves 60 g, Scurrula parasitica 15 g, semen armeniacae amarae, Solanum lyratum Thunb, edelweiss, and Pyrola chinensis, 15 g decocted two times until two bowls of water left. Take the decoctum four times a day with sugar. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Infectious hepatitis – fresh Bischofia javanica leaves 60–90 g, Albizia julibrissin 15 g, Centella asiatica 30 g, and rock candy 15 g, decocted in water. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Pneumonia – fresh Bischofia javanica leaves 30–60 g, mashed for juice and taken with honey. 4. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Laryngitis – fresh Bischofia javanica leaves and Eleocharis tuberosa, 30 g each, mashed for juice and taken orally. 5. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Carbuncle and sores – fresh Bischofia javanica leaf, mashed and applied to the affected area. 6. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Rheumatism and bone pain – fresh Bischofia javanica leaves or barks 9–15 g, soaked in wine. Rub the affected areas with the medicinal liquor.

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8.6  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.6.1  Breynia fruticosa Chinese Name(s): hei mian shen, gui hua fu, hei mian ye Source: This medicine is made of the whole plant of Breynia fruticosa (Breynia fruticosa (Linn.) Hook. f.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1–3  m tall. Its stem barks are grayish brown. The upper branches are appressed and purple red. The branchlets are green. The whole plant is glabrous. The leaves are leathery, ovate, broadly ovate or

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rhombic-­ovate, 3–7 × 1.8–3.5 cm wide, blunt or acute at both ends, adaxially dark green, and abaxially pruinose-green, which turns black with small spots after drying. There are three to five lateral veins. The stipules are triangular lanceolate and about 2 mm long. The petioles are 3–4 mm long. The flowers are small and solitary or two to four fascicled in the axilla of leaves. The male flowers are in proximal axils, while the female flowers are in distal axils; sometimes they are inserted in different branchlets. Male flowers: the pedicels are 2–3 mm long. The calyces are gyroscopic, about 2 mm long, apically six-dentate, with three stamens, and connate in style. Female flowers: the pedicels are 2 mm long. The calyces are campanulate, six-lobed, and about 4 mm in diameter. The sepals are subequal, subtruncated at the apex, with protuberances in the middle, and much enlarged in fruit to ca. 8 mm in diam. The upper part is radial-spreading into disk. The ovaries are ovoid. There are three styles, which are distinctly bifid at the apex. The lobes are recurved. The capsules are globose and 6–7 mm in diameter, with persistent calyces. The flowering is from April to September, and fruiting is from May to December. Habitat: It grows in hilly forests or shrubs on gentle slopes of plain areas up to 550 m above sea level. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Hong Kong, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam and Thailand. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s a little bitter in taste, cool in property, and toxic. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxifying, dispelling blood stasis and relieving pain, and relieving itching; the root functions in treating acute gastroenteritis, tonsillitis, bronchitis, urinary calculi, postpartum uterine contraction pain, and rheumatic arthritis. The leaves function in external treatment for burns, scalds, eczema, allergic dermatitis, pruritus, and vaginitis. Use and Dosage: 5–9 g per dose for roots and barks, decocted in water for oral use. The leaves are used externally. The decoctum of fresh branches and leaves is used for washing the affected areas with, or mashed for juice. Pregnant women should not take it. Prescription Example: 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Pain of postpartum uterine contraction  – Breynia fruticosa 6 g, added with 500 ml of water, decocted to 100–150 ml, with dregs being removed, and taken orally. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Vaginitis and vulvar itching  – appropriate amount of Breynia fruticosa is decocted in water for hip bath or vaginal rinse once a day. 3. Chronic tracheitis: Breynia fruticosa 6 g, Atalantia buxifolia, Mangifera indica L 15 g, and brown sugar 9 g, decocted in water. Take one dose a day.

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8.7  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.7.1  Claoxylon indicum Chinese Name(s): diu le bang, zhui feng gun, xian yu tou, pao ping tong Source: This medicine is made of the shoots with leaves of Claoxylon indicum (Claoxylon indicum (Reinw. ex Bl.) Hassk. [Claoxylon polot (Burm. f.) Merr.]). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 3–9 m tall. Its branches are pubescent. The leaves are alternate, ovate to oval-oblong, 10–20 × 6–13 cm wide, apically obtuse or short-pointed, basally cuneate to obtuse, and marginally crenulate or dentate. The tender leaves are pubescent. The petioles are 5–14 cm long, with one bilateral gland at the top. The flowers are unisexual, arranged in racemes, and axillary. The male inflorescences are 10–30  cm long, while the female inflorescences are 5–8 cm long. The flowers are apetalous. Male flowers: several fascicled. The calyces are three-quadrilid, about 2  mm long, and pubescent. There are 18–22 stamens. Female flowers: the calyces are three-lobed, with triangular lobes, and pubescent outside. The ovaries are densely pubescent, two- to three-chambered, with one ovule and three styles, and free. The capsules are globose, 8 mm wide, pubescent, three-lobed at maturity, and red. The flowering and fruiting periods are from March to December. Habitat: It grows in sparse forests or shrubs in plains or along valleys. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, etc., in China, as well as in all countries in southeastern Asia and India. Acquisition and Processing: The shoots with leaves are harvested all year round and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and a little bitter in taste and neutral in property, belonging to the meridians of spleen and stomach. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness and relieving swelling and pain; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, pain in waist and lower extremities, swellings, and beriberi, as well as external treatment for burns, scalds, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: 12–18 g per dose. For external application, appropriate amounts of leaves are decocted for washing or wet compress. It can also be made into powder and sprinkled to the affected areas, or the fresh leaves can be mashed for application. Annotation: Pregnant women should not use it. Prescription Sample(s): Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Burn: 1. Powder: The leaves of Claoxylon indicum are dried and ground into powder and disinfected before preservation. 2. Water agent: Leaves of Claoxylon indicum are decocted twice. Mix the decoctum and concentrate to 1:1 (the volume of the liquid to the quality of the medicinal material), reserved. For the treatment of burns, rinse the wound surface with water agent firstly, then sprinkle the powder, and dress with gauze. Change the dressing once a day.

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Remarks: The roots and stems of Paulownia trees are also used instead of Claoxylon indicum in Guangdong province, which is pungent and slightly bitter in taste and neutral in property and possesses the same functions as that of Claoxylon indicum.

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8.8  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.8.1  Cleidiocarpon cavaleriei Chinese Name(s): hu die guo Source: This medicine is made of the fruits of Cleidiocarpon cavaleriei (Cleidiocarpon cavaleriei (Lévl.) Airy Shaw). Morphology: The plant is a tree and up to 25 m tall. Its leaves are papery, elliptic, 6–22 × 1.5–6 cm, apically acuminate, sparsely acute, and basally cuneate. There are two stipels, which are subulate. The stipules are also subulate and 1.5–2.5 mm long, sometimes with a gland on the base. The petioles are 1–4 cm long, apically pillow-shaped, and swollen at both ends. The inflorescences are paniculate and 10–15  cm long. There are 7–13 male flowers, which tufted in glomerules and sparsely insert in rachis. There are one to six female flowers, which insert at the base or middle of inflorescence. The bracts are lanceolate and 2–4 (~8) mm long. Male flowers: there are four to five sepals, which are 1.5–2 mm long. There are four to five stamens, with filaments of 3–5 mm long and anthers of ca. 0.5 mm long. The sterile pistils are columnar and ca. 1 mm. The pedicles are short or almost absent. Female flowers: there are five to eight sepals, oval-elliptic or broadly lanceolate, 3–5  mm long, and tomentulose. There are five to eight epicalyces, lanceolate or triangular, 1–4 mm, and caducous. The ovaries are puberulent, two-loculed, often with one developmental locule, and on aborted locular. The styles are ca. 7 mm, apically three- to five-lobed, with two to three forked lobes, and papillose. The fruits are oblique ovoid or double-globular, puberulent, and about 3 cm or 5 cm in diameter. The base is abruptly narrow and petiolate and 0.5–1.5 cm in length. The styles are “beaked at base”. The exocarps are leathery, and the mesocarps are thin leathery and not fissured. The flowering and fruiting periods are from May to November.

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Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The fruits are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly bitter and astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating and relieving sore throat; it’s often used in treatments of pharyngitis and tonsillitis. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose and decocted in water for oral use.

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8.9  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.9.1  Cleidion brevipetiolatum Chinese Name(s): bang bing hua Source: This medicine is made of the barks of Cleidion brevipetiolatum (Cleidion brevipetiolatum Pax et Hoffm.).

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Morphology: The plant is a small tree and 5–12 m tall. Its leaves are thin leathery, alternate or subopposite, obovate or lanceolate, 7–21 × 3.5–7 cm, apically short acuminate, attenuate toward the base, basally obtuse, with several maculate glands abaxially bearded in axils of vein, and serrated on the upper margins. There are five to nine pairs of lateral veins. The petioles are often 1–3 cm long, sometimes shorter, and 3–8 mm long. The stipules are lanceolate, ca. 3 mm, and caducous. The plants are monoecious. The male inflorescences are axillary, 5–9 (~20) cm long, and threeto seven-flowered in bract axils. The bracts are broad triangle and 1.5 mm long, with triangular bractlets of 0.5  mm long. The female flowers are single axillary. The pedicels are 2–3.5 (~7) cm long, with two to three bracts at the base, triangular, and 1.5–2 mm long. The peduncles are clavate and 3–7.5 cm long. Male flowers: there are three sepals, which are ovoid, and (40~) 55–65 stamens. The filaments are about 1 mm long. The anthers are four chambered. The pedicels are 1–1.5 mm long, articulated, and puberulent. Female flowers: there are five sepals, which are unequal. Three of the sepals are lanceolate, 6–7 (~20) mm long, 2–3 (~6) mm wide, two triangular, 2–4 mm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, and enlarged after anthesis. The ovaries are globose and densely yellow villous. There are three styles, which are linear. The capsules are oblate and 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter. The flowering and fruiting periods are from March to October. Habitat: It grows in limestone mountains or mountain evergreen forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The barks are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cold in property. Functions: Removing dampness and detoxicating, clearing heat, and relieving exterior symptoms; it’s often used to treat cold due to wind-heat, cold, sore throat, and swollen throat. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.10  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.10.1  Croton crassifolius [1] Chinese Name(s): ji gu xiang, ji jiao xiang, bo gu xiao Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Croton crassifolius (Croton crassifolius Geisel.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub, 30–50 cm tall, and densely stellate-­tomentose. The roots are stout and brown. The leaves are alternate, oval-lanceolate or elliptic, 4–10  ×  2–6  cm, apically obtuse, basally rotund to slightly cordate, marginally slightly serrated, and sometimes glandular between teeth. There are three to five basal veins, with two stalked and cupular glands at the apex or base of midrib. The flowers are monoecious, and inflorescences are terminal racemes. The male flowers grow in the upper part, while female flowers grow in the lower part. The male buds are globose, with oval calyx lobes and oblong petals, and marginally hairy, with 20 stamens. The female calyx lobes are lanceolate, stalked glandular at margins, and apetalous. There are three styles, each four-parted. The capsules are globular, ca. 1 cm in diameter, stellate hairy, and dehiscent into three- or two-lobed mericarps. The flowering is from November to June of the following year. Habitat: It grows in the open wasteland. Distribution: It is distributed in the provinces and regions in the south and southwest of China, India, and the Sino-Indian Peninsula. Acquisition and Processing: It can be dug up all year round. The roots are dug, and the aboveground parts, fibrous roots, and soil are removed, washed, cut into short sections, and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste, warm in property, and fragrant, belonging to the meridians of the spleen, stomach, and liver.

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Functions: Promoting Qi flow to relieve pain, relaxing tendons and activating collaterals, dispelling wind, and reducing swelling; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatoid arthralgia, pain of waist and legs, stomachache, abdominal pain, hernia pain, dysmenorrhea, jaundice, chronic hepatitis, bruise, and injury. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use, ground into powder, and taken with water (0.9–1.5 g per dose). Prescription Sample(s): Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Gastric and duodenal ulcer – Croton crassifolius, Radix zanthoxyli, Alpinia officinarum, squid bone powder, 6 g each, Acorus tatarinowii, and licorice, 3 g each, ground into fine powder and made into pills with honey, each pill weighing 6 g. Take one pill each time, three times a day, 15 days as a course of treatment.

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8.11  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.11.1  Croton lachnocarpus [2] Chinese Name(s): xiao ye shuang yan long, qi da bo Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Croton lachnocarpus (Croton lachnocarpus Benth.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1–1.5 m tall. Its stems and branches are grayish yellow and stellate pubescent. The leaves are alternate (sometimes a few gathered in a false whorl), thick papery, oblong-elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 5–10  ×  1.5–2.5  cm, apically mucronate to acuminate, base rounded, marginally obscurely serrulate, usually with stalked and cupular glands, and glabrescent. There are three basal veins. The outermost one pair reaches arcuate to the top of the leaf.

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The distal two lateral veins from the midvein are short and obliquely elevated, with obvious reticular veins and large meshes. The petioles are about 3 cm long, with two stalked and cupular glands at the apex. The inflorescences are racemes, terminal, and 7–15 cm long. The flowers are unisexual, monoecious, and of the same order. The male flowers are numerous and clustered on the upper part of the axis. The calyces of buds are spherical and five-lobed after opening. The petals are five-lobed and oblong. There are 10–20 stamens, borne on receptacles. The female flowers are small, borne on the base of axis. The calyces are five-lobed. The petals are small. There are three styles, which are bifid. The capsules are oblate globose, 1 cm in diameter, stellate hairy, and strigose. Habitat: It grows in hillsides, meadows, or shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in the provinces of Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, and Guangxi in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in autumn and winter, washed, cut into slices, and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The products are irregular cylindrical oblique sheets, about 3.5 cm in length and 3 cm in diameter, and grayish yellow or grayish brown, with irregular longitudinal wrinkles. The lenticels are punctate protuberant and grayish white, with concentric rings on the cut surface and slightly radial texture. The xylems are pale yellow. The cortexes are gray-yellow or gray-brown, easy to peel off, and taste tongue-burning when chewing. It’s slightly odored and pungent in taste. The products that are grayish yellow in color, firm in quality, and pungent in taste are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste, warm in property, and a little toxic, belonging to the meridians of the liver and spleen. Functions: Removing wind and dampness, dissipating blood stasis, and relieving swelling; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatic arthralgia, bruise and injury, and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water or soaked in alcohol for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Pregnant women should not use it.

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8.12  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.12.1  Croton tiglium [3] Chinese Name(s): ba dou, jiang zi, shuang yan long Source: This medicine is made of the fruits of Croton tiglium (Croton tiglium Linn.). Morphology: The plants are small evergreen trees and 3–5 m tall. The young branches are stellate hairy. The leaves are alternate, membranous, ovate or long-­ ovate, 5–13 × 3–6 cm wide, apically acuminate, basally obtuse, marginally serrulate, glabrous or sparsely stellate pubescent, and basally ternately veined, with two to three lateral veins on the distal part of midvein, and the reticular veins are obvious. The petioles are 2–5 cm long, two glandular, and sessile, inserted on both sides of leaf base. The flowers blossom in spring and summer, green, monoecious, and in terminal racemes. The male flowers grow on the distal part of inflorescence. The calyces are five-lobed and ovate. There are five petals, which are as long as calyces. There are 15–20 stamens, which are bordered by disks. The female flowers grow in the proximal part of axis. The calyces are five-lobed, oblong, stellate hairy, and apetalous. The ovaries are obovate and dense stellate hairy. The capsules are obovate, with three obtuse angles. The seeds are long ovate and pale yellow. The flowering is from April to June, and fruiting is from July to September. Habitat: It grows in mountain forests. Distribution: It is distributed in the provinces and regions in south of the Yangtze River, as well as in southern and southeastern Asia. Acquisition and Processing: It’s harvested in autumn, when the fruits matured but didn’t crack, and dried in the sun.

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Medicinal Properties: The products are oblong or obovate, with three longitudinal grooves and three obtuse edges, and 1.8–2.2 × 1.4–2 cm. It’s grayish yellow or yellow brown, rough on surface, apically subtruncated, and basally with calyx and pedicel scars. The pericarps are thin, hard, and crisp. The fruits are three-chambered (sparsely four). The seeds are elliptic to ovate and slightly oily, with raised ridges. The exocarps are thin and crisp, while endocarps are white and thin membranous. The seeds are yellow white with two cotyledons and oily. It’s slightly odored, slightly astringent in taste at the beginning, and with a lasting sense of spicy later. The products with large granules, thin skin, grayish yellow, full seeds, and yellow-­ white kernels are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent in taste, hot in property, and toxic, belonging to the meridians of the stomach, large intestine, and lungs. Functions: Relieving constipation and accumulation and inducing urination to reduce swelling; it’s often used in treatment of stagnation due to cold accumulation and fullness of chest and abdomen, as well as in external treatment of nevus, scabies, and warts. Use and Dosage: 0.15–0.3 g per dose, decocted in water. It’s often made into pills or powder for oral dose. For external application, appropriate amounts of fruits are ground into powder for application or mashed and wrapped on the affected areas with gauze.

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8.13  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.13.1  Endospermum chinense Chinese Name(s): huang tong, huang chong shu Source: This medicine is made of the barks, roots, and leaves of Endospermum chinense (Endospermum chinense Benth.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and 6–20 m tall. Its barks are grayish brown. The tender branches, inflorescences, and fruits are densely grayish-yellow stellate pubescent. The branchlets are gray white and glabrescent, with prominent leaf scars. The leaves are thin leathery, ovate or rotund, 8–20 × 4–14 cm, apically mucronate to obtuse, basally broadly cuneate, obtuse, truncated to shallow cordate, and entire, with both surfaces being subglabrous or abaxially sparsely stellate hairy only and basally with two globular glands. There are five to seven pairs of lateral veins. The petioles are 4–9 cm long. The stipules are triangular oval, 3–4 mm long, and hairy. The inflorescences are apical axillary. The male inflorescences are 10–20 cm long, while the female inflorescences are 6–10  cm long. The bracts are oval and 1–2 mm long. The male calyces are cupular, with four to five crenulations. There are 5–12 stamens, which arrange in two to three series in elevated receptacles of 4 mm. The filaments are about 1 mm long. Female flowers: the calyces are cupular, about 2  mm long, undulately three- to five-lobed, hairy, and persistent. The disks are annular and 2–4 serrated lobed. The ovaries are subglobose, tomentulose, and twoto three-loculed. The styles are very short, with discoid stigmas. The fruits are subspherical and about 10 mm in diameter. The pericarps are slightly fleshy. The seeds are elliptic, about 7 mm in length. The flowering is from May to August, and fruiting is from August to November. Habitat: It grows in ridge and slope forests.

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Distribution: It is distributed in the provinces of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Fujian, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in countries of India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The barks, roots, and leaves are harvested in autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste, cold in property, and toxic. Functions: Relaxing tendons and activating collaterals, removing stasis and promoting generation, and reducing swelling and stopping pain. It’s often used in treatment of arthralgia of wind-cold type and jaundice hepatitis. Use and Dosage: 6–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.14  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.14.1  Euphorbia esula Chinese Name(s): ru jiang da ji, mao yan cao, lan ba yan, hua bei da ji, xin jiang da ji Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Euphorbia esula (Euphorbia esula Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb, 30–60  cm tall, and 3–5  mm in diameter. The sterile branches often grow from the base and sometimes from the leaf axils and are shorter. The leaves are linear to ovate, very variable, 2–7 × 4–7 mm, apically acute to obtuse, basally cuneate to truncate, and sessile. The sterile branches and leaves are often needlelike, 2–3 cm long, and about 1 mm in diameter, with stipules being absent. There are three to five primary involucral leaves, which are similar to normal leaves. The primary rays are three to eight and 2–4 (5) cm long. There are two cyathophylls, usually reniform, 0.4–1.2  ×  0.4–1  cm,

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apically shortly acuminate to rounded, and basally subtruncate to shallowly cordate. The inflorescences are solitary at the apex of cymes, which are mostly dichotomous and sessile. The involucres are campanulate, ca. 3 × 2.5–3 mm, marginally five-lobed, with semicircular to triangular lobes, and tomentose on margin and inside. There are four glands, crescent, usually two-horned, with brown horns, long and acute to short and obtuse, and very variable. There are many male flowers. The bracteoles are broadly linear and glabrous. There is one female flower. The ovaries are smooth and glabrous and exerted from involucres. There are three styles, which are segregated, with stigmas being two-lobed. The capsules are trigonous-globose and 5–6 × 5–6 mm, with three vertical furrows. The styles are persistent, divided into three mericarps at maturity. The seeds are ovoid-globose, 2.5–3 × 2–2.5 mm, and yellow brown. The flowering and fruiting periods are from April to October. Habitat: It grows on roadsides, weeds, hillsides, under forests, rivers, barren hills, dunes, and grasslands. Distribution: It is distributed in all provinces and regions in the north and south China, except for the alpine areas in the southwest. It is also distributed in Central and Northern Europe. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly bitter in taste, neutral in property, and toxic. Functions: Inducing diuresis to reduce edema, scattering stagnation, and killing insect; it’s often used in treatment of edema, swelling, scrofula, and itching skin. Use and Dosage: 1–2 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.15  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.15.1  Euphorbia helioscopia Chinese Name(s): ze qi, mao er yan, mao yan cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants with roots of Euphorbia helioscopia (Euphorbia helioscopia Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an annual or biennial herb and 20–30 cm tall, containing white milk throughout. The stems are multibranched, branches obliquely ascending from near the base, glabrous or slightly puberulent, purple red at the base, and light green on the upper parts. The leaves are alternate, obovate or spatulate, 1–3 × 0.5–1.5 cm, obtuse or concave at the top, cuneate at the base, and finely serrated on margins above the middle. There are five whorled phyllaries apically, which are similar to the stem leaves but larger in size. The flowers are without perianth and arranged in polydimeric cymes terminally, with five fimbriate pedicles, which are subdivided into two to three fimbriate pedicels. There are three whorled obovate bracts at the branches. Each umbrella pedicel is dichotomous branched for the third time. The involucre is campanulate, apically quadrilid, with four glands, reniform, and borne at the elbow of lobes. The female flowers are solitary in the central part, exerted from involucre, and with long ovary stalks. The ovaries are three-loculed, with one ovule per locule. There are three styles, which are connate at the base. The capsules are oval, smooth, and glabrous. The seeds are ovate, reticulately wrinkled, and brown. The flowering is from May to June, and fruiting is from July to August. Habitat: It grows on slope wastelands, ditches, roadsides, wilderness grasses, and fields.

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Distribution: It is distributed in most parts in China except for provinces and regions of Xinjiang and Xizang. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants with roots are harvested from May to July when blossom, removed the silts, and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste, cool in property, and toxic. Functions: Reducing edema, dispelling phlegm to relieve cough, scattering stagnation, and treating malaria; it’s often used in treatment of ascites, edema, dysuria, cough due to lung heat, asthma, malaria, bacillary dysentery, scrofula, tuberculous fistula, and anonymous swelling. Use and Dosage: 4.5–9 g per dose, decocted in water. For external treatment, proper amounts of herbs are made into mints for application to the affected areas. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Ascites – Euphorbia helioscopia 9 g, Alisma orientalis 12 g, Atractylodes macrocephala 12 g, Poria cocos 15 g, and seeds of Asiatic plantain 15 g, decocted in water for oral use. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Cough due to lung heat: Euphorbia helioscopia 6 g, Scutellaria baicalensis 9 g, Houttuynia cordata 15 g, and Cortex mori radicis 15 g mulberry bark, decocted in water. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Lymph node tuberculosis and tuberculous anal fistula  – appropriate amount of Euphorbia helioscopia, decocted and filtrated, concentrated into liquid extract, and applied to the affected areas.

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8.16  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.16.1  Euphorbia heterophylla Chinese Name(s): bai bao xing xing cao, yi ping hong, ye xiang hua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Euphorbia heterophylla (Euphorbia heterophylla Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb. Its stems are erect, up to 1 m tall, and pubescent. The leaves are alternate, ovate to lanceolate, 3–12 cm × 1–6 cm, apically acute to acuminate, basally obtuse to rounded, marginally serrated to entire, and pubescent both sides. The petioles are 4–12 mm long. The bracts and cauline leaves are homomorphous but smaller, 2–5 × 5–15 mm, and green or white at base. The inflorescences are solitary, sessile, and glabrous. The involucre is campanulate, 2–3 × 1.5–5 mm, marginally five-lobed, with ovate to serrated lobes, and ciliate. There is often one gland, sparsely two, which is cupular and 0.5–1 mm in diameter. The male flowers are numerous, with linear to oblanceolate bracts. The female flower is solitary, with ovary stalk not exerting the involucre. The ovaries are pubescent. There are three styles, which connate below the middle. The stigmas are two-­ lobed. The capsules are ovoid, 5–5.5  ×  3.5–4  mm, and pubescent. The seeds are prismatic-ovate, 2.5–3 × 2.2 mm, protuberant, and gray to brown, with caruncles being absent. The flowering and fruiting periods are from February to November. Habitat: It grows in the seashores or village wastelands, under the sparse forests. Distribution: It is cultivated in all provinces and regions in southern China or escaped into the wild when originated in Mexico, Cuba, and other countries. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and astringent in taste, cold in property, and toxic. Functions: Regulating menstruation and hemostasis, relieving cough, healing fracture, and reducing swelling; it’s often used in treatment of menorrhagia, cold, cough, and injury, as well as external treatment of bleeding and fracture. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external treatment, proper amounts of fresh herbs are pounded and applied to the affected area. Change the dressing every 2–3 days.

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8.17  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.17.1  Euphorbia hirta Chinese Name(s): da fei yang cao, da ru zhi cao, da fei yang, jie jie hua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Euphorbia hirta (Euphorbia hirta Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb and 15–50 cm tall. It’s usually reddish or purple, with white milk, long strigose, and branched at the base. The leaves are unifoliate and opposite, oblong lanceolate or oval lanceolate, 1–4 cm long, often with purple blotch in the middle of the leaf surface, and pilose on both surfaces. The petioles are 1–2 mm long. The stipules are small, lanceolate, and bristly teared at margins. The inflorescences are cupular, densely capitate, and axillary. The pedicel is about 0.5 mm long. The involucres are campanulate, densely pubescent outside, apically quadrilid, and four glandular, with white petal-like appendages. The flowers are unisexual, with perianth being absent. The male and female flowers grow in the same involucre. The female flowers are solitary in the center of inflorescence with several male flowers surrounding. There is only one stamen per flower. The capsules are ovate-triangular, 1.5 mm long, and pubescent. The flowering and fruiting are from May to December. Habitat: It grows on the roadsides or grasslands of a village or town. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions in south China. Native to Central America, it is now a common weed in tropical regions of the world. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and washed and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The products are 15–50 cm, strigose on the aboveground part. The roots are slender and curved. The stems are subcylindrical, 1–3 mm in diameter, yellowish brown or reddish brown, crisp, and easy to break. The sections are white and hollow. The leaves are opposite, shrunken, and fragile. The complete leaves are long oval or sublanceolate when flattened, 1–4 cm long, green brown or

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gray yellow, oblique at the base, finely serrated on margins, and distinctly three basal veined. The inflorescences are in cymes, capitate, and axillary. The capsules are ovate-triangular. It is odorless and bland and slightly astringent in taste. The products with more and green leaves are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It is sour and slightly bitter in taste, cool in property, and toxic and belongs to the meridians of the lungs, bladder, and large intestine. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, removing dampness, and relieving itching; it’s often used in treatment of bacterial dysentery, amebic dysentery, enteritis, intestinal trichomonas, dyspepsia, bronchitis, and pyelonephritis, as well as external treatment of eczema, dermatitis, and itching skin. Use and Dosage: 6–10 g per dose, decocted in water. For external use, appropriate amounts of fresh herbs are mashed for application or decocted in water for washing the affected areas with. In pregnant women, it should be used with caution. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Bacterial dysentery, acute enteritis, dyspepsia, and intestinal trichomonas – Euphorbia hirta 60–300 g, decocted in water and taken orally two to four times. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Chronic tracheitis  – fresh Euphorbia hirta 120 g and Platycodon grandiflorus 9 g, decocted twice, boiled for 2 h each time, and filtrated. Mix the filtration and concentrate to 60 ml, and add appropriate amount of sugar. Take 20 ml each time, three times a day for two courses of treatment, 10 days as a course of treatment. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Euphorbia hirta 1000  g, Breynia fruticosa 2000 g, and Adenosma indianum 250 g, added with 45,000 ml water and decocted into 15,000 ml. Hip bath, wet compress, or external application can be selected according to the eczema site. For patient with infection, take Andrographis paniculata together with the external use. 4. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Euphorbia hirta 330 g, Radix Plumbaginis Zeylanicae 220  g, Euphorbia thymifolia, Chinese tallowtree leaf, Lantana camara, and Persicaria perfoliata 110 g each, decocted twice, filtered, with residue being removed, concentrated to 1000 ml, and applied to the affected part.

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8.18  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.18.1  Euphorbia humifusa Chinese Name(s): di jing cao, pu di jing, tian dai shi da ji Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Euphorbia humifusa (Euphorbia humifusa Willd.). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb and 10–15 cm tall. Its stems are slender and prostrate, often branched from the base, glabrous, and purplish red. The leaves are unifoliate and opposite, elliptic, 5–10 × 4–5 mm, apically obtuse, basally oblique, green or sometimes purple red, and glabrous or pilose. The inflorescences are in cyathia and solitary at leaf axils or apex of lateral branches. The involucres are obconical, reddish, and quadrilid, with triangular lobes, with four glands at its elbow, which are transversely oblong, and with white petaloid appendages. There is one stamen in each male flower. The filaments are short, and perianths are absent. The female flowers are solitary in the middle of inflorescence. The ovary stalks extend beyond the

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involucre. The perianths are absent. The ovaries are three-­loculed, with three styles, which are two-lobed. The capsules are composed of three bilobate carpels and threeangular-ovoid-globose. The seeds are ovate, dark brown, with white frost, and ca. 1.2 × 0.7 mm. The flowering and fruiting periods are from May to October. Habitat: It grows on the roadsides or grasslands by the roads. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Heilongjiang, Shaanxi, Hebei, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Sichuan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in Eastern Asia and Europe. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn, removed of the impurities, and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The products are often shrunken and curled. The roots are fibrous. The stems are slender, often branched from the base, purple red, glabrous, crispy, easy to break, yellow white at the cross sections, and hollow. The leaves are unifoliate and opposite, sessile, or reddish petiolate. The leaves are often shrunken or caducous. The complete leaf blades are oval, 5–10 × 4–5 mm, green or purple red, usually glabrous or pubescent, apically obtuse-rounded, basally oblique, and marginally small serrated. The inflorescences are in cyathia, axillary, and slender. The capsules are three-angular-ovoid-globose and glabrous. The seeds are small, ovate, and dark brown. The products are odorless and slightly astringent in taste. Those with more leaves, green color, and purple-red stems are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent in taste and neutral in property, belonging to the meridians of the liver and large intestine. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, eliminating dampness and treating jaundice, promoting menstruation and blood circulation, stopping bleeding, and reducing swelling; it’s often used in treatments of damp-heat dysentery, jaundice, hemoptysis, hematemesis, hematuria, hematochezia, metrorrhagia, breast milk stoppage, children’s malnutrition, injuries, sores and swellings, poisonous snake bites, burns, and scalds. Use and Dosage: 10–15 g per dose, decocted in water. For external use, appropriate amounts of fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas. The patients with syndromes of blood deficiency without stasis and weak spleen and stomach should use it cautiously.

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8.19  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.19.1  Euphorbia hypericifolia Chinese Name(s): tong nai cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Euphorbia hypericifolia (Euphorbia hypericifolia Linn. [E. indica Lam.]). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb. Its roots are slender, 10–15 cm long, and 2–3.5 mm in diameter. They are often unbranched or branched from the ends. The stems are erect, unbranched or branched from the base, 15–30 cm tall, 1–3 mm in diameter, and glabrous or pubescent. The leaves are opposite, narrow oblong or obovate, 1–2.5  ×  4–8  mm, apically obtuse or rounded, basally rounded, usually oblique, asymmetric, marginally entire or serrulate above the base, adaxially dark green, light green abaxially, sometimes purplish red, sparsely pilose on both surfaces, or glabrescent abaxially. The petioles are extremely short, 1–2 mm. The stipules are triangular, segregated, or connate. There are 2 bracts, homomorphous, with cauline leaves. Inflorescences are clustered in axillary or branch apex with slender stalks at the base of each inflorescence, 3–5 mm in length. There are two involucral leaves, which are similar to normal leaves, and many cyathia in axillary or terminal cymes, with slender petioles of 3–5 mm. The involucres are turbinate, ca. 1 × 1 mm, or slightly larger. There are five marginal lobes, which are ovate-triangular, and four glands with white or light pink appendages on margins. The male flowers are several and slightly exerted from involucre. The female flower is only one, whose ovary stalk is longer than the involucre. The ovary is triangular and glabrous, with three

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styles, which are segregated. The stigmas are slightly bifid. The capsules are trigonous, ca. 1.5 × 2 mm, and glabrous, divided into three mericarps at maturity. The seeds are ovoid-angulate and ca. 1.2 × 0.8 mm. The flowering and fruiting periods are from August to December. Habitat: It grows on roadside grasslands and dry lands or at the foot of a rocky mountain. Distribution: It is distributed in southern China, as well as in the tropics of the world. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and slightly bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Promoting uresis, lactation of breast milk, and tissue regeneration; it’s often used in treatment of knife wounds, bleeding, breast milk stoppage, edema, diarrhea, dysentery, dermatitis, burns, scalds, and scabies. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water. For external use, appropriate amounts of fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.20  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.20.1  Euphorbia lathyris Chinese Name(s): xu sui zi, qian jin zi Source: This medicine is made of the seeds of Euphorbia lathyris (Euphorbia lathyris Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a biennial herb and glabrous throughout. Its roots are columnar, up to 20 cm long, and 37 mm in diameter, with many and thin lateral roots. The stems are erect, single at the base, purplish red, bifurcated at the top, gray green, and up to 1 m tall. The leaves are opposite, decussate, dense at the proximal part of stem, sparse at the distal, linear lanceolate, 6–10 cm long, 4–7 mm wide, apically acuminate or acute, basally semiamplexicaul, and marginally entire. The lateral veins are inconspicuous. The petioles are absent. There are two involucre

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leaves and two stem leaves, which are ovate long triangle, 3–8 × 2–4 cm, apically acuminate or acute, basally subtruncate or semiamplexicaul, entire, and sessile. The inflorescences are solitary, subcampanulate, 4 mm tall, 3–5 mm in diameter, five-­ lobed on margin, with triangular-oblong lobes, and undulate on margin. There are four glands, which are crescent-shaped, with a horn at each tip, and dark brown. The male flowers are several, exerted from involucre. The female flower is only one, whose ovary stalk is almost as long as the involucre. The ovaries are glabrous and 3–6 mm in diameter. The styles are slender, three in number, and segregated. The stigmas are two-lobed. The capsules are triangular globular, ca. 1 × 1 cm, smooth, and glabrous. The styles are caducous and mature without cracking. The seeds are columnar to ovoid, 6–8 × 4.5–6.0 mm, brown or grayish brown, and smooth, with black-brown spots on the surfaces. The flowering is from April to July, and fruiting is from June to September. Habitat: It grows on roadsides or the wildernesses. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan in China. Acquisition and Processing: The seeds are harvested in autumn and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The product is elliptic or obovate, ca. 5  mm long and 4 mm in diameter, and grayish brown on the surfaces, with irregular reticular wrinkles. The mesh groove is grayish black, showing small patches. At one side of the seed, there is longitudinal furrow-like seed ridge, and at the top, there is a protruding caruncle or a scar. The testa is thin and crisp, and the kernel is white or yellowish white and oily. It is slightly odored and pungent in taste. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and slightly warm in taste and toxic. Functions: Inducing diuresis to alleviate edema, dispelling blood stasis and accumulations, detoxicating, and killing insects; it’s often used in treatment of edema, difficulty in urination and defecation, amenorrhea, scabies, swelling, and snake bites. Use and Dosage: 1–2 g per dose. For external use, appropriate amount of fresh herbs is mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.21  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.21.1  Euphorbia pekinensis Chinese Name(s): da ji, long hu cao Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Euphorbia pekinensis (Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr.). Morphology: The plant is a perennial herb with milk throughout the plant. Its roots are conical. The red buds sprout at the beginning of spring and develop into stems. The stems are 30–90 cm tall, single or sometimes branched on the upper, and white pubescent. The leaves are alternate and subsessile. The leaf blades are oval or lanceolate, 3–7 × 5–12 mm, entire, apically obtuse, and abaxially pruinose, and the midveins are milky white and conspicuous. The inflorescences are umbels, terminal, or axillary. The flowers are yellow green, with five umbrella pedicels apically and five whorled oval or oval lanceolate bracts at the base. The male and female flowers are without perianths, enclosed in the altar-shaped involucres. The involucres are apically quadrilid, with a majority of male flowers, each flower consisting of only one stamen, and a female flower in the center, with only one pistil, which exerted out of involucres. The ovaries are globose and three-loculed. The capsules are triangular globular and tuberculate on the surface. The seeds are ovate, grayish

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brown, and smooth. The flowering is from April to May, and fruiting is from June to September. Habitat: It grows on slopes, roadsides, wastelands, grasses, and margins and under sparse forests. Distribution: It is distributed in all provinces and regions except for Xinjiang and Xizang in China, as well as in countries of North Korea and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in early spring when the plants germinate, and the stem buds and fibrous roots are removed, washed, and dried. Medicinal Properties: The roots of the products are cylindrical or irregular conical, slightly curved, often branched, 10–20 cm long, 1–3 cm in diameter, enlarged at the head, with many residual stem base and bud marks, gray brown or brown on surface, rough, and with longitudinal grooves and transverse lenticels. The lateral roots are few and mostly twisted. It’s hard in quality, not easy to break, white or brown yellow at sections, and fibrous. It’s slightly odored, slightly bitter, and astringent in taste. The products are stout and white on cross sections, with no sediment, and fibrous roots are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste, cold in property, and toxic, belonging to the meridians of the lungs, spleen, and kidneys. Functions: Inducing diuresis and removing phlegm and edema in the chest; it’s often used in treatment of nephritis edema, hydrothorax and ascites, schistosomiasis cirrhosis, ascites caused by tuberculous peritonitis, accumulation of phlegm and dampness, asthma and cough, and difficulty in urination and defecation, as well as external treatment of boil pain. Use and Dosage: 1.5–3 g per dose, decocted in water. For external use, appropriate amount of fresh leaves is mashed and applied to the affected areas. The pregnant women and weak patients should not take it. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Acute and chronic nephritis edema  – Euphorbia pekinensis is washed, scraped off crude skin, sliced, added with 9 g of salt half kilogram, mixed with water, and dried. The products are pale yellow, ground into fine powder, and put into capsules. Take 1.5–2 g each time, twice a day, once every other day, with warm boiled water on an empty stomach, six to nine times as a course of treatment. The patients should not take raw and cold, spicy, fishy foods, etc., during the treatment. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Liver cirrhosis ascites – Euphorbia pekinensis root was washed, dried, powdered, baked into coffee color, and filled with capsules, each capsule weighing 0.3 g. Taken once every 3–7 days, 13–16 capsules each time. Take it with warm boiling water 2 h after breakfast until ascites disappears. RenShen Yangrong pills can be administered after the ascites disappears.

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8.22  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.22.1  Euphorbia thymifolia Chinese Name(s): qian gen cao, xi ye fei yang cao, xiao ru zhi cao, cang ying chi Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Euphorbia thymifolia (Euphorbia thymifolia Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb. Its roots are fibrous and about 10 cm long, with adventitious roots. The stems are slender, usually prostrate, multibranched from the base, up to 10–20 cm in length, only 1–2 (3) mm in diameter, and sparsely pilose on both surfaces. The leaves are opposite, elliptic, oblong or obovate, 4–8 × 2–5 mm, apically rounded, basally oblique, asymmetric, round or subcordate, marginally fine serrulate, sparsely entire, with both sides being sparsely pubescent, and occasionally glabrous. The petioles are extremely short and about 1 mm long. The stipules are lanceolate or linear, 1–1.5 mm long, and caducous. The inflorescences are solitary or several clustered in axillary leaves, with short petioles of 1–2 mm, and sparsely pubescent. The involucres are narrowly campanulate to turbinate, ca. 1 × 1 mm, externally sparsely pubescent, and five-lobed on margin, with ovate lobes. There are four glands, which are covered with white appendages. There are several male flowers, which are slightly exerted from involucre margin. There is only one female flower, which has very short ovary stalk. The ovaries are shortly pubescent. There are three styles, which are segregated. The stigmas are two-lobed. The capsules are three-angular-ovoid, about 1.5 mm in length and 1.3–1.5 mm in diameter, shortly pubescent, and divided into three mericarps at maturity. The seeds are ovoid-tetragonal, about 0.7 mm in length, 0.5 mm in diameter, dark red, with four to five transverse furrows on each edge, and with caruncles being absent. The flowering and fruiting periods are from June to November. Habitat: It grows on hillside grasslands and sandy soils beside the village roadsides. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions in the south of China, as well as in the Eastern Hemisphere, and tropical and subtropical areas. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sour and astringent in taste and slightly cold in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, healing sores, and relieving itching. It’s often used in treatment of bacillary dysentery, enteritis and diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and bleeding, as well as external treatment of eczema, allergic dermatitis, and skin itching.

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Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water. For external use, appropriate amounts of fresh herbs are decocted for fumigation and washed on the affected areas. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Bacterial dysentery – Euphorbia thymifolia 15–30 g, decocted in water and taken two times. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Children’s diarrhea – Euphorbia thymifolia 500 g, Psidium guajava leaves 250 g, and red psychotria leaf 250 g, added with 3000 ml of water, decocted until 2000 ml left. Take 20 to 30 ml each time, three to four times a day. In case of severe dehydration, the patient should also be treated with infusion.

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8.23  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.23.1  Excoecaria cochinchinensis Chinese Name(s): hong bei gui, ye bei hong, jin suo yu Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Excoecaria cochinchinensis (Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub, up to 2 m tall. Its leaves are opposite, rarely alternate, or nearly three-whorled. The leaf blades are narrowly elliptic or oblong, 6–14 × 2–4 cm, papery, apically long acuminate, basally attenuate, marginally serrulate, with space of 3–10 mm between teeth, glabrous on both surfaces, green adaxially, and purple or dark red abaxially. The lateral veins are 8–12 in pairs.

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The reticular veins are inconspicuous. The petioles are 3–10 mm long and eglandular. The stipules are ovate, apically acute, and ca. 1 mm long. The flowers are unisexual and dioecious. The male inflorescences are 1–2  cm long. The female inflorescences are consisting of three to five flowers, slightly shorter than male inflorescences. Male flowers: the pedicels are about 1.5 mm long. The bracts are broadly ovate, nearly equal in length and width, about 1.7 mm, and apically acute and serrulate inside the base, with one gland at the base on both sides of ventral surface. Each bract has only one flower. There are two bractlets, which are linear, long, ca. 1.5  mm, apically acute, lacerate-serrulate on the upper part, and two-­ glandular at the base. There are three sepals, which are lanceolate, about 1.2 mm long, and serrulate at the apex. The stamens are exerted from the calyx. The anthers are rounded and slightly shorter than filaments. Female flowers: the pedicels are strong and 1.5–2 mm long. There are three sepals, which are slightly connate at the base, oval, and ca. 1.8 × 1.2 mm. The ovaries are globular and glabrous. There are three styles, which are segregated or connate at the base and about 2.2 mm long. The capsules are spherical, about 8 mm in diameter, truncate at the base, and concave at the apex. The flowering is almost all year round. Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: There are wild species in southwestern Guangxi and cultivated species in provinces of Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Fujian, and Macao. It is also distributed in countries in Southeast Asia. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and slightly bitter in taste, neutral in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Clearing and activating channels and collaterals and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatments of measles, mumps, tonsillitis, angina pectoris, renal colic, and lumbar muscle strain. Use and Dosage: 6–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.24  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.24.1  Glochidion eriocarpum Chinese Name(s): mao guo suan pan zi, qi da gu, qi da bo Source: This medicine is made of the twigs and leaves of Glochidion eriocarpum (Glochidion eriocarpum Champ. ex Benth.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub, 0.5–2 m tall, and multibranched. Its branches are densely yellowish pubescent. The leaves are alternate, papery, oval or oval-­ lanceolate, 4–5 (7) cm × 1.5–3.5 cm, apically acuminate, basally rounded or cuneate, entire, and villous on both sides. There are four to five lateral veins on each side. The petioles are 1–2  mm long. The stipules are subulate and 3–4  mm long. The flowers are axillary, solitary, or in two- to four-flowered clusters. The male flowers are petiolate, with six sepals, which are oblong, pubescent outside, 2.5–4 mm long, and with three stamens. The female flowers are almost sessile. The sepals are oblong, 2.5–3 mm long, unequal, and villous on both surfaces. The ovaries are five-­ loculed and densely pubescent. The capsules are oblate globose, 8–10 mm wide, with five longitudinal furrows, densely villous, and with a cylindrical, persistent style column apically. The flowering and fruiting periods are almost all year round. Habitat: It grows in mountainous sparse forests or shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam and Thailand. Acquisition and Processing: The twigs and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The twigs of this product are 20–40  cm long and 0.2–0.4 cm in diameter and densely yellowish pubescent. Its leaves are crinkled and

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curled, oval or oval lanceolate when flattened, 4–5 cm long, entire, apically acuminate, villous on both sides, and yellow green. Its petioles are short and yellow pubescent. It’s odorless, bitter, and astringent in taste. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and astringent in taste and slightly cold in property, belonging to the meridians of the stomach and large intestine. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, detoxicating, and relieving itching; it’s often used in treatments of enteritis, dysentery, exfoliative dermatitis, and skin eczema, as well as external application for allergy of lacquer tree, paddy field dermatitis, itching skin, and urticaria. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water. For external use, appropriate amount of products are decocted for washing with or mashed into powder for application on the affected areas. Prescription Sample(s): Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Allergic dermatitis  – Glochidion eriocarpum leaves, perfoliate knotweed, scandent groundsel herb, and Rhus chinensis leaf, 30–60 g each, decocted in water for fumigation.

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8.25  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.25.1  Glochidion hirsutum Chinese Name(s): hou ye suan pan zi, da ye shui rong, da yang suan pan, shui pao mu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Glochidion hirsutum (Glochidion hirsutum (Roxb.) Voigt. [G. dasyphyllum K. Koch.]). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 1–8  m tall. Its twigs are densely pubescent. The leaf blades are leathery, ovate, long ovate or oblong, 7–15 × 4–7 cm, apically obtuse or acute, basally shallow cordate, truncate or round, bilaterally oblique, sparsely pubescent on surfaces, adaxially densely pubescent

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along the veins, glabrescent, and abaxially densely pubescent. There are six to ten lateral veins. The petioles are 5–7 mm long and pubescent. The stipules are lanceolate and 3–4 mm long. The inflorescences are usually in supra-axillary cymes. The peduncles are 5–7 mm long. Male flowers: the pedicels are 6–10 mm long, with six sepals, which are oblong or obovate and 3–4 mm long. Three of them are broader and pubescent outside. There are five to eight stamens. Female flowers: the pedicels are 2–3  mm long, with six sepals, which are ovate or broadly ovate and about 2.5  mm long. Three of them are broader and pubescent outside. The ovaries are globose, ca. 2 mm in diameter, pubescent, five- to six-loculed, with connate to subconical style columns, and apically truncated. The capsules are oblate-globose, 8–12 mm in diameter, pubescent, and five- or six-longitudinally grooved. The flowering and fruiting periods are almost all year round. Habitat: It grows in shrubs or valley forests near ditches at altitudes of 30–700 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and region of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Xizang in China, as well as in countries in the eastern part of the Himalayas and from Thailand to Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s astringent and a little sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Astringing to inhibit prolapse, dispelling pathogenic wind, and reducing swelling; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatism, bone pain, swelling and injury, anal prolapse, hysteroptosis, leukorrhea, diarrhea, and hepatitis. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral dose.

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8.26  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.26.1  Glochidion lanceolarium Chinese Name(s): pao guo suan pan zi, da ye suan pan zi, ai jiao shu Source: This medicine is made of the stems, leaves, and roots of Glochidion lanceolarium (Glochidion lanceolarium (Roxb.) Voigt. [G. macrophyllum Benth.]). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen shrub or tree, 1–3 m tall, rarely 7–12 m, and glabrous throughout except for hairy ovary and capsule. The leaf blades are leathery, oval, oblong or oblong lanceolate, 6–16  ×  2.5–6  cm, apically obtuse or acute, basally acute or broad cuneate, slightly decurved, subequilateral, dark green adaxially, light green abaxially, and yellow green after drying. There are five to seven lateral veins. The petioles are 3–5 mm long. The stipules are triangular lanceolate and 2.5–3 mm long. The flowers cluster in leaf axils. The male and female flowers are on different branches or one to three female flowers in male flower bouquets. Male flowers: the pedicels are 8–10 mm long. There are six sepals, which are obovate or obovate, about 3 mm long, and yellow. There are five to six stamens. Female flowers: the pedicels are 2–4 mm long. There are six sepals, three larger and three smaller, with large ones being ovate and narrow ovate. The ovaries are globular, six- to eight-loculed, and densely pubescent. The styles are connate into an ovoid column, less than 1 mm in length, about half the length of ovary, and subtruncate at the apex. The capsules are subspherical, 12–18 mm in diameter, 7–10 mm in height, apically usually concave and puberulent to glabrous, and six- to eight-­ grooved. The flowering is from April to September, and fruiting is from July to February of the following year. Habitat: It grows in plains, hillside shrubs, or forests at altitudes of 30–300 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in Vietnam, Thailand, and Eastern Himalayas to the northwest countries. Acquisition and Processing: The stems, leaves, and roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s a little bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Dispersing blood stasis and eliminating inflammation; the stems and leaves are used to treat injury, gingivitis, and stomatitis. The roots are used to treat jaundice. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral dose.

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8.27  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.27.1  Glochidion puberum Chinese Name(s): suan pan zi, suan pan zhu, man tou guo Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and roots of Glochidion puberum (Glochidion puberum (Linn.) Hutch.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1–5  m tall. Its branchlets, leaf back, sepals, ovaries, and fruits are densely pubescent. The leaf blades are papery or subleathery, oblong, long oval, 3–8  ×  1–2.5  cm, apically obtuse, acute, shortly

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acuminate, or rounded, basally cuneate to obtuse, grayish green on leaf surface, midvein sparsely pubescent or glabrescent adaxially, greenish, and densely pubescent abaxially. There are five to seven lateral veins on each side, which are elevated abaxially, with prominent reticulate nerves. The petioles are 1–3  mm long. The stipules are triangular and ca. 1  mm long. The flowers are small, monoecious or dioecious, and two to five clustering in axillary leaves. The male flowers mostly grow in proximal axils, and female flowers in distal axils, or sometimes female flowers and male flowers in the same axil. Male flowers: the pedicels are 4–15 mm long. There are six sepals, which are 2.5–3.5 mm long, with three stamens, which are connate into a cylindrical column. Female flowers: the pedicels are 1 mm long. There are six sepals, which are 1 mm long, similar to male flowers, but shorter and thicker. The ovaries are globular and five- to ten-locular, with two ovules per locule. The style columns are annular, almost equal to ovaries in length and width, and constricted at the junction with ovaries. The capsules are oblate-globose, 8–15 mm in diameter, eight- to ten-longitudinally grooved at margins, and red when ripe. The style columns are annular, persistent, shortly lobed, and slightly elongated in summit. The seeds are subreniform, three-angled, ca. 4 mm, and vermeil. The flowering is from April to August, and fruiting is from July to November. Habitat: It grows in mountains and hilly shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Shaanxi, Gansu, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Xizang in China. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves and roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s a little bitter and astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, dispelling wind, and activating collaterals; it’s often used in treatment of fever, sore throat, malaria, acute gastroenteritis, indigestion, dysentery, rheumatoid arthritis, injury, leukorrhea, and dysmenorrhea. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral dose. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Acute gastroenteritis and dyspepsia  – Glochidion puberum and myrtle leaves of the same amount, ground to powder. Take 1 g per dose, three times a day. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Acute and chronic bacillary dysentery  – Glochidion puberum root 30 g, serissa root 15 g, Indigofera bungeana root 15 g, licorice root 9 g, orange peel 9 g, taro petiole 9 g, and Polygonum aviculare 60 g, added with 1000 ml water and decocted to 250 ml. Take the decoctum two to three times in 1  day. In cases of severe dehydration, infusion was given simultaneously.

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8.28  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.28.1  Glochidion wrightii Chinese Name(s): bai bei suan pan zi Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Glochidion wrightii (Glochidion wrightii Benth.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or tree, 1–8 m tall, and glabrous throughout. The leaves are papery, oblong or oblong lanceolate, often obliquely falcate, 2.5–5.5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, apically acuminate, basally acute, inequilateral, green adaxially, farinose greenish abaxially, and gray glaucous when dry. There are five to six lateral veins. The petioles are 3–5 mm long. The female flowers and male flowers are clustered in the same axils of leaves. Male flowers: the pedicels are 2–4 mm long. There are six sepals, which are oblong, about 2 mm long, and yellow, and three stamens, which are connate. Female flowers: the pedicels are few. There are six sepals, of which three are broader and thicker, oval, oval or oblong, and about 1 mm long. The ovaries are globose and three- to four-locular. The style columns are cylindrical and less than 1 mm. The capsules are oblate-globose, 6–8 mm in diameter, and red, with persistent styles at the apex. The flowering is from May to September, and fruiting is from July to November. Habitat: It grows in the sparse forests or shrubs on the slopes at altitudes of 50–300 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing heat and dampness, promoting blood circulation, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of damp-heat diarrhea, sore throat, boils and sores, snake bite, bruise, and injury. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral dose. For external use, fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.29  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.29.1  Homonoia riparia Chinese Name(s): shui liu, shui zhui mu, shui yang liu, xi yang liu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Homonoia riparia (Homonoia riparia Lour.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1–3 m tall. The branchlets are angular and pubescent. The leaves are papery, alternate, linear oblong or narrowly lanceolate, 6–20 × 1.2–2.5 cm, apically acuminate, cuspidate, basally narrow or obtuse, entire or sparsely glandular-serrulate on margins, adaxially sparsely pubescent or glabrous, abaxially densely scaly, and pubescent. There are 9–16 pairs of lateral veins. The reticulate veins are slightly obvious. The petioles are 5–15 mm long. The stipules are subulate, 5–8  mm long, and caducous. The inflorescences are diecious, axillary, and 5–10 cm long. The bracts are subovate and 1.5–2 mm long. There are two bractlets, which are triangular and about 1 mm long. The flowers are solitary in bract axils. Male flowers: there are three sepals, which are 3–4 mm long and pubescent. The stamens are numerous, with filaments being connate into about ten stamen clusters. The anthers are small, and anther cells are separated. The pedicels are 0.2  mm long. Female flowers: there are five calyces, which are oblong, apically acuminate, 1–2  mm long, and pubescent. The ovaries are globular and densely pubescent. There are three styles, which are 4–7 mm long and connate at the base. The stigmas are densely feathery protuberant. The capsules are subglobose. The seeds are subovate and about 2 mm long. The testae are fleshy, yellowish, and rugose after drying. The flowering is from March to May, and fruiting is from April to July. Habitat: It grows on riversides or streamsides. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cold in property. Functions: Clearing heat and normalizing function of gallbladder, eliminating inflammation, and detoxicating; it’s often used in treatment of acute and chronic hepatitis. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose decocted in water and taken with brown sugar.

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8.30  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.30.1  Macaranga adenantha Chinese Name(s): dun ye mu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Macaranga adenantha (Macaranga adenantha Gagnep.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and 3–10 m tall. The tender branches are stout, smooth, and pruinose. The tender leaves are yellow-brown villus. The grown leaves are papery, broadly ovate, 13–20 × 10–19 cm, scutellate, apically mucronate, basally

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truncated, two to four patchy glandular, entire on margins, glabrous on both sides, granular glandular abaxially, and sometimes sparsely hairy along veins. There are nine palmate veins and six pairs of lateral veins. The petioles are 10–14 cm long. The leaves are triangular ovate, 6–10  ×  6  mm, and caducous. The male inflorescences are conical and 11–20  cm long. The axes of inflorescences are “zigzag”shaped and puberulent. The bracts are linear, 3–6 mm long, with a discoid gland near the top, or scaly, and eglandular. The inflorescences are in umbels, axillary, and multiple-flowered. Male flowers: there are three sepals, which are oval, about 1 mm long, and glabrous. There are five to seven stamens. The anthers are four-locular. The pedicels are 1 mm long and pubescent. The female inflorescences are conical and 5–7 cm long. The bracts are linear and 2–6 mm long, with one to three discoid glands. The bracts are small and glandless on the axis of inflorescences. Female flowers: there are four sepals, which are triangular, 1.5 mm long, sparsely pubescent, and persistent. The ovaries are two-locular. There are two styles, which are 2 mm long, appressed, and papillate. The capsules are spherical and 4 × 7–8 mm, with granular glands. The pedicels are about 8 mm long. The flowering is from May to July, and fruiting is from July to October. Habitat: It grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests of valleys or slopes. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in North Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Promoting Qi circulation to relieve distension and killing pain; it’s often used in treatment of abdominal distension and bilateral distension and pain due to liver Qi stagnation. Use and Dosage: 6–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.31  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.31.1  Macaranga denticulate Chinese Name(s): zhong ping shu, lao ma Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Macaranga denticulata (Macaranga denticulata (Bl.) Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and 3–10  m tall. Its twigs, leaves, inflorescences, and flowers are yellowish-brown tomentose. The leaves are papery or subleathery, triangular oval or oval, 12–30 × 11–28 cm, peltate, apically long acuminate, basally obtuse or subtruncated, shallowly cordate, bilaterally one to two glandular, abaxially pilose or pubescent only on venation, granular glandular, and repand or subentire on margins, which are sparsely glandular dentate. The lateral veins are seven to nine and eight to nine in pairs. The petioles are 5–20 cm long. The stipules are lanceolate, 7–8 mm long, villous, and caducous. The male inflorescences are conical and 5–10 cm long, and bracts are suboblong, 2–3 mm long, villous, two- to four-glandular on margins, or scaly, and 1 mm long. The bracts are axillary with three to seven flowers per bract. Male flowers: the calyces are two- to three-lobed, about 1 mm long, with 9–16 (~21) stamens, and with four-locular anthers. The pedicels are 0.5 mm long. The female inflorescences are panicle and 4–8 cm long. The bracts are oblong, ovate, or oval. Female flowers: the calyces are two-lobed and 1.5  mm long. The ovaries are two-loculed, sparse three-loculed, and pubescent along dorsal suture. There are two (approximately three) styles, which are 1 mm long, and the pedicels are 1–2 mm long. The capsules are spherical, 3 mm long, 5–6 mm wide, and granular glandular. The calyces are three-quadrilid and persistent. The pedicels are 3–5 mm long. The flowering is from April to June, and fruiting is from May to August. Habitat: It grows in valleys or open shrubs.

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Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Hainan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Xizang in China, as well as in countries of Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste and cold in property. Functions: Promoting Qi circulation to relieve pain and clearing heat and dampness; it’s often used in treatment of epigastric pain, swelling pain of chest and hypochondriac, jaundice due to heat and dampness, eczema, leukorrhea odor, perineal itching, and other symptoms caused by stagnation of the liver and stomach Qi. Use and Dosage: 3–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.32  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.32.1  Macaranga henryi Chinese Name(s): cao xie mu, xie di ye shu, da ji jie du shu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Macaranga henryi (Macaranga henryi (Pax et Hoffm.) Rehd.). Morphology: The trees are shrubs or trees and 2–6 m tall. Branches and leaves are ferruginous tomentose with caducous powdery hairs. The branchlets are glabrous and usually pruinose. The leaves are papery, ovate-oblong or oblong lanceolate, 10–25  ×  3.5–7  cm, apically acute or caudate, basally rounded to peltate, or slightly cordate, with two to four patchy glands, marginally repand or subentire, glandular serrulate, abaxially sparse granular glandular, puberulent along the veins, and glabrescent. The petioles are 2.5–10  cm long. The stipules are lanceolate, 5–8  mm long, pubescent, and caducous. The male inflorescences are conical, 6–10  cm long, and glabrous. The bracts are triangular, about 1.5  mm long, and three- to five-flowered. The pedicels are about 1 mm long. Male flowers: there are three sepals, which are about 1 mm long, and 6–12 stamens. The anthers are four-­ locular. The female inflorescences are sparsely branched panicle, 5–12 cm long, and glabrous. The bracts are triangular and about 2 mm long, and sometimes the lowermost one or two bracts are leaflike and ca. 1–3 × 0.3–0.7 mm. Female flowers: the calyces are urceolate, about 3  mm long, four-denticulate or subtruncate distally, pilose proximally, and two-longitudinally lobed at flowering. The ovaries are sparsely softly spiny. There are two styles, which are 6–10 mm long and connate at the base or lower half. The pedicels are 3–10 mm long, and the flowers are 7–15 mm

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long. The capsules are spherical, 6 × 8 mm wide, sparsely glandular-scaly, and with a few spines. The flowering is from March to May, and fruiting is from July to September. Habitat: It grows in evergreen broad-leaved forests in valleys or slopes at altitudes of 300–1400 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in summer and autumn, washed, sliced, and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste and cold in property. Functions: Promoting Qi circulation to relieve pain and clearing heat and dampness; it’s often used in treatment of epigastric pain, swelling pain of chest and hypochondriac, jaundice due to heat and dampness, eczema, leukorrhea odor, perineal itching, and other symptoms caused by stagnation of the liver and stomach Qi. Use and Dosage: 6–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.33  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.33.1  Mallotus apelta Chinese Name(s): bai bei ye gen, ye tong, ye xia bai Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Mallotus apelta (Mallotus apelta (Lour.) Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree. The branchlets, petioles, and inflorescences are stellate-tomentulose. The leaves are alternate, ovate or broadly ovate, 7–17 × 5–14 cm, basally subtruncated or truncated, two-glandular, apically acuminate, entire or irregular three-lobed on margins, and sparsely repand denticulate. The leaves are subglabrous on the surface, abaxially gray white, and densely stellate-tomentulose, with fine brown glandular spots. The petioles are 1.5–8 cm long and densely pubescent. The flowers are unisexual and dioecious. The inflorescences are in panicles, terminal or axillary, 8–30 cm long, and yellowish-brown tomentulose. The male flowers are fascicled, with three to four sepals, ovate, densely hairy outside, red glandular dotted inside, and apetalous. The stamens are numerous. The filaments are segregated. The female inflorescences are unbranched and solitary. The calyces are campanulate, unequally five-lobed, stellate tomentose outside, and apetalous. The ovaries are threeloculed and densely stellate tomentose, with three styles. The capsules are subglobose and densely softly spiny. The seeds are ovoid, black, and lustrous. The flowering is from June to September, and fruiting is from August to November. Habitat: It grows in barren shrubs or hillside forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up all year round, and the fibrous roots are removed, washed, cut into pieces or short segments, and dried. Medicinal Properties: The products are irregular blocks or cylindrical short segments and black brown or yellowish brown on the outer surface. The root barks are thin, tearable, and slightly fibrous. The xylem is firm, yellowish white, and longitudinally cracked showing fluent fine lines. It’s odorless and slightly bitter in taste. The products that are solid and without overground shoots are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s a little bitter and astringent in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Softening liver and activating blood circulation, invigorating spleen, and removing dampness, convergence, and solidification; it’s often used in treatment of chronic hepatitis, hepatosplenomegaly, prolapse of uterine or anus, leukorrhea, and edema in pregnancy. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Edema in pregnancy – Mallotus apelta, whole plants of Abrus precatorius (seeds removed), and Herba Blumeae Balsamiferae 500  g each, added with water, decocted three times, concentrated, and added with sugar to make 3000 ml of decoctum. Take 30 ml each, three times a day. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Suppurative otitis media – Mallotus apelta 30 g added with 250 ml of water, decocted for 2 h, with the dregs being removed,

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and filtered with sterile gauze three times. After cooling, preservatives were added. Wash ears with white vinegar first, wipe dry, and then drip the medicinal liquid in, three times a day, three to four drops each time.

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8.34  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.34.1  Mallotus barbatus Chinese Name(s): mao tong, zi kang mu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Mallotus barbatus (Mallotus barbatus (Wall.) Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plant is a small tree and 3–4 m tall. Its leaves are alternate, papery, ovate-triangular or oval rhomboid, 13–35 × 12–28 cm, apically acuminate, basally round or truncated, marginally serrated or repand, bifid or sparsely dentate,

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adaxially stellate-villous along nerves, abaxially stellate-tomentose, and scattered yellow glandular-scaly. There are five to seven palmate veins and four to six pairs of lateral veins, sometimes with black patchy glands near petioles. The petioles are peltate inserted, 0.5–5 cm away from the leaf base, and 5–22 cm long. The flowers are dioecious. The inflorescences are in raceme and terminal. The male inflorescences are 11–36 cm long, often branched at the lower part. The bracts are linear and 5–7 mm long, with four to six male flowers in axils. Male flowers: the buds are globular or oval. The pedicels are about 4 mm long. There are four to five sepals, which are oval, 2–3.5 mm long, and densely stellate pubescent. There are 75–85 stamens. The female inflorescences are 10–25 cm long. The bracts are linear. Female flowers: the pedicels are 2.5 mm long. The fruits are 6 mm long. The calyces are three- to five-lobed, ovate, 4–5 mm long, and apically acute. There are three to five styles, which are slightly connate at the base. The stigmas are 3  mm long and densely plumose. The capsules are sparsely arranged, spherical, 1.3–2 cm in diameter, densely yellowish stellate hairy, and purple-red soft spiny, forming a continuous uniform layer of 6–7 mm. The flowering is from April to May, and fruiting is from September to October. Habitat: It grows in valleys and roadside shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hubei, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s a little bitter and astringent in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing heat and promoting diuresis; it’s often used in treatment of indigestion, enteritis, diarrhea, urethritis, and leukorrhea. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, cook with glutinous rice porridge. For external use, proper amounts of roots are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.35  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.35.1  Mallotus philippinensis Chinese Name(s): cu kang chai, xiang gui shu Source: This medicine is made of the roots, leaves, fruits, and glandular hairs of Mallotus philippinensis (Mallotus philippinensis (Lam.) Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and up to 18  m tall. Its leaves are alternate, subleathery, ovate, oblong or ovate-lanceolate, 5–18  cm long and 3–6  cm wide,

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apically acuminate, basally round or cuneate, marginally subentire, adaxially glabrous, abaxially tomentulose on veins, and sparsely red glandular-scaly. There are three basal veins and four to six pairs of lateral veins, with two to four basal glands. The petioles are 2–5 (~9) cm long, slightly thickened at both ends, and stellate hairy. The flowers are dioecious. The inflorescences are in raceme, terminal or axillary, and solitary or several clustered. The male inflorescences are 5–10 cm long, whose bracts are oval and about 1 mm long. The male flowers are one- to five-fascicled in bract axils. The pedicels are 1–2  mm long. Male flowers: there are three to four sepals, which are oblong, about 2 mm long, densely stellate hairy, and red granular glandular. There are 15–30 stamens. The connectiva are slightly widened. The female inflorescences are 3–8 cm long, and infructescences are 16 cm long. The bracts are oval and about 1 mm long. Female flowers: the pedicels are 1–2 mm long. There are three to five calyx lobes, which are oval lanceolate, densely stellate hairy outside, and about 3 mm long. The ovaries are tomentose with two to three styles, which are 3–4 mm long. The stigmas are densely plumose. The capsules are oblate spherical, 6–8 mm in diameter, with two (to three) mericarps, densely covered with a red glandular-scaly layer. The flowering is from April to May, and fruiting is from May to August. Habitat: It grows in hillsides, hilly miscellaneous forests, or shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Taiwan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, India, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, etc. Acquisition and Processing: The roots, leaves, fruits, and glandular hairs are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s a little bitter and astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: The roots function in clearing heat and removing dampness. The glandular powder on fruits functions in repelling insect. The stems and leaves function in relieving fever and rheumatism. The glandular powder on fruits is often used for treatment of ascaris, pinworm, taenia, injury, boils, and traumatic bleeding. The roots are often used in treatment of acute and chronic dysentery and laryngopharyngitis. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. The glandular powder on fruits functions in repelling taenia, pinworm, and nematode. The dosages are 6–9 g for adults and 1.5 g for children. The glandular powder is made into capsules, pills, ingots, etc. Prescription Sample(s): Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Taenia – glandular powder 4.5 g, caffeine 2.1 g, pelletierine 0.9 g, and castor oil 4.5 g.

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Annotation: The glandular powder on fruits is toxic. When used in excessive dosage, nausea, vomiting, and strong diarrhea may occur. Thus, gastric lavage or administration of egg white, batter, activated carbon, or tannin may help. Taking a large amount of saline or intravenous injection of 5% glucose saline and other symptomatic treatments are always used for treatment.

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8.36  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.36.1  Mallotus repandus Chinese Name(s): shi yan feng, shan long yan, dao gua cha, dao gua jin gou Source: This medicine is made of the roots, stems, and leaves of Mallotus repandus (Mallotus repandus (Willd.) Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plant is a scandent shrub. Its leaves are alternate, papery or membranous, oval or elliptic, 3.5–8 × 2.5–5 cm, apically acute or acuminate, basally cuneate or round, and marginally entire or wavy. The tender leaves are stellate pubescent on both sides. There are three basal veins, which are sometimes slightly

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apart from the base. The lateral veins are four to five in pairs. The petioles are 2–6 cm long. The flowers are dioecious, in racemes or branched proximally. The male inflorescences are terminal, sparsely axillary, and 5–15 cm long. The bracts are subulate, about 2 mm long, densely stellate hairy, and two- to five-flowed on apex. The pedicels are 4  mm long. Male flowers: there are three to four sepals, which are ovate-oblong, about 3  mm long, and tomentulose outside. There are 40–75 stamens. The filaments are about 2 mm long. The anthers are oblong, and the connectiva are narrow. The female inflorescences are terminal, 5–8 cm long, and with triangular bracts. Female flowers: the pedicels are about 3 mm long. There are five calyx lobes, which are oval lanceolate, about 3.5 mm long, tomentulose outside, and granular glandular. There are two to three styles. The stigmas are about 3 mm long and densely plumose. The capsules are composed of two to three mericarps, which are about 1 cm in diameter and scattered glandular-scaly. The seeds are oval, about 5 mm in diameter, black, and lustrous. The flowering is from March to May, and fruiting is from August to September. Habitat: It grows in hillsides, hilly miscellaneous forests, or shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Gansu, Anhui, Sichuan, and Guizhou in China, as well as in countries of the United States, India, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The roots, stems, and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s a little astringent in taste and warm in property. Functions: Dispelling wind and activating collaterals, strengthening tendons, and relieving pain. It’s often used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, lumbago and leg pain, and postpartum paralysis, as well as external treatment of bruise and injury. Use and Dosage: 30–60 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external treatment, proper amounts of fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.37  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.37.1  Phyllanthus cochinchinensis Chinese Name(s): yue nan ye xia zhu, wu ying yi, ya nong cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Phyllanthus cochinchinensis (Phyllanthus cochinchinensis Spreng.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and up to 2 m tall. Its leaves are alternate or three- to five-fascicled on cushion-shaped short branches. The leaf blades are leathery, obovate, long obovate or spoon-shaped, 1–2 × 0.6–1.3 cm, apically obtuse or

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rounded, rarely retuse, basally attenuate, and marginally narrowly revoluted when dry. The midrib is slightly raised on both sides. The lateral veins are not obvious. The petioles are 1–2 mm long. The stipules are brown red, oval triangular, long, ca. 2 mm, and ciliate on margin. The flowers are dioecious and one- to five-fascicled on cushion-shaped axils. Male flowers: usually solitary. The pedicels are about 3 mm long. There are six sepals, which are obovate or spatulate, ca. 1.3  ×  1–1.2  mm, unequal, thicker at the base, and membranous on margins. There are three stamens. The filaments are connate into styles. There are three anthers, which are apically connate and forked at the lower part. The chambers are parallel and longitudinally dehiscent. The pollen grains are spherical or subspherical with six to ten loose holes. There are six discoid glands, which are obconical. Female flowers: solitary or clustered. The pedicels are 2–3 mm long. There are six sepals, with outer three being oval and inner three being oval rhomboidal, which are 1.5–1.8 × 1.5 mm, membranous on margins, and thickened at the base. The flower disks are suburceolus, enclosed in about two-thirds of the ovaries. The ovaries are spherical, about 1.2 mm in diameter, three-locular, with three styles, and 1.1 mm in length. The capsules are spherical and about 5 mm in diameter. The flowering and fruiting periods are from June to December. Habitat: It grows in the wilderness, under the woods, or in the bushes. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, and Guangxi in China, as well as in Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bland and slightly astringent in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, diminishing swelling, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of parulis and asthma. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external treatment, proper amounts of fresh herb are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.38  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.38.1  Phyllanthus emblica Chinese Name(s): yu gan zi, you gan zi dan, you gan zi, zi jing pi Source: This medicine is made of the fruits of Phyllanthus emblica (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 1–5 m tall. Its barks are grayish brown. The twigs are brown pubescent. The leaves are alternate and arranged in two rows. The leaf blades are linear oblong, 1–2 cm long, apically rounded, base round or slightly cordate, and entire on margin. There are six to eight lateral veins on each side. The petioles are about 1 mm long. The stipules are linear lanceolate. The flowers blossom in spring and summer and are apetalous, many arranged in axillary umbels, with only one female flower or all male flowered on the inflorescence. Male flowers: there are six sepals, which are obovate to oblanceolate, up to 2.5 mm long. There are three stamens, with filaments forming a column about 1 mm long, with six glands. Female flowers: the calyces are similar to male flowers. The ovaries are oval, with the lower half enclosed in cupular disks. The upper parts of the styles are bifid, and each lobe is longitudinally dehiscent. The capsules are drupe-shaped, spherical, and 1–2 cm in diameter. The exocarps are fleshy, green white, or yellowish white. The pericarps are hard-shelled. The seeds are slightly red and 5–6 mm × 2–3 mm. The flowering is from April to June, and fruiting is from July to September. Habitat: It grows in sloping valleys, grasslands, and sparse forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Taiwan, Fujian, Guangdong, Hainan, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Jiangxi, etc., in China. Acquisition and Processing: The fruits are harvested from winter to the next spring and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The products are spherical or flat spherical with a diameter of 1.2–2  cm. The surface is brown or dark green, with pale yellow granular protrusions and wrinkles, and inconspicuous six-edged, and the pedicels are about 1 cm long. The cortex of exocarps is hard and brittle and 1–4 mm tall. The endocarps are yellowish white and hard-nucleated, with a slightly six-edged surface and several veins on the upper part of the dorsal suture. After drying, the fruits can split into six petals. There are six seeds, which are subtriangular and brown. It’s slightly in odor and sour and astringent and sweet in taste. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and slightly astringent in taste and cool in property, belonging to the meridians of the lungs and stomach. Functions: Clearing heat and cooling blood, diminishing food stagnation and strengthening the stomach, and geminating saliva to relieve thirst; it’s often used in treatment of blood heat and blood stasis, indigestion, cold and fever, sore throat, cough, thirst, toothache, and vitamin C deficiency. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, mostly made into pills or powder.

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8.39  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.39.1  Phyllanthus flexuosus Chinese Name(s): luo e ye xia zhu, hong wu yan, wan qu ye xia zhu Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Phyllanthus flexuosus (Phyllanthus flexuosus (Sieb. et Zucc.) Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and up to 3  m. The branches are curved, 8–15  cm long, and brown. The whole plants are glabrous. The leaf blades are papery, oval to oval, 2–4.5 × 1–2.5 cm, apically acuminate or blunt, basally obtuse to rounded, and slightly white-green abaxially. There are five to seven lateral

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veins. The petioles are ca. 2–3 mm long. The stipules are oval triangle and caducous. The inflorescences are an axillary fascicle with up to five male and one female flowers. Male flowers: the pedicels are short, with five sepals, which are broadly oval or subcircular, about 1 mm long, and dark purple red. There are five discoid glands and five stamens. The filaments are segregated. The anthers are two-loculed and longitudinally fissured. The pollen grains are globular or subglobular, with three colporates, long grooves, and rounded pores. Female flowers: about 3 mm in diameter. The pedicels are about 1 cm long. There are six sepals, which are oval or elliptic, about 1 mm long, and six discoid glands. The ovaries are oval and three-locular. There are three styles, which are bifid at the apex. The capsules are berrylike, oblate, 6 mm in diameter, and three-celled, with one seed per cell. The base sepals are falling off. The seeds are subtriangular and about 3 mm in length. The flowering is from April to May, and fruiting is from June to September. Habitat: It grows in valleys or riverside forests at altitudes of 200–650 m. Distribution: It is distributed in the eastern provinces and regions of China, as well as in Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s astringent and bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, diuresis, improving eyesight, and eliminating food stagnation; it’s often used in treatment of dysentery, dyspepsia, hepatitis, snake bite, rheumatism, pyelonephritis, and cystitis. Use and Dosage: 5–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, the fresh plants are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.40  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.40.1  Phyllanthus glaucus Chinese Name(s): qing hui ye xia zhu, bi xue shu, hei zi ke, hei zi shu, mu ben ye xia zhu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Phyllanthus glaucus (Phyllanthus glaucus Wall. ex Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plants are shrubs and up to 4 m tall. Its branches are terete and twigs are slender. The whole plants are glabrous. The leaf blades are membranous, elliptic or oblong, 2.5–5 × 1.5–2.5 cm, apically acute, mucronate, basally obtuse to rounded, and slightly glaucous abaxially. There are eight to ten lateral veins. The petioles are 2–4 mm long. The stipules are oval lanceolate and membranous. The flowers are 3 mm in diameter and several clustered in axils. The pedicels are filiform and slightly thickened at the apex. Male flowers: the pedicels are about 8  mm in length. There are six sepals, which are oval, with six discoid glands and five stamens. The filaments are separate, with longitudinally fissured chambers. The pollen grains are globose, with three colporates, long grooves, and rounded pores. Female flowers: there are usually one female flower and several male flowers fascicled in axils. The petioles are about 9 mm. There are six sepals, which are ovate. The disks are annular. The ovaries are oval and three-celled, with two ovules per cell. There are three styles, which are connate at the base. The capsules are berrylike, ca. 1 cm in diameter, and purple black, with sepals being persistent in fruit. The seeds are yellowish brown. The flowering is from April to July, and fruiting is from July to October. Habitat: It grows in the open forests in the valley of 300–700 m above sea level. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions from southwest to southeast of China, as well as in countries of India and Nepal. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sour and bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Dispelling wind and dampness, invigorating spleen, and eliminating food stagnation. It’s often used in treatments of rheumatism arthralgia and infantile malnutrition. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.41  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.41.1  Phyllanthus parvifolius Chinese Name(s): shui you gan Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Phyllanthus parvifolius (Phyllanthus parvifolius Buch.-Ham.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and up to 2 m tall. Its stems are grayish brown. The branchlets are slightly four-ridged, transversely appressed distally, often cluster at the top of the stems or the upper part of the old branches, and up to 16 cm long. The whole plants are glabrous. The leaves are thin leathery, oblong or oval, 6–11 × 2–4 mm, apically acute, brown-red cuspidate, basally oblique, and marginally recurved. The lateral veins are four to seven in pairs. The petioles are 1 mm long. The stipules are oval triangle, 1 mm long, and brown red. The flowers are yellow white or white green, usually two to four male flowers and one female flower clustered in leaf axils. Male flowers: the pedicels are 1–2 mm long. There are six sepals, which are unequal, oval lanceolate or obovate, about 1 mm long, and marginally membranous. There are three stamens. The filaments are connate at the base. The anthers are oblong, about 0.2 mm long, with parallel thecae, and longitudinally fissured. The connectives are slightly mucronate. The pollen grains are spherical, colporates, with long the grooves, and pores rounded. There are six disk glands. Female flowers: the pedicels are about 2 mm long. The sepals are homomorphous to that of male flowers and 1.2 × 0.8–1 mm. The disks are cupular and apically six-­lobed. The ovaries are rounded, about 1  mm in diameter, and three-locular. The styles are connate at the base and bifid at the apex, with slightly revolute lobes. The capsules are globose, about 3 mm in diameter, and dehiscent at maturity to three two-petaled mericarps. The axes and sepals are persistent. Habitat: It grows on the damp rocks of valleys and streams. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Hainan and Yunnan in China, as well as in India.

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Acquisition and Processing: The roots and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bland and astringent in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Relieving exterior syndromes and clearing orifices; it’s often used in treatments of headache due to cold, nasal obstruction, eye swelling, and joint pain. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.42  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.42.1  Phyllanthus reticulatus Chinese Name(s): xiao guo ye xia zhu, lan tou bo, long yan jing Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Phyllanthus reticulatus (Phyllanthus reticulatus Poir.) Morphology: The plant is a shrub and up to 4 m tall. Its leaf blades are membranous to papery, elliptic, oval to circular, 1–5  ×  0.7–3  cm wide, apically acute or obtuse to rounded, basally obtuse to rounded, and sometimes gray white abaxially. The veins are usually prominent on both sides. The lateral veins are five to seven in pairs. The petioles are 2–5  mm long. The stipules are subulate-lanceolate, up to 1.7 mm long, hard and spiny after drying, and brown. There are usually two to ten male flowers and one female flower clustered in leaf axils, forming cymes sparsely. Male flowers: about 2 mm in diameter. The pedicels are slender and 5–10 mm in length. There are five to six sepals, which are arranged in two whorls, ovate or obovate, unequal, 0.7–1.5 × 0.5–1.2 mm, and entire. There are five stamens, which are erect, of which three are longer, with filaments being connate, and two are shorter, with filaments being free. The anthers are triangular and longitudinally dehiscent. The pollen grains are globular and three-grooved. There are five discoid glands, which are scaly and 0.5 mm wide. Female flowers: the pedicels are 4–8 mm long and slender. There are five to six sepals, which are arranged in two whorls and are unequal, broadly ovate, 1–1.6 mm long, 0.9–1.2 mm wide, and puberulent adaxially. There are five to six discoid glands, which are oblong or obovate. The ovaries are round, globose, and 4–12-loculed. The styles are segregated and bifid at the apex. The capsules are berrylike, globose or subglobose, about 6 mm in diameter,

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red, and gray black after drying. The flowering is from March to June, and fruiting is from June to October. Habitat: It grows in mountain forests or shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hunan, Hainan, Guangdong, Hong Kong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Sichuan in China, as well as in southern and southeastern Asia, tropical Africa, and Australia. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and sliced and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s astringent in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Anti-inflammation, astringency, and anti-diarrhea; it’s often used in treatment of dysentery, enteritis, intestinal tuberculosis, hepatitis, nephritis, and malnutrition in children. Use and Dosage: 6–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.43  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.43.1  Phyllanthus urinaria Chinese Names: ye xia zhu, yin yang cao, jia you shu, zhen zhu cao, zhu zai cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Phyllanthus urinaria (Phyllanthus urinaria Linn.). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb and 10–60 cm tall. Its leaf blades are papery, pinnately arranged due to torsion of petioles, oblong or obovate, 4–10 × 2–5 mm wide, apically round, obtuse or mucronate, and adaxial gray green, with one to three rows of short coarse hairs submarginally. There are four to five pairs of lateral veins. The petioles are extremely short. The stipules are ovate-­ lanceolate and about 1.5 mm long. The flowers are monoecious and ca. 4 mm in diameter. Male flowers: two- to four-clustered in leaf axil. Usually only the proximal one blossoms. The flowers below are very small. The pedicels are about 0.5 mm long, with one to two bracts at the base. There are six sepals, which are obovate, about 0.6 mm long, and apically obtuse. There are three stamens, with filaments being completely united into a slender column. The pollen grains are long globular, with usually five holes or grooves, sometimes three, four, or six. The inner foramen is transverse oval. There are six disk glands, which are separated and alternating with sepals. Female flowers: solitary in the axillary part of the middle and lower branches. The pedicels are about 0.5 mm long. There are six sepals, which are subequal, oval-lanceolate, about 1 mm long, marginally membranous, and yellowish white. The disks are orbicular and entire. The ovaries are oval, with conspicuous raised scales. The styles are free and bifid at the apex, with revolute lobes. The capsules are globose, 1–2 mm in diameter, and red. The flowering period is from April to June, and fruiting is from July to November.

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Habitat: It grows in wilderness grasslands, hillsides, dry fields, villages, and other places. Distribution: It is distributed in all provinces and regions on the south of Qinling Mountains in China, as well as in the pantropics of the world. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and a little bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and removing stasis, strengthening digestion, and eliminating accumulation; it’s often used in treatment of dysentery, nephritis and edema, urinary tract infection, summer heat, conjunctivitis, and malnutrition of children. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.44  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.44.1  Phyllanthus virgatus Chinese Name(s): huang zhu zi cao, ru yong gen, xi ye you shu Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Phyllanthus virgatus (Phyllanthus virgatus Forst. f. [P. simplex Linn.]). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb, usually erect, and up to 60 cm tall. The stems are with narrow ridges at the base, or sometimes the main stem is not obvious. The branches usually grow from the base of stem, flat and angular distally, and glabrous throughout. The leaf blades are subleathery, linear lanceolate, oblong or narrowly elliptic, 5–25 × 2–7 mm, apically obtuse or acute, cuspidate, and basally slightly oblique rounded, with few petioles. The stipules are membranous, oval triangular, about 1 mm long, and brown red. Usually there are two to four male flowers and one female flower clustering in leaf axils. Male flowers: about 1 mm in diameter. The pedicels are about 2 mm in length. There are six sepals, which are broadly oval or subcircular and about 0.5 mm in length, and three male flowers, whose filaments are separated and anthers are subspherical. The pollen grains are spherical and 23 microns in diameter, with many holes and grooves. There are six discoid glands, which are oblong. Female flowers: the pedicels are 5 mm long. The calyces are six-parted, ovate-oblong, about 1 mm long, purple red, reflexed, and marginally slightly membranous. The disks are discoid and undivided. The ovaries are globose and three-loculed, with scalelike protuberance. The styles are segregated, bifid nearly to the base, and usually recurved. The capsules are oblate, 2–3 mm in diameter, purple red, and scaly protuberant. The pedicels are filiform and 5–12 mm in length. The sepals are persistent. The seeds are small, 0.5 mm in length, and finely warty. The flowering is from April to May, and fruiting is from June to November.

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Habitat: It grows in wilderness grasslands, hillsides, dry fields, villages, and other places. Distribution: It is distributed in the southern slopes of Qinling Mountains and the provinces and regions in south of the Yangtze River Basin in China, as well as in countries in southeastern Asia and the Indian and Pacific Islands. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing heat and removing stasis, strengthening digestion, and eliminating accumulation; it’s often used in treatment of malnutrition of children and mastitis. Use and Dosage: 6–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Malnutrition of children – fresh whole grass 9–15 g, decocted with water or steamed with pork and taken orally. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Mastitis – fresh whole grasses are mashed for external application and decocted in water for washing on the affected areas.

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8.45  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.45.1  Phyllanthus ussuriensis Chinese Name(s): mi gan cao, dong bei you gan, shan ding cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Phyllanthus ussuriensis (Phyllanthus ussuriensis Rupr. et Maxim.]). Morphology: The plant is an annual herb and up to 60 cm. Its stems are erect and branched from the base. The branches are slender and branchlets are angular. The plants are glabrous throughout. The leaf blades are papery, elliptic to oblong, 5–15 × 3–6 mm, apically acute to blunt, basally subrounded, and abaxially white green. The lateral veins are five to six in pairs. The petioles are extremely short or almost absent. The stipules are oval lanceolate. The flowers are monoecious, solitary, or clustered in axils of leaves. The pedicels are about 2 mm long and filiform, with several bracts at the base. Male flowers: there are four sepals, which are broadly ovate, and four discoid glands, which are segregated and alternated with sepals. There are two stamens, with filaments being segregated and chambers being longitudinally dehiscent. Female flowers: there are six sepals, which are long oval and reflexed in fruit, and six discoid glands, which are oblong. The ovaries are oval and three-loculed, with three styles, which are bifid at the apex. The capsules are oblate globose, about 2.5 mm in diameter, and smooth. The pedicels are short. The seeds are about 1.2 mm in length, tawny, and brown tuberculate. The flowering is in July, and fruiting is in August–September. Habitat: It grows in wilderness grasslands, hillsides, dry fields, villages, and other places. Distribution: Anda, Zhaoyuan and other cities and counties in Heilongjiang Province. Ji’an City, Jilin Province. Cities and counties such as Benxi, Fushun, Donggang, Zhuanghe, Haicheng and Dalian in Liaoning Province. Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi; North Korea, Russian Far East, Mongolia, Japan.

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Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing heat and removing stasis, strengthening digestion, and eliminating accumulation; it’s often used in treatment of malnutrition of children and mastitis. Use and Dosage: 6–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.46  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.46.1  Ricinus communis Chinese Name(s): bi ma zi, lai ma liao, cao ma Source: This medicine is made of the ripe seeds of Ricinus communis (Ricinus communis Linn.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and up to 5 m tall. The stems are hollow, with glaucous younger parts. The leaves are unifoliate and alternate, peltate, 20–30 cm in diameter, and palmate parted, with 7–11 lobes, which are oval lanceolate or oblong, apically mucronate or acuminate, and marginally serrated. The main veins are in equal number with lobes and radial. The lateral veins are pinnate and reticular veins obvious. The petioles are apically glandular. The stipules are oblong, 2–3 cm long, and 1 cm wide. The panicles are terminal or opposite to leaves. The male flowers are in the lower part of inflorescence, and female flowers are in the upper part of inflorescence. The sepals of male flowers are lanceolate or elliptic and

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glabrous. The stamens are numerous, and filaments are united into bundles. The anthers are subglobose and separated. There are five sepals, which are oval lanceolate or linear oblong and caducous. There are three styles, which are bifid, red, and papillate. The capsules are oblong or spherical, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter, consisting of three bifid mericarps, and echinate. The seeds are about 1.5 cm in length, with gray-white markings and protuberant caruncles. The flowering period is almost whole year round. Habitat: It grows in the wildernesses, by the roadsides, and by the villages. Distribution: It is cultivated all over China and native to Africa. Acquisition and Processing: The ripe fruits are harvested in autumn and dried, with shells being removed and dried in the sun. The seeds are collected afterward. Medicinal Properties: The products are elliptical or ovoid, slightly appressed, 1–2 cm × 0.5–1 cm, flat on ventral surface, raised on dorsal, and smooth, with gray-­ white, black-brown, yellow-brown, and red-brown patches. The caruncles are gray white or light brown and protuberant. The seed coats are thin and crispy. The endosperms are thick, white, and oily with two thin cotyledons. The products that are odorless, slightly bitter and pungent in taste, full, lustrous, and obvious in patterns are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and pungent in taste, neutral in property, and a little toxic, belonging to the meridians of the large intestine and lungs. Functions: Relieving swelling, discharging pus, and detoxicating; it’s often used to treat prolapse of uterus and prolapse of anus by pounding and applying to Baihui acupoint on top of the head. It’s also used to treat mazischesis by pounding and applying to the acupoint of Yongquan on the middle foot. For treating facioplegia, the herbs are pounded and applied externally. The application should be in accordance with the paralyzed side. For treating purulent ulceration, lymph node nucleus, bamboo, wood or metal piercing into meat, the seeds are pounded into paste and applied to the affected areas. Use and Dosage: Appropriate amounts of seeds are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.47  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.47.1  Sapium discolor Chinese Name(s): shan wu jiu, hong wu jiu Source: This medicine is made of the root barks, barks, and leaves of Sapium discolor (Sapium discolor (Champ. ex Benth.) Muell. Arg.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and 3–15 m tall. Its leaves are alternate, papery, light red when tender, elliptic or oblong-ovate, 4–10 × 2.5–5 cm, apically obtuse or short acuminate, and basally narrow or cuneate. There are often several round glands on dorsal proximal margin. The midveins are raised on both sides. The lateral veins are slender and 8–12 in pairs. The petioles are slender and 2–7.5 cm long, with two adjacent glands apically. The stipules are small. The flowers are unisexual and monoecious, in terminal racemes. The inflorescences are 4–9  cm long. The female flowers are in the lower part of the inflorescence axis, while the male flowers are in the upper part, or sometimes the entire inflorescences are all male flowers. Male flowers: the pedicels are filiform and 1–3 mm long. The bracts are ovate, about 1.5 × 1 mm, and apically acute, with one long elliptic or reniform gland, which is ca. 1.5 × 1 mm at the bilateral base. The glands are about ca. 2 × 1 mm wide. There are five to seven flowers in each bract. The bracts are small, narrow, and 1–1.2 mm long. The calyces are cupular and irregularly serrulate. There are two stamens, sometimes three, with filaments being short and anthers being globular. Female flowers: the pedicels are strong, cylindrical, and about 5 mm long. The bracts are almost similar to male flowers, with only one flower in each bract. The calyces are

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three-parted almost to the base. The ovaries are ovate and three-loculed. The styles are stout, with three stigmas, which revolute. The capsules are black, spherical, and 1–1.5 cm in diameter. The capsules are black, globose, and 1–1.5 cm in diameter. The columellae are persistent in the middle axis, and the seeds are subspherical. The flowering is from April to June. Habitat: It grows in mixed forests of valleys or slopes. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions on south of the Yangtze River in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia. Acquisition and Processing: The root barks, barks, and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste, cold in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Purgation and dissipating blood stasis and swelling; the root barks and barks function in treating nephritis and edema, ascites due to cirrhosis of the liver, and obstruction of urine and defecation. The leaves function for external treatment of swelling and pain caused by injury, venomous snake bites, allergic dermatitis, eczema, and herpes zoster. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas. The decoctum can also be used for washing. Pregnant women and weak people should not take it. Prescription Sample(s): Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Venomous snake bites – root barks of Sapium discolor 9–15 g, decocted and taken with alcohol. Or proper amounts of fresh leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.48  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.48.1  Sapium sebiferum Chinese Name(s): bai wu jiu, wu jiu Source: This medicine is made of the root barks, barks, and leaves of Sapium sebiferum (Sapium sebiferum (Linn.) Roxb.). Morphology: The plant is a tree and up to 15  m tall. Its leaves are alternate, papery, rhombic, ovate or sparsely rhombic obovate, 3–8  cm  ×  3–9  cm, apically abruptly compressed with pointed ends of varying lengths, basally broadly cuneate or blunt, and marginally entire. The lateral veins are six to ten pairs. The petioles are slender, 2.5–6  cm long, and two-glandular apically. The stipules are blunt at the apex and 1 mm long. The flowers are unisexual, monoecious, and aggregated apically into a 6–12-cm raceme. The female flowers usually grow at the lowest part of the inflorescence axis, or rarely there are some of the male flowers below the female ones. The male flowers grow at the upper part of the inflorescence axis or sometimes the entire inflorescence. Male flowers: the pedicels are slender, 1–3 mm long, and thicker on the upper part. The bracts are broadly ovate, 2 mm in both length and width, apical slightly pointed, with a reniform gland on both sides of the base, and 10–15-flowered in each bract. There are three bracts, which are unequal in size and lacerated on margins. The calyces are cupular, three-lobed, with obtuse lobes, and irregularly serrulate. There are two stamens, rarely three. Female flowers: the pedicels are strong and 3–3.5  mm long. The bracts are three-parted, with acuminate lobes. The glands beside the base are the same as those of the male flowers. There is one female flower per bract, and sometimes one female flower and several male flowers are aggregated in the same bract axil. The calyces are three-lobed, and the ovaries are ovoid, smooth, and three-loculed. There are three styles, which are connate at the base, with stigmas being revolute. The capsules are pyriform-globose, black at maturity, and 1–1.5 cm in diameter. The flowering is from April to August. Habitat: It grows in hillsides, open forests or shrubs, hilly wildernesses, village sides, and roadsides. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan in China, as well as in countries of Japan, Vietnam, and India. Acquisition and Processing: The root barks, barks, and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun or used directly.

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Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste, slightly warm in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Diuresis, detoxification, insecticide, and defecation. It’s often used in treatment of schistosomiasis, cirrhosis of the liver ascites, difficulty of urine and stool, and venomous snake bites, as well as external treatment of furuncles, corns, mastitis, bruises, eczema, and dermatitis. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose for root barks and barks and 9–15 g per dose for leaves, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of leaves are mashed and applied to the affected areas, or the decoctum can also be used for washing. Pregnant women and weak people should not take it. Prescription Sample(s): 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Schistosomiasis  – Sapium sebiferum leaf 6–30 g, decocted in water for oral use, 20–30 days as a course of treatment. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Scabies  – endothelia of Sapium sebiferum mashed (or baked powder) with a little borneol and mixed evenly with egg white for external application. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Corns – the leaves and tender stems of Sapium sebiferum are decoct and made into extract. Soak the corns in warm water to soften them, cut off the thick skin on the corns with knife after disinfection, prick the affected area with needle, wipe off the blood stains, apply the extract on the wounds, stick it with adhesive cloth, change medicine once a day, and pick out the black scab before changing the dressing (might be irritated initially). Generally, the cones will heal in three to six treatments.

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8.49  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.49.1  Sauropus bacciformis Chinese Name(s): ai jin, tao zi cao, jiao zhui fan, ai jin shou gong mu, hong guo cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Sauropus bacciformis (Sauropus bacciformis (Linn.) Airy Shaw [Agyneia bacciformis (Linn.) A. Juss.]). Morphology: The herb is annual or perennial and 14–60 cm tall. Its stems are creeping or obliquely ascending and solitary or multibranched from the base

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obliquely or flat. The branches are sharp angular or with narrow membranous wings. The whole plants are glabrous. The leaf blades are sub-succulent when fresh, membranous when dry, variable in shape, oblong, elliptic, obovate, rotund or lanceolate, 10–25 × 2–12 mm, apically obtuse or acute, mucronulate, basally rounded or obtuse, and sometimes cuneate, with obscure lateral veins. The petioles are about 1  mm long. The stipules are narrow triangular, about 2 mm long, and awned at the top. The flowers are monoecious. Male flowers: 1–2 mm in diameter and clustered in leaf axils. The pedicels are 1–1.5 mm in length. The sepals are broadly ovate or obovate, with adaxial gland pits and irregular crenate apex. There are six discoid glands, which are fleshy, opposite to sepals, and yellowish green. The stamens are 3–4 mm in length and filamentous. The female flowers are solitary in leaf axils and 3–4 mm in diameter. The pedicles are 1–1.5 mm long. The sepals are 2–2.5 mm long, oblong lanceolate, and apically acuminate, with adaxial gland pits and no disks. The ovaries are three-loculed, with three styles, which are segregated and bifid at the apex. The capsules are ovoid, 4–4.5 mm in diameter, 6 mm in height, red when young, and dehiscent into three bifid mericarps at maturity. The seeds are light yellow and 3.5 mm × 2 mm. Habitat: It grows in dry sandy soils or rocky soils, mostly in coastal areas. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, and Taiwan in China. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet, bland, and slightly astringent in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing heat and promoting diuresis, regulating QI, and resolving phlegm; it’s often used in the treatment of cough due to heat in lungs, trauma of the chest and ribs, hematuria, and urine turbidity. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.50  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.50.1  Sauropus spatulifolius Chinese Name(s): long li ye, long she ye Source: This medicine is made of the leaf blades of Sauropus spatulifolius (Sauropus spatulifolius Beille [Sauropus rostratus Miq.]). Morphology: The plant is a small shrub and 30–40  cm tall. Its branches are recurved or pendulous. The leaves are alternate, slightly fleshy, spatulate, obovate-­ oblong, or ovate, sometimes oblong, 5–10  ×  2.5–4  cm wide, apically rounded, basally cuneate or attenuate dark green or light blue green adaxially, and often pale near the midribs and lateral veins. The flowers are small, purple red, unisexual, and monoecious. Several male flowers cluster or form axillary cymes. The female flowers are often single or twin inserting in leaf axils. The male calyces are discoid, and female calyces are gyroscopic and apetalous. The capsules are as big as peas, with persistent calyx. The flowering is from February to October. Habitat: It’s mainly cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated in south China and native to Sumatra. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves are harvested all year round and dried in the shade (it should not be dried in the sun; otherwise, the leaves may become yellow and soft). Or when airing to 70% or 80% dry, overlay and tie the handle together, cover it with a cattail mat, and dry to the full. Medicinal Properties: The leaves are papery, ligulate, 6–9  cm long or over, 2.5–4 cm wide, blunt or rounded at the apex, cuneate or narrow at the base, entire on margins, dark green adaxially, often gray white spotted, yellow green abaxially, and prominent on midrib, with five to six pairs of lateral veins, whose branches are connate submarginally. It’s flexible in quality and not easy to break. It’s slightly odored, bland, or slightly bitter in taste. The products with large and complete leaves and dark green color are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bland and sweet in taste and neutral in property, belonging to the meridians of ling and stomach. Functions: Clearing heat and resolving phlegm, moistening lungs and intestine, and relieving cough; it’s often used in treatment of cough due to dryness of lungs, acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma, hemoptysis, thirst, tuberculosis, aphonia, sore throat, and constipation. Use and Dosage: 6–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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8.51  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.51.1  Securinega suffruticosa Chinese Name(s): ye di zhu, yi ye qiu Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Securinega suffruticosa (Securinega suffruticosa (Pall.) Rehd.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub, 1–3 m tall, and multibranched. Its leaf blades are papery, elliptic or long elliptic, sparsely obovate, 1.5–8 × 1–3 cm, apically acute to blunt, basally obtuse to cuneate, entire or mingled with irregular dentate or serrated teeth, and abaxially light green. The lateral veins are five to eight in pairs. The petioles are 2–8 mm long. The stipules are oval lanceolate, 1 mm long, and persistent. The flowers are small, dioecious, and clustered in axils of leaves. Male flowers: 3–18 in clusters. The pedicels are 2.5–5.5 mm long. There are usually five sepals, elliptic, 1–1.5 mm × 0.5–1.5 mm, and entire or obscurely serrulate. There are five stamens, with the filaments being 1–2.2 mm long and anthers being oval and 0.5–1 mm long. The pistils are cylindrical, 0.6–1 mm high, and apically two- to three-lobed. Female flowers: the pedicels are 2–15 mm long. There are five sepals, elliptic to oval, 1–1.5 mm long, subentire, one-veined, and carinate at the back. The disks are discoid, entire, or subentire. The ovaries are oval and three (approximately two)-locular. There are three styles, which are 1–1.8 mm long, free or connate at the base, and erect or recurved. The capsules are triquetrous-oblate, about 5 mm in diameter, light reddish brown at maturity, reticulated, and three-lobed. The pedicels are 2–15 mm long, often with persistent sepals at the base. The seeds are oval and plano-convex, about 3 mm long, brown, and minutely granular-verruculose. The flowering is from March to August, and fruiting is from June to November. Habitat: It grows in shrubs on hillsides and rivers. Distribution: It is distributed in Northeast China, North China, East China, and provinces and regions of Henan, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, etc., as well as in Russian Far East, Korean Peninsula, and Japan.

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Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and bitter in taste, neutral in property, and toxic. Functions: Dispelling pathogenic wind and activating blood circulation, tonifying kidneys, and strengthening tendons; it’s often used in treatment of facial paralysis, sequelae of polio, vertigo, deafness, neurasthenia, narcolepsy, and impotence. Use and Dosage: 3–6 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Examples: 1. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Facial paralysis  – acupoint injection of 3–4 mg of securinine nitrate, once a day, 12 times as a course of treatment. 2. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Sequelae of polio – acupoint injection (acupoint refers to handbook of acupuncture therapy) of 4–14  mg of securinine nitrate according to age and weight (0.2–0.3  mg/kg body weight) once a day,10–15 days as a course of treatment. After medication, the blood circulation, temperature, muscle strength, and function of the affected limbs can be improved. 3. Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Vertigo, deafness, decreased excitability of neurasthenia, and narcolepsy – 2 mg of securinine nitrate for subcutaneous or intramuscular injection, once a day, 10–15 days as a course of treatment.

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8.52  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.52.1  Securinega virosa Chinese Name(s): bai fan shu, yu yan mu, bai bei zi Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Securinega virosa (Securinega virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill. [Flueggea virosa (Willd.) Baill.]). Morphology: The plants are shrubs and 1–6 m tall. Its branchlets are longitudinally grooved, lenticellate, and glabrous throughout. The leaf blades are papery, elliptic, obovate, obovate or subcircular, 2–5  ×  1–3  cm, apically round to acute, cuspidate, basally obtuse to cuneate, marginally entire, and adaxially white green. The lateral veins are five to eight in pairs. The petioles are 2–9 mm long. The stipules are lanceolate, 1.5–3 mm long, and entire or slightly lacerated on margins. The flowers are small, yellowish, dioecious, and many clustered in leaf axils. The bracts are scaly and less than 1  mm long. Male flowers: the pedicels are slender and 3–6 mm long. There are five sepals, which are oval and 0.8–1.5 × 0.6–1.2 mm, and five stamens, whose filaments are 1–3  mm long and anthers are elliptic and 0.4–0.7 mm long. There are five discoid glands, which alternate with stamens. The pistils are usually tripartite, 0.8–1.4  mm high, and recurved at the apex. Female flowers: the inflorescences are (one-) three- to ten-flowered and sometimes solitary. The pedicels are 1.5–12 mm long. The sepals are the same as male flowers. The disks are annular and apically entire, surrounding the base of the ovary. The ovaries are oval and three-loculed, with three styles, which are 0.7–1.1 mm long, connate at the base, and bifid at the apex, with spreading or reflexed lobes. The capsules are berrylike, nearly subspherical, 3–5 mm in diameter, whitish when ripe, and indehiscent. The flowering is from March to August, and fruiting is from July to December. Habitat: It grows in hillside grasses. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and districts in east, south, and southwest China, as well as in southern and southeastern Asia, eastern and western Africa, and tropical Oceania. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are used freshly. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and astringent in taste, cool in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, relieving swelling and soothing pain, and reducing itching; it’s often used in treatment of acute filthy disease due to cold and heat scabies, injury, eczema, sores, and boils. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, the decoctum is used for washing, or herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.53  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.53.1  Speranskia cantonensis Chinese Name(s): guang zhou di gou ye, tou gu cao Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Speranskia cantonensis (Speranskia cantonensis (Hance) Pax et Hoffm.). Morphology: The plant is a subshrub or herb and 50–70 cm tall. Its leaves are papery, ovate or oval-elliptic to oval lanceolate, 2.5–9  ×  1–4  cm, apically acute, basally rounded or broadly cuneate, marginally serrate, dentate, or crenulate, with yellow glands at the apex of teeth, and pubescent on both sides. The lateral veins are four to five in pairs. The petioles are 1–3.5 cm long, pubescent, and apically yellow glandular. The inflorescences are racemes, 4–8 cm long, about 15 cm at fruiting, usually with 5–15 male flowers distally, four to ten female flowers proximally, and sometimes with one to two male flowers on both sides of female flowers in the middle part. The bracts are oval or oval-lanceolate, 1–2 mm long, and sparse pubescent, with one to two male flowers in the axil. The pedicels are 1–2 mm long. The sepals are ovate, 1.5 mm long, and apically acuminate. The petals are obcordate or obovate, less than 1 mm long, glabrous, and membranous. There are 10–12 stamens, with glabrous filaments. The disks are with five free glands. Female flowers: the pedicels are 1.5 mm long and 6 mm long at anthesis. The sepals are ovate-­lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm long, apically acute acuminate, outside sparse pubescent, and apetalous. The ovaries are spherical and ca. 2 mm in diameter, with verrucous protuberances and pubescence. There are three styles, each two divided, with pinnately lacerated lobes. The capsules are oblate and 7 mm in diameter, with tuberous protuberances. The flowering is from February to May, and fruiting is from October to December. Habitat: It grows in grassland shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Hebei, Shanxi, Gansu, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Guangxi, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan in China. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Dispelling rheumatism, clearing collaterals, dissolving blood stasis, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatism, arthralgia, abdominal mass, scrofula, furunculosis, and injury. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose. For external use, the herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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8.54  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.54.1  Vernicia fordii Chinese Name(s): you tong ye, san nian tong, yin zi tong, hu zi tong Source: This medicine is made of the leaves of Vernicia fordii (Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw [Aleurites fordii Hemsl.]). Morphology: The plant is a deciduous tree, 4–8 m tall, and milky. The branches are strong and glabrous. The leaves are alternate. The petioles are 4–12 cm long, with two pink glands on both sides of the apex. The leaves are ovate, 8–15 × 3–12 cm, basally cordate or truncated, entire, sparsely three-lobed, apically acute, and yellow brown pubescent on both sides when young. The flowers are monoecious and arranged in loose, terminal conical cymes and open without leaves. There are two to three sepals and five petals, which are white, with reddish stripes. There are 8–20 stamens, which are arranged in two rounds. The filaments are connate at the base. There are three to five ovaries, with one ovule per chamber, and three to five styles. The stigmas are two-lobed. The drupes are 4–6 cm in diameter, subspherical, apically acute, and glabrous on the surface. The seeds are with thick shell-like testae, which are broadly ovate and 2–3 cm long. The flowering is in May, and fruiting is from October to November. Habitat: It grows in mountains and valleys in sparse forests. Distribution: It is cultivated in all provinces and regions in south of the Yangtze River Basin, as well as in temperate regions of the world. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: Dry leaves of Vernicia fordii are mostly curled, crinkled, or broken. When flattened, the whole leaves are broadly oval, 8–15  ×  3–12  cm, basally cordate or sparsely truncated, with two purple-black glands on both sides of the petioles, entire on margins, sparsely inconspicuous three-lobed, apically acute or cuspidate, green brown on the surface, and light green brown at the back. The petioles are 4–12 cm long. It’s slightly odored and bland in taste. The products with complete body, leaves, and no impurities are better in quality. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet and pungent bitter in taste and cold in property. Functions: Deswelling and detoxification; it’s often used in treatment of carbuncle, erysipelas, scabies, chilblain, scald, and dysentery. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas or burned to ash for application. Note: The roots, seeds, and flowers are all used as medicine. The seeds are similar with the leaves in curative effects. The roots are often used in treatment of food accumulation, edema, asthma, scrofula, and roundworm. The flowers are used in external treatment of heat poisonous sores, pemphigus, and burns.

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8.55  Family: Euphorbiaceae 8.55.1  Vernicia montana Chinese Name(s): qian nian tong, mu you tong, zhou tong Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and resins of Vernicia montana (Vernicia montana Lour. [Aleurites montana (Lour.) Wils.]). Morphology: The plant is a deciduous tree and up to 20 m tall. Its branches are glabrous, with sparsely elevated lenticels. The leaves are broadly ovate, 8–20 × 6–18 cm, apically mucronate to acuminate, basally cordate to truncated, and entire or two- to five-lobed. The lobes are usually with cupular glands, pubescent on both surfaces when young, only abaxially pubescent along the base of nerves at maturity, and palmately five-veined. The petioles are 7–17 cm long and glabrous, and there are two stalked cupular glands at the top. Inflorescences occur with new leaves, which are dioecious or sometimes monoecious. The calyces are glabrous, ca. 1 cm long, and two- to three-lobed. The petals are white or purple red at the base and with purple-red nerve stripes, obovate, 2–3 cm long, and basally clawed. Male flowers: there are eight to ten stamens, the outer whorl of which are free, and the filaments of the inner whorl are connate at the lower half and hairy. Female flowers: the ovaries are densely brown pubescent, three-loculed, three-styled, and bipartite. The drupes are ovoid, 3–5 cm in diameter, longitudinally three-angular, between angles with sparsely reticulate wrinkles, and three-seeded, with compressed globose seeds and thicker verrucose seed coats. The flowering period is from April to May. Habitat: Most of the plants are cultivated artificially. They like to grow in warm sunny places. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions from southwest to southeast of China, as well as in countries of Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and southeast Asian countries. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves are harvested in summer and autumn, and the seeds are harvested in winter, and the resins are expelled for reserve. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Dispelling rheumatism; it’s often used in treatments of rheumatism, arthralgia, and scald. Use and Dosage: 10–20 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. The resins are applied to the affected area for external use.

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References 1. Xie ZW et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 460 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975. 2. Xie ZW et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 97 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975. 3. Xie ZW et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1: 195 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 1975.

Chapter 9

Medicinal Angiosperms of Daphniphyllaceae, Escalloniaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 9.1  Family: Daphniphyllaceae 9.1.1  Daphniphyllum calycinum 9.2  Family: Daphniphyllaceae 9.2.1  Daphniphyllum macropodum 9.3  Family: Daphniphyllaceae 9.3.1  Daphniphyllum oldhamii 9.4  Family: Escalloniaceae 9.4.1  Itea chinensis 9.5  Family: Escalloniaceae 9.5.1  Itea yunnanensis

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

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This chapter introduces five species of medicinal plants in two families, mainly including Daphniphyllum calycinum, Daphniphyllum macropodum, and Daphniphyllum oldhamii of Daphniphyllaceae and Itea chinensis and Itea yunnanensis of Escalloniaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

9.1  Family: Daphniphyllaceae 9.1.1  Daphniphyllum calycinum Chinese Name(s): ni er feng, lao hu er Source: This medicine is made of the roots and leaves of Daphniphyllum calycinum (Daphniphyllum calycinum Benth.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1.5–5 m tall. Its leaves are papery, broadly elliptic or obovate, 12–16 × 4–9 cm, apically obtuse or rounded, mucronate, basally broad cuneate, marginally entire and slightly inverted, green on both sides after drying, glossy on the surface, more or less pruinose on the back, and inconspicuously papillate. There are 8–11 pairs of lateral veins, which are visible adaxially and prominent abaxially. The petioles are 4–8 cm long, adaxially flat or slightly grooved, and about 2 mm in diameter. The inflorescences are racemes, axillary, and 2–3 cm long. The male pedicels are 8–10 mm long. The calyces are discoid, 4 mm in diameter, and three- to four-lobed, with broadly triangular lobes. There are nine to ten stamens, about 3  mm long, with anthers being oblong and laterally compressed, connectiva being exserted and apically inverted, and filaments being very short. The female pedicels are 5–6 mm long. The bracts are ovate and about 3–4 mm long. There are three to four sepals, which are broadly triangular and about 1.5 mm long. The ovaries are elliptic and 1.5–2  mm long, with short styles and two stigmas, which are erect and recurved at apex. The inflorescences are 4–5  cm long and densely arranged. The drupes are ovoid-ellipsoidal, small, about 7 mm long, glaucous, and tuberculate, with persistent stigmas at apex and persistent calyces at the base. The flowering is from April to June and fruiting from August to November. Habitat: It mostly grows in sparse forests or shrubs at altitudes of 60–850 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Hainan, Hong Kong, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangxi, Guizhou, etc., in China, as well as in countries of Vietnam and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves and roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, activating blood circulation, and relaxing tendons. It’s often used in treatment of cold, fever, tonsillitis, rheumatic

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arthralgia, swelling and pain of injury, fractures, snake bites, sores, and carbuncles. Use and Dosage: 12–18 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of herbs are mashed for application, or the decoctum is used for washing the affected areas with.

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9.2  Family: Daphniphyllaceae 9.2.1  Daphniphyllum macropodum Chinese Name(s): jiao rang mu, hu pi nan Source: This medicine is made of the leaves and seeds of Daphniphyllum macropodum (Daphniphyllum macropodum Miq.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 3–10 m tall. Its branchlets are stout and dark brown, with large orbicular leaf scars. The leaves are leathery, oblong to oblanceolate, 14–25 × 3–6.5 cm, apically acuminate, basally cuneate to broad cuneate, glossy adaxially, green after drying, pale green abaxially, without papillae, and sometimes slightly glaucous. The lateral veins are fine and dense, 12–18 in pairs, and prominent on both sides. The petioles are purple red, thick, and 3–6 cm long. The male inflorescences are 5–7 cm long. The male pedicels are about 0.5 cm long. There are eight to ten stamens. The length of anthers is two times as long as the width. The filaments are short, 1 mm long, dorsally compressed, and mucronate. The female inflorescences are 4.5–8 cm long. The pedicels are 3–5 mm long. The ovaries are oval, 2  mm long, and glaucous. The styles are very short. There are two stigmas, which are excurved and expanded. The drupes are oval, ca. 10 × 5–6 mm, with persistent stigmas at the top, rounded at the base, dark brown, and sometimes glaucous, with verrucous folds. The pedicels are 10–15 cm long and slender. The flowering is from March to May and fruiting from August to October. Habitat: It mostly grows in a broad-leaved forest at altitudes of 650–1200 m. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions on south of the Yangtze River Basin in China, as well as in countries of Japan and North Korea. Acquisition and Processing: The leaves and seeds are mostly used freshly. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Detumescence and detoxification. It’s often used in treatment of sores, boils, and furuncles.

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Use and Dosage: For external use, proper amounts of seeds and leaves are mashed and added with salt for application to the affected areas.

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9.3  Family: Daphniphyllaceae 9.3.1  Daphniphyllum oldhamii Chinese Name(s): hu pi nan, Sichuan hu pi nan, Nanning hu pi nan Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Daphniphyllum oldhamii (Daphniphyllum oldhamii (Hemsl.) Rosenth.). Morphology: The plant is a tree or rarely shrubs and 5–10 m tall. Its leaves are chartaceous, lanceolate, obovate-lanceolate, oblong or oblong-lanceolate, and 9–14 × 2.5–4 cm. The broadest part is usually in the upper part of the leaf, apically acute, acuminate or shortly caudate, basally cuneate or obtuse, marginally revolute, adaxially dark green and lustrous after drying, prominently glaucous abaxially, and small papillate. The lateral veins are slender, 8–15 in pairs, and protuberant on both sides, with reticular veins being apparently prominent on surface. The petioles are 2–3.5 cm long, slender, and sulcate adaxially. The male inflorescences are short and ca. 2–4 cm long. The pedicels are about 5 mm long and slender. The calyces are small, irregularly 4–6-parted, lobes being triangular-ovate, 0.5–1  mm long, and finely serrated. There are seven to ten stamens, with oval anthers of 2 mm long, and very short filaments of about 0.5 mm long. The female inflorescences are 4–6 cm long. The rachises and peduncles are slender. The pedicels are 4–7 mm long and slender. There are four to six sepals, which are lanceolate and dentate. The ovaries are about 1.5  mm long and pruinose. There are two stigmas, which are bifid, excurved, or circinate. The drupes are elliptic or obovate, about 8 mm in length and 6 mm in diameter, and dark brown to black, with inconspicuous verrucous protuberances, with persistent stigmas at apex, and with some or without persistent sepals at the base. The flowering is from March to May and fruiting from August to November. Habitat: It grows in mountain broad-leaved forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions on south of the Yangtze River Basin in China, as well as in countries of North Korea and Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Clearing heat and detoxicating, activating blood circulation, and dissipating blood stasis. It’s often used in treatment of cold, fever, sore throat, snake bite, fracture, and trauma. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of herbs are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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9.4  Family: Escalloniaceae 9.4.1  Itea chinensis Chinese Name(s): shu ci, lao shu ci Source: This medicine is made of the roots and flowers of Itea chinensis (Itea chinensis Hook. et Arn.). Morphology: The plant is a small tree and 4–10 m tall. Its young branches are yellow green and glabrous. The old branches are brown and longitudinally striate. The leaves are thin leathery, obovate or ovate elliptic, 5–12 (~15) × 3–6 cm, apically acute, basally cuneate, obscurely crenate-serrulate on the upper margin, repand or subentire, dark green adaxially, and light green abaxially. The midvein is impressed

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adaxially and distinctly raised abaxially. There are 4–5 pairs of lateral veins, which arecuately curve upward, connected near margin, and are glabrous on both sides. The petioles are 1–2 cm long, glabrous, and sulcate adaxially. The inflorescences are axillary racemes, usually shorter than leaves, 3–7 (~9) cm long, solitary or rarely two- or three-fascicled, and erect. The inflorescence axes and pedicels are pubescent. The flowers are numerous, two- or three-clustered, and rarely solitary. The pedicels are slender, about 2 mm long, and pubescent. The bracts are linear-subulate and 1–2 mm long. The hypanthia are shallow cupular and pubescent. The sepals are triangular lanceolate, 1.5 mm long, and puberulous. The petals are white, lanceolate, 2.5–3 mm long, erect at anthesis, slightly emarginate at apex, and glabrous. The stamens are subequal to or slightly longer than petals. The filaments are hairy. The ovaries are superior and densely villous. The stigmas are capitate. The capsules are oblong-lanceolate, 6–9 mm long, puberulous, and striate. The flowering is from March to May and fruiting from May to December. Habitat: It grows in forests and shrubs on mountain slopes. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Hong Kong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guangdong in China, as well as in countries of Bhutan, Laos, and Vietnam. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and flowers are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and warm in property. Functions: Dispelling wind and dampness, nourishing and strengthening, relieving cough, detoxicating, and reducing swelling; it’s often used in treatment of physical weakness, fatigue, postpartum pain due to pathogenic wind, injury, lumbago, leukorrhea, cough, and sore throat. Use and Dosage: 30–60 g per dose for roots and 18–21 g per dose for flowers, decocted in water and added with yellow rice wine and sugar. Take one time before and after dinner.

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9.5  Family: Escalloniaceae 9.5.1  Itea yunnanensis Chinese Name(s): dian shu ci, Yunnan shu ci Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Itea yunnanensis (Itea yunnanensis Franch.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 1–10  m tall. The young branches are yellow green, with longitudinal stripes. The leaves are thin leathery, oval or elliptic, 5–10 × 2.5–5 cm, apically acute or shortly acuminate, basally obtuse or rounded, marginally curved spinose-serrate, abaxially pale green, adaxially dark green, or glossy. The midveins are distinctly raised abaxially and impressed adaxially. The petioles are 5–15 mm long and sulcate adaxially. The inflorescences are terminal raceme, nodding to pendulous, up to 20 cm long. The inflorescence axes and pedicels are pubescent. The bracts are subulate and about 1 mm long. The flowers are numerous. The hypanthia are shallowly cupular. The sepals are triangular lanceolate, 1–1.5 mm long, and puberulent. The petals are light green, linear lanceolate, about 2.5 mm long, erect at anthesis, and slightly recurved at the apex. The stamens are often shorter than petals. The filaments are about 2 mm long and glabrous. The anthers are oblong. The ovaries are semi-inferior and glabrous, with two carpels, which are close. The styles are solitary, with longitudinal grooves. The stigmas are capitate. The capsules are conical, 5–6  mm long, and glabrous. The flowering and fruiting periods are from May to December. Habitat: It grows in the coniferous and broad-leaved forest and the understory forest at 1100–3000 m above sea level. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Yunnan, Sichuan, Xizang, Guizhou, and Guangxi in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and washed and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s sweet in taste and neutral in property. Functions: Clearing heat and relieving cough and nourishing liver and kidneys; it’s often used in treatment of cough due to labor deficiency, sore throat, red eyes, injury and trauma, etc. Use and Dosage: 5–10 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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Chapter 10

Medicinal Angiosperms of Hydrangeaceae Huagu Ye, Chuyuan Li, Wencai Ye, Feiyan Zeng, Fangfang Liu, Yuanyuan Liu, Faguo Wang, Yushi Ye, Lin Fu, and Jianrong Li

Contents 10.1  F  amily: Hydrangeaceae 10.1.1  Deutzia setchuenensis 10.2  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.2.1  Dichroa febrifuga 10.3  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.3.1  Hydrangea chinensis 10.4  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.4.1  Hydrangea macrophylla 10.5  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.5.1  Hydrangea paniculata 10.6  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.6.1  Hydrangea strigosa

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H. Ye (*) · F. Zeng · F. Wang · Y. Ye · L. Fu · J. Li South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] C. Li Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited, Guangzhou, China e-mail: [email protected] W. Ye Jinan University, Guangzhou, China F. Liu Huizhou Hospital Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huizhou, China Y. Liu Faculty of Military Language Education, University of Defence Technology, Changsha, China

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544 10.7  F  amily: Hydrangeaceae 10.7.1  Pileostegia tomentella 10.8  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.8.1  Pileostegia viburnoides 10.9  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.9.1  Schizophragma integrifolium References

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This chapter introduces nine species of medicinal plants in one family, mainly including Deutzia setchuenensis, Dichroa febrifuga, Hydrangea chinensis, Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea paniculata, Hydrangea strigosa, Pileostegia tomentella, Pileostegia viburnoides, and Schizophragma integrifolium of Hydrangeaceae. This chapter introduces the scientific names, medicinal names, morphologies, habitats, distributions, acquisition and processing methods of these medicinal plants, the content of medicinal properties, therapeutic effects, and usage and dosage of these medicinal plants and attaches unedited colored pictures and pictures of partial herbal medicines of each species.

10.1  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.1.1  Deutzia setchuenensis Chinese Name(s): Sichuan sou shu, chuan sou shu Source: This medicine is made of the branches, leaves, and fruits of Deutzia setchuenensis (Deutzia setchuenensis Franch.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and about 2 m tall. Its leaves are papery or membranous, ovate, ovate-oblong, or oval lanceolate, 2–8 × 1–5 cm, apically acuminate or caudate, basally rounded or broad cuneate, marginally finely serrated, dark green adaxially, three- to five (or six)-rayed stellate hairy, yellow green abaxially, and four- to seven (or eight)-rayed stellate hairy. There are three to four lateral veins, which are prominent abaxially. The reticular veins are not prominent. The petioles are 3–5 mm long and stellate hairy. The inflorescences are cymes, 1.5–4 cm long, 2–5 cm in diameter, and 6–20-flowered. The peduncles are slender and stellate hairy. The buds are oblong or oval-shaped. The corolla diameter is 1.5–1.8 cm. The pedicels are 3–10 mm long. The petals are white, oval-shaped, and 5–8 × 2–3 cm. The hypanthia are cupular, 3 × 3 mm, and densely stellate hairy. The lobes are broad triangular, 1.5 × 2–3 mm, apically acute, densely stellate hairy outside, and induplicate in buds. The outer stamens are 5–6 mm long, with filaments being two-dentate at the apex and the teeth being oblong, spreading, equaling, or exceeding anthers. The anthers are shortly petiolated. The inner stamens are shorter, with bifid filaments at the apex. The anthers are borne near middle of filaments abaxially. There

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are three styles, which are about 3 mm long. The capsules are spherical and 4–5 mm in diameter. The persistent calyx lobes are incurved. The flowering is from April to July, and fruiting is from June to September. Habitat: It grows in a valley under a sparse forest or by a stream. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces of Sichuan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian, and Guangdong in China. Acquisition and Processing: The branches, leaves, and fruits are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and slightly cold in property. Functions: Removing heat and relieving fidgetiness, promoting urination, and reducing diuresis. It’s often used to treat of external heat and dampness, body heat and thirst, stranguria, difficult urination, bladder heat, infantile malnutrition, rheumatism, arthralgia, and sore toxin due to damp-heat. Use and Dosage: 10–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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10.2  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.2.1  Dichroa febrifuga Chinese Name(s): chang shan, shu qi, tu chang shan, bai chang shan Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Dichroa febrifuga (Dichroa febrifuga Lour.). Morphology: The plant is a deciduous shrub and 1–2 m tall. Its stems are cylindrical or indistinct four-angular and usually purple. The leaves are opposite, papery, usually elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 6–22 × 4–8  cm, apically acuminate, basally cuneate-tipped or attenuate, marginally serrated, often blue black when dry, and occasionally sparsely pubescent abaxially. The petioles are 5 cm long. The inflorescences are corymbose panicle and terminal or axillary on upper leaves. The flowers are bisexual, blue, about 8 mm in diameter, and without sterile radiation flowers. The calyces are obconical and five- to six-lobed. The petals are oval and inverted. There are 10–20 stamens, whose filaments are often spotted. There are four to six styles, which are clavate. The berries are subglobular, about 5 mm in diameter, and blue. The flowering is from March to May, and fruiting is from August to September. Habitat: It grows in the shady wetlands and has been cultivated. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions on south of the Yangtze River, as well as in countries of Indonesia, India, the South China Peninsula, Myanmar, and the Philippines. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in autumn, removed the fibrous roots, washed, and dried in the sun. Medicinal Properties: The products are cylindrical, often curved and twisted, with branches, 8–15 × 0.5–2 cm, brown or yellow, with fine longitudinal lines, and easy to peel, showing smooth, pale-yellow xylems. It’s hard in quality and not easy to break, and dustlike substances are scattered when broken. It’s yellow white at the cross section, with radial texture. It’s odorless and bitter in tastes. The products with hard quality and light-yellow sections are better. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste, cold in property, and a bit toxic, belonging to the meridians of the lungs and liver. Functions: Stopping malaria and relieving fever. It’s often used in treatment of Plasmodium vivax, quartan malaria, and falciparum malaria. Use and Dosage: 5–10 g, decocted in water for oral use. Pregnant women should not take it, and the elderly and the weak should use it with caution. Prescription Examples: Clinical diagnoses and symptoms: Malaria – Dichroa febrifuga, Areca catechu, Rhizoma anemarrhenae, 9 g each, Fritillaria thunbergii and Amomum tsao-ko, 6 g each, smoked plum (three), fresh ginger (three slices), and red dates (three), decocted in water. Take the decoctum 4 h before attack.

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10.3  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.3.1  Hydrangea chinensis Chinese Name(s): zhong guo xiu qiu, xia ban xiu qiu, san xing xiu qiu, lv ban xiu qiu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Hydrangea chinensis (Hydrangea chinensis Maxim.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 0.5–2 m tall. Its leaves are thin papery to papery, oblong or narrowly elliptic, sometimes oblanceolate, 6–12 × 2–4 cm, apically acuminate to short acuminate, caudate to mucronate, basally cuneate, and marginally denticulate to roughly serrate above the middle, with both surfaces being sparsely pubescent or glabrous except along the veins. The lateral veins are six to seven in pairs. The petioles are 0.5–2 cm long and pubescent. The inflorescences are umbellate or subcorymbose, terminal, five- or three-branched, and pubescent. There are three to four sterile sepals, which are elliptic, oval, obovate or oblate, 1.1–3 × 1–3 cm in fruit, and entire or few denticulate on margins. The pregnant calyces are cupular and 0.5–1.5 × 1.5–2 mm. The lobes are lanceolate or triangular ovate and 0.5–2 mm long. The petals are yellow, oval or oblanceolate, 3–3.5 mm long, apically slightly acute, and basally shortly clawed. There are 10–11 stamens, which are subequal in length and 3–4.5 mm when blooming. The ovaries are ca. one-half or more superior with three to four styles. The capsules are ovoid, 3.5–5  mm long, 3–3.5 × 2–2.5 mm, with projected apical part of 1.5–2.5 mm, and slightly longer than hypanthia. The seeds are light brown, ellipsoid, ovoid, or subglobose, slightly compressed, 0.5–1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, and wingless, with reticulate veins. The flowering is from May to June, and fruiting is from September to October. Habitat: It grows near streams, valleys, under sparse forests, and shrubs. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, and Guizhou in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are dug up in autumn, sliced, and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s slightly pungent and bitter in taste and cool in property. Functions: Promoting blood circulation and relieving pain, preventing malaria, and clearing heat and diuresis; it’s often used in treatment of injury, fracture, malaria, headache, measles, and stranguria. Use and Dosage: 3–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh roots are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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10.4  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.4.1  Hydrangea macrophylla Chinese Name(s): xiu qiu, ba xian hua, fen tuan hua Source: This medicine is made of the whole plants of Hydrangea macrophylla (Hydrangea macrophylla (Thunb.) Ser.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1–4 m tall. Its leaves are papery or nearly leathery, obovate or broadly elliptic, 6–15 × 4–11.5 cm, apical acute, mucronate, basally obtuse-rounded or broadly cuneate, marginally roughly serrate above the base, glabrous on both sides or sparsely curled pubescent only along the midvein abaxially, and often a little hirsute between axils. The lateral veins are six to eight in pairs, with reticulate veinlets, and obvious on both sides. The petioles are stout, 1–3.5 cm long, and glabrous. The inflorescences are umbellate corymbose cymes,

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subspherical, 8–20 cm in diameter, shortly pedunculated, with strong branches, subequal in length, and densely compressed pubescent. The flowers are dense and mostly sterile. There are four sterile sepals, which are subrounded or broadly ovate, 1.4–2.4 × 1–2.4 cm, and pink, pale blue, or white. There are few pregnant flowers, which are 2–4 mm pedunculated. The hypanthia are obconical, 1.5–2 mm long, with ovate triangular lobes, and about 1  mm in length. The petals are oblong and 3–3.5 mm in length. There are ten stamens, which are subequal in length and slightly exerted or not. The anthers are oblong and about 1 mm in length. The ovaries are one-half or more inferior, with three styles, which are about 1.5  mm at fruiting period. The stigmas are slightly enlarged and semi-annular. The capsules are immature, long gyroscopic, and about 4.5 mm with the styles, and the projected apical part is 1  mm, about one-third the length of capsule. The flowering is from June to August. Habitat: It’s cultivated. Distribution: It is cultivated in gardens or in folk in China, as well as in countries of Japan and North Korea. Acquisition and Processing: The whole plants are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter and slightly pungent in taste, cool in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Clearing heat and preventing malaria. It’s often used in treatment of malaria, palpitation, and restless due to heat of the heart. Use and Dosage: 9–12 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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10.5  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.5.1  Hydrangea paniculata Chinese Name(s): yuan zhui xiu qiu, shui ya mu, tu chang shan Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Hydrangea paniculata (Hydrangea paniculata Sieb.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub or small tree and 1–5 m tall. Its leaves are papery, two-opposite or three-verticillate, oval or elliptic, 5–14 × 2–6.5 cm, apically acuminate or acute, mucronate, basally rounded or broadly cuneate, marginally densely recurved serrate, adaxially glabrous or sparsely strigose, and abaxially appressed villous along veins. The lateral veins are six to seven in pairs, slightly curved adaxially, with densely reticulate veinlets, and prominent abaxially. The petioles are 1–3 cm in length. The inflorescences are paniculate cymes, pyramidal,

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up to 26 cm, and densely pubescent on peduncles and branches. The sterile flowers are numerous and white. There are four sepals, which are broadly elliptic or subcircular, unequal, 1–1.8 × 0.8–1.4 cm in fruit, apically rounded or slightly concave, and entire. The pregnant hypanthia are gyroscopic and about 1.1  mm long, with short triangular lobes of about 1 mm long. The petals are white, oval or oval lanceolate, and 2.5–3  cm long. The stamens are unequal in length, 4.5  mm long, and shorter than petals. The anthers are subcircular and about 0.5 mm long. The ovaries are half-inferior, with three styles, which are subulate, about 1 mm long, straight, and connate at the base. The stigmas are small and capitate. The capsules are elliptic and 4–5.5 × 3–3.5 mm, and the projected apical part is conical. The flowering is from July to August, and fruiting is from October to November. Habitat: It grows near streams or wetlands. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Anhui, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan in China, as well as in Japan. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent in taste, cool in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Preventing malaria, clearing heat, relieving swelling, and regulating the middle warmer; it’s often used in treatment of malaria, food accumulation, and distention of the chest and abdomen. Use and Dosage: 6–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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10.6  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.6.1  Hydrangea strigosa Chinese Name(s): la lian xiu qiu, tu chang shan, yang er duo shu, dao luan la lian xiu qiu, chang ye la lian xiu qiu, ba xian la lian xiu qiu Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Hydrangea strigosa (Hydrangea strigosa Rehd.). Morphology: The plant is a shrub and 1–3 m tall. Its leaves are papery, oblong, ovate-lanceolate or obovate-oblanceolate, 8–28 × 2–10  cm, apically acuminate, basally cuneate, obtuse or circular, marginally with hard-pointed small teeth or small serrated teeth, adaxially dark brown after drying, sparsely strigose to subglabrous, and abaxially gray brown strigose along the veins. The midvein is strong, flat above, and raised below. The lateral veins are seven to ten in pairs, arcuately extending along the margins. The petioles are 1–7 cm long and strigose. The inflorescences are corymbose cymes, large, up to 28 cm in diameter, slightly arcuate at the apex, branches spreading, and gray-white strigose. There are four to five sterile sepals, which are broadly oval, broadly elliptic or subcircular, and 1.3–2.7 × 1.1–2.5 cm. The pregnant flowers are light purple red. The hypanthia are campanulate and ca. 2 mm, with triangular lobes of about 0.5 mm in length. The petals are long oval, 2–2.5 mm, slightly connate at the beginning, and then separated. The stamens are unequal and 3–6 mm. The anthers are oblong and ca. 0.5 mm. The ovaries are inferior with two styles, which are 2  mm at fruiting period, subclavate, and erect or excurved. The capsules are urceolus, 3–3.5 mm in diameter, truncate at the apex, and rounded at the base. The flowering is from July to August, and fruiting is from November to December. Habitat: It grows under forests and by streams. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Hunan, Hubei, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Guizhou in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent in taste, cool in property, and a little toxic. Functions: Preventing malaria, clearing heat, relieving swelling, and regulating the middle warmer; it’s often used in treatment of malaria, food accumulation, and distention of the chest and abdomen. Use and Dosage: 6–9 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use.

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10.7  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.7.1  Pileostegia tomentella Chinese Name(s): xing mao guan gai teng, xing mao qing mian hua Source: This medicine is made of the roots of Pileostegia tomentella (Pileostegia tomentella Hand.-Mazz.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen scandent shrub and up to 16 m long. Its leaves are leathery, oblong or obovate-oblong, sparsely oblanceolate, 5–10 (~18) × 2.5–5 (~8) cm, apically prominent acute or broad acute, basally rounded or cordate by slightly concave near petiole, sparsely with the most distal two leaves on branchlets being broad cuneate, marginally subentire or triangular serrate or irregularly undulate, and slightly revolute. The tender leaves are sparsely stellate hairy, then

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glabrescent, gray greenish when dry or yellow green, densely hairy abaxially, and especially hairy on the veins. There are 8–13 pairs of lateral veins. The petioles are 1.2–1.5  cm in length. The inflorescences are corymbose panicle, terminal, and 10–25 cm in length and width. The bracts are linear or subulate, 5–10 × 1–2 mm, and stellate hairy. The flowers are white. The pedicels are about 2 mm long. The hypanthia are cupular, about 2 mm high, with triangular lobes, and sparsely stellate hairy. The petals are ovate, about 2 mm long, caducous, and glabrous. There are eight to ten stamens, with the filaments being 5–6  mm long, styles being about 1.5 mm long, and stigmas being conical, which are four- to six-lobed and hairy. The capsules are gyroscopic, flat-topped, ca. 4 mm in diameter, sparsely stellate hairy, with persistent styles and stigmas, angular, and dark brown. The seeds are small, about 2 mm with wings, and brown. The flowering is from March to August, and fruiting is from September to December. Habitat: It grows in mountainous broad-leaved forests and riverside, scandent trees, or rocks. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Hong Kong, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, and Jiangxi in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s pungent and bitter in taste and warm in property. Functions: Clearing pathogenic wind and dampness, dispelling blood stasis, and relieving pain; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatism arthralgia, pain in waist and leg, injury, fracture, traumatic bleeding, carbuncle, and sore. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, fresh roots are mashed and applied to the affected areas.

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10.8  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.8.1  Pileostegia viburnoides Chinese Name(s): guan gai teng, qing mian hua teng Source: This medicine is made of the roots, vines, and leaves of Pileostegia viburnoides (Pileostegia viburnoides Hook. f. et Thoms.). Morphology: The plant is an evergreen scandent shrub and 15  m long. Its branchlets are cylindrical, gray or grayish brown, and glabrous. The leaves are opposite, thin leathery, elliptic oblanceolate or long elliptic, 10–18 × 3–7 cm, apically acuminate or acute, basally cuneate or broadly cuneate, marginally entire or slightly undulate, often slightly revolute, sometimes sparsely serrated distally, green or dark green adaxially, lustrous, glabrous, yellow green abaxially after drying, glabrous or pubescent only at the junction of the main vein and lateral veins, and occasionally sparse stellate pubescent. There are seven to ten pairs of lateral veins on each side, which are concave or flat above and prominent below. The third-order veinlets are inconspicuous and sparse. The petioles are 1–3 cm long. The inflorescences are corymbose panicle, terminal, 7–20 × 5–25 cm, and glabrous or slightly brownish rusty pubescent. The bracts are linear lanceolate, 4–5 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, glabrous, and brown. The flowers are white. The pedicels are 3–5 mm long. The hypanthia are conical and about 1.5 mm long, with lobes being triangular and glabrous. The petals are ovate and about 2.5 mm long. There are eight to ten stamens, which are with slender filaments of 4–6 mm long. The styles are about 1, 3, and 5 mm glabrous. The stigmas are conical and four- to six-lobed. The capsules are conical, 2–3 mm long, and five- to ten-ribbed or five- to ten-ridged. The flowering is from July to August, and fruiting is from September to December. Habitat: It grows in valley woods, often scandent on trees or stone walls.

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Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Taiwan, Fujian, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Sichuan, Yunnan, etc., in China, as well as in Ryukyu Islands of Japan, Vietnam, and India. Acquisition and Processing: The roots, vines, and leaves are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bitter in taste and warm in property. Functions: Clearing pathogenic wind and dampness, dispelling blood stasis, relieving pain, and curing fractures; it’s often used in treatment of lumbar and leg pain and rheumatism numbness, as well as in external treatment of injury, fracture, and traumatic bleeding. Use and Dosage: 15–30 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. For external use, proper amounts of the fresh products are mashed and applied to the affected areas. Prescription Example: Clinical symptoms and diagnoses: Traumatic bleeding  – the dried vines, root barks, or leaves are made into powder and applied to the affected areas.

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10.9  Family: Hydrangeaceae 10.9.1  Schizophragma integrifolium Chinese Name(s): zuan di feng, quan ye zuan di feng, tong ye teng, li jin teng Source: This medicine is made of the roots and stems of Schizophragma integrifolium (Schizophragma integrifolium Oliv.). Morphology: The plant is a woody vine. Its leaves are papery, elliptic, long elliptic or broadly ovate, 8–20 × 3.5–12.5 cm, apically acuminate or acute, narrow or broad mucronate, basally broadly cuneate, round to shallow-cordate, marginally entire or distally more or less serrate, adaxially glabrous, abaxially sparsely pubescent along the veins, glabrescent, and hirsute at the vein axils. The lateral veins are seven to nine in pairs, arched or slightly straight proximally, and raised abaxially. The veinlets are reticulate, dense, and slightly raised abaxially. The petioles are

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2–9 cm long and glabrous. The inflorescences are corymbose cymes, densely brown, compact pubescent, and sparse pubescent after fruiting. The sterile sepals are solitary or occasionally two to three pieces clustered on petioles, oval lanceolate, lanceolate or broadly elliptic, 3–7 × 2–5 cm, and yellow white. The pregnant hypanthia are gyroscopic, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 mm, and slightly pointed at the base. The lobes are triangular and about 0.5 mm long. The petals are long-ovate, 2.5–3 mm long, and apically obtuse. The stamens are subequal and 4.5–6 mm after anthesis. The anthers are subglobose and ca. 0.5  mm. The ovaries are subinferior, with the styles and stigmas being about 1 mm long. The capsules are campanulate to turbinate, small, and 6.5–8 × 3.5–4.5 mm. The flowering is from June to July, and fruiting is from October to November. Habitat: It grows in sparse forests on hillsides or on the edges of forests. Distribution: It is distributed in provinces and regions of Hainan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangdong in China. Acquisition and Processing: The roots and vines are harvested in summer and autumn and dried in the sun. Natural Taste and Meridian Tropism: It’s bland in taste and cool in property. Functions: Relaxing tendons and activating collaterals, dispelling pathogenic wind, and promoting blood circulation; it’s often used in treatment of rheumatism and pain of muscle bone and limb joints. Use and Dosage: 9–15 g per dose, decocted in water for oral use. Prescription Example: Clinical symptoms and diagnoses: Rheumatism, tendons, and bone pain – 15 g of Schizophragma integrifolium, 30  g of Kalimeris indica, 9  g of Achyranthes bidentata, 30 g of loquat root, 15 g of Saururus chinensis, and 90 g of lean pork, boiled with sweet wine and taken orally.

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Suggested Readings 1. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (Part 1) [S], The Medicine Science and Technology Press of China; 2015. 2. Chinese medicinal plants, Vol. 1–30 [M], China Chemical Industry Press; 2015–2020. 3. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 1 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1975. 4. Xie ZW, et al. Compilation of The National Chinese Herbal Medicine, Vol. 2 [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House; 1975. 5. Editorial Committee of Chinese Materia Medica of Guangdong. Chinese Materia Medica of Guangdong, Vol. 1 [M]. Guangzhou: Guangdong Science & Technology Press; 1994. 6. Editorial Committee of Chinese Materia Medica of Guangdong. Chinese Materia Medica of Guangdong, Vol. 2 [M]. Guangzhou: Guangdong Science & Technology Press; 1994. 7. Ye HG, Zeng FY et al. Medicinal plants of south china [M]. Wuhan: Huazhong University of Science and Technology Press, 2013. 8. Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine. Hunan Chinese Materia Medica, Vol. 1 [M]. Changsha: Hunan People’s Publishing House; 1962. 9. Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine. Hunan Chinese Materia Medica, Vol. 2 [M]. Changsha: Hunan People’s Publishing House; 1962. 10. Hunan Academy of Chinese Medicine. Hunan Chinese Materia Medica, Vol. 3 [M]. Changsha: Hunan People’s Publishing House; 1962. 11. Wu ZY et al. List of traditional Chinese medicine resources in Yunnan [M]. Beijing: Science Press, 1993. 12. China National Traditional Chinese Medicine Corporation. Main Record of Chinese medicine Resources in China [M]. Beijing: Science Press, 1994. 13. Fang D et al. List of medicinal plants in Guangxi [M]. Nanning: Guangxi People’s Publishing House, 1986. 14. National Chinese Medicine Authority “Chinese Materia Medica” Editorial Board. Chinese Materia Medica: Mongolian Medicine Volume [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press; 2005. 15. National Chinese Medicine Authority “Chinese Materia Medica” Editorial Board. Chinese Materia Medica: Uighur Medicine Volume [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Science and Technology Press; 2005. 16. Yi SY et al. List of medicinal plants in Chongqing [M]. Chongqing: Chongqing Press, 2009. 17. China National Traditional Chinese Medicine Corporation. The Chinese Traditional Medicine Resource [M]. Beijing: Science Press, 1995. 18. China National Traditional Chinese Medicine Corporation. The Chinese Traditional Medicine Resource Records [M]. Beijing: Science Press, 1994. 19. Liang GL, Yi SY et al. Wild medicinal plant resources in Jinfo Mountain [M]. Beijing: China Science and Technology Press, 2013. 20. Chen SC, Tan J, Dai CY et al. Medicinal Flora of the three gorges of the Yangtze River [M]. Chongqing: Chongqing University Press, 2016. 21. Wan DG. Sichuan authentic Chinese herbal Materia Medica [M]. Chengdu: Sichuan Science and Technology Press, 2005. 22. Li YH et al. Field handbook of medicinal plant in Xinjiang [M]. Urumqi: Xinjiang People’s Saitary Press, 2013. 23. Zhu YC. Medicinal plants in North China [M]. Harbin: Heilongjiang Science and Technology Publishing House, 1989. 24. Editorial Committee of Flora of Chinese Academy of Sciences. The Flora of China, Vol. 1–80 (126 volumes.) [M]. Beijing: Science Press; 1959–2004.

Correction to: Common Chinese Materia Medica – Volume 3 Huagu Ye

Correction to: Common Chinese Materia Medica Volume 3 https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8 The Front matter was inadvertently published with error. The funding information “B&R Book Program” has been updated in the FM. The book have been updated with these changes.

The updated version of the book can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8

© Chemical Industry Press 2022 H. Ye et al. (eds.), Common Chinese Materia Medica, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-5880-8_11

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