MATERIA MEDICA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 187 
in N. China and in Sz ch‘uan, which is of a superior 
quality. It has a square stem with large joints. Leaves 
opposite, resembling those of the hien [ Amarantus blitum. See 
256], whence the plant is also called hy $i ZR shan hien ts‘ai. 
The seeds resemble the small vermin found on rats, and 
are hirsute. They are attached along the stem and hang 
down. Root, leaves and stem used in medicine, the leaves 
are eaten, 
Ch, XI, 20:—WNiu si. Two drawings. Achyranthes 
probably intended. — Kin huang, XLVI, 4:—Shan hien ts‘at 
Or niu si. 
Lovr., Fl. cochin., 124:—Cyathula geniculata. Caulis 
: herbaceus . . geniculatus. Cochinchina. Sinice: new sz. 
th Sinis inveniuntur dux planta, quae eodem nomine dignos- 
cuntur. Has ego non vidi, nisi pictas in herbario sinensi. 
Una illarum similem habitum portat, videturque tam genere, 
quam specie cum cochinchinensi convenire. 
Gavcer [30] describes and figures the root of the niu si. 
He means that it belongs to Achyranthes aspera, L. (allied 
to Cyathula. Order Amarantacee). ‘ 
Tatar., Cat., 41:—Miu si. Radix Pupalie (Cyathule) 
geniculate ?—P, Surrn, 180. 
Henry, Chin. pl. 314, 315:—Niu si in Hu pei, 
Achyranthes bidentata, Bl. The same name also applied to 
Polygonum Jjiliforme, Thbg. 
The description of the niu si in the P. agrees in a 
-Seneral way with Achyranthes. 
: Cust. Med., p. 24 (39):—Niu si.exported 1885 from 
_ Tien tsin 1,954 piculs,—p. 68 (41), 66 (12), from Han kow 
‘612 Piculs, besides this 1,030 piculs of Ch‘uan (Sz ch‘uan) 
mu s,—p, 46 (23), from Che foo 42 piculs,—p. 58 (14), 
from | chang 12 piculs. 
