MATERIA MEDIGA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 191 
are three or four species. All these have nearly the same 
medical properties. The fruit is globular and blue. 
Su Sune [11th cent.]:—The mai men tung has green, 
persistent leaves resembling those of the so ts‘ao [Cyperus. 
‘See 59] and about a foot long. The root is yellowish white, 
fibrous, with roundish tubers. In the 4th month the plant 
opens pale red flowers, resembling those of the hung liao 
Polygonum). The fruits are globular, blue. That sort 
which grows in Kiang nan [South of the Yang ts, App. 
124] has large leaves. The best drug is produced in Wu 
[Kiang su, App. 389]. a 
Li Sui-cueyx :—In ancient times the people used [the 
called PZ men tung. Other names $M pu lei, BH TG 
At Pekin jopogon spicatus, Ker., is cultivated 
Under the i men tung. Under the same Chinese 
‘Mame this plant is represented in the Ch. [XI, 10]. The 
‘description in the P. agrees. See also Kiu huang, LI, 6. 
Lour., Fl. cochin., 50:—Commelina medica (Aneilema 
: medicum, R. Br., an obscure plant). Sinice : me muen tum. 
Tubera in frequenti usu medico. Sapor subdulcis, odor 
 ‘Tarar, Cat., 38:—Mai men tung. Radix Aneilematis 
- Gavorn [27] describes and figures the oblong tubers of 
‘the mai men tung.—Hans. [Se. pap» 257] figures the same 
tubers, and identifies the mai men tung with Ophiopogon 
J@ponicus, Ker.—P. Swrru, 162, 17, 194. a 
In the Rep. on Trade, Chin. M. Cust., for 1880 [p. 141], 
there are interesting details regarding the cultivation of the 
mai men tung near Ning po and other places. 
