230 BOTANICON SINICUM. 
good quality. In Pei pu they dry it in the sun. That 
dried by fire appears slightly charred and is not eaten by 
worms. 
Su Kune [7th cent.]:—This plant in its stem, leaves 
and seeds resembles the yang ti [Rumex. See 193], but 
its stem grows from six to seven feet high. It is easily 
broken and of a sour taste. The stalks are much eaten in 
a raw state. The leaves are coarse, long and thick. The 
root is red and resembles that of an old yang ti (Rumez) 
root. In shape it is like a bowl, two feet long. Its nature 
is soft and moist, and it is easily destroyed by worms. That — : 
dried by artificial heat is durable. It is dried by means 
of heated stones on which are placed the roots cut in slices. | 
Being thus heated for a day, a hole is made in each piece, 
through which they are strung together. Now the best 
drug comes from Tang chou [in Sz ch‘uan or Kan su, 
App. 381], Liang chou [in Kan su, App. 189], Si Kiang 
[Kukonor, App. 300], Shu [Sz ch‘uan, 292]. It is also 
found north of Yu [present Peking, App. 411], but this is 
smaller in size, and in point of strength inferior to that a 
from Shu. What T‘ao Hune-Kina says about the ta huang 
from Shu being inferior to that of Lung si is incorrect. 
Su Sone [11th cent.]:—The ta huang is now produced — 
in all the prefectures of Shu ch‘uan [Sz ch‘uan, App. 292], 
Ho tung [Shan si, App. 80] and Shen si [present Shen le 
and Kan su, App. 284]. But the drug from Shu, with 
fine veins, is the best. Next comes that from Ts‘in [in — 
Kan su, App. 358] and Lung [in Shen si, App. 215], ih : 
perhaps Lung si [in Kan su, App. 216] is meant. This 
is called +: 7K HH Tu fan (Tibetan) ta huang. The ta 
huang plant begins to grow in the Ist month. Its leaves 
resemble those of the pi ma (Ricinus) and are as large a5 4 
fan. The root resembles that of the ya [Colocasia. See 
261], the largest is of the size of a bowl and one or two feet 
