MATERIA MEDICA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 237 
CHEN classes the fung k‘ui with the poisonous drugs. The 
other ancient authors consider it non-poisonous. 
Su Kune [7th cent.]:—The root and the leaves resemble 
those of the kui (Malva). Flowers, seeds and root are 
' fragrant. The odour [or taste] resembles that of the fang Jeng 
[Siler or Peucedanum, See 81], hence the name Fang kui, 
The plant is found east of the Wang ch‘u shan mountain, 
which lies in the prefecture’ of Siang yang [in Hu pei. App. 
_ 880, 3806], but sparsely. It grows also in Hing chou [in 
Shen si, App. 66] and westward and southward in the 
country of Shu [Sz ch‘uan]. The drug from Hing chou is 
the best. — 
Su Sune [11th cent.]:—Now this plant is found in 
Siang yang. The author knows nothing about its growing 
in the other localities [mentioned by Su Kune]. The leaves 
of the fang k‘ui resemble mallow-leaves. Three leaves are on 
the same stalk (petiole). A number of branches spring from 
the same point. Between them a stalk pushes upward which 
at the top bears flowers in the mode of the onion and the 
king tien [Sedum. See 205]. These flowers are white and 
open in the 6th month. Afterwards the fruit is produced. 
The root resembles that of the fang feng [v. supra] in its 
fragrance and taste. When it is dug up in the proper season 
it sinks in water. Only the rotten root floats on the surface. 
T‘ao Huno-Kine’s statement regarding the resemblance of 
the fang k‘ui root to the lang tu [see 132] is wrong. 
Li Sni-cHen agrees with Su Sune. In the time of the 
_ Trang dynasty the fang k‘ui was an article of tribute brought 
from Lung si and Ch‘eng chou [both in Kan su, App. 216, 
18]. 
Ch., VII, 34:—Fang kui. Rude drawing. Perhaps 
4 _umbelliferous plant is intended. The description of the 
Plant there seems to refer to an umbelliferous plant, 
