MATERIA MEDICA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 239 
So moku, IX, 86:—3Ri IF, Potentilla ecryptotenia, 
Maxim. 
135. Hi la ju. P. XVIla, 16. 7., CXLV. 
Pen king :—Li ju.. The root is officinal. Taste pungent. 
Nature cold. Slightly poisonous. 
Pie lu:—Other name fi SE li lou. The la ju grows in 
Tai [in Shan si, App. 321] in river-valleys. The root is dug 
up in the 5th month and dried in the shade. That with a 
black head is the best. 
Wu Fv [8rd cent.]:—It is an herbaceous plant from 4 to 
5 feet high. Round, yellow leaves standing four together and 
opposite. It flowers in the 4th-month and bears black fruit in 
the 5th month. Root yellow and contains a yellow sap. The 
leaves and the stem are gathered in the 3rd month, the root is 
dug up in the 5th. 
T‘ao Hune-K1ne@ :—Now the best sort comes from Kao li 
(Corea, App. 116]. It is of a yellow colour. When broken 
it discharges a yellow sap which after hardening becomes 
black like varnish, whence it is called ¥ §ff és‘ t‘ow (varnish 
head). An inferior sort is produced in Mid China. This is 
called #F | | ts‘ao (herbaceous) la ju. Itis white, but by 
heating it on iron the head becomes black. 
Su Sune [11th cent.]:—Now this plant grows also in 
Ho yang [in Ho nan, App. 81], in Tsz‘ chou and Ts‘i chou 
[both in Shan tung, App. 367, 348]. Leaves like those of 
the ta ki [ Euphorbia. See 136]. Yellow flowers. The root 
resembles a radish, its skin is reddish yellow, the flesh white. 
When broken it discharges a sap which in hardening becomes 
black like varnish. Flowers, pale red or yellow, appear in 
_. the 8rd month. It does not bear fruit. 
