MATERIA MEDICA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 275 
Han Pao-snene [10th cent.]:—It is a common plant in 
Mid China, and grows from 2 to 3 feet high. The leaves 
resemble those of the pad ts‘ien [ Vincetovicum. See 45] or 
willow-leaves. The root has a yellow skin resembling the 
root of the mulberry tree. The flowers are violet; they 
appear in the first or second month and fall off when the 
leaves begin to expand. 
Su Sune [11th cent.]:—The plant has a perennial root. 
The old branches and the stem are of a purple colour It 
grows from 2 to 3 feet high. The root penetrates from 3 to 5 
inches into the ground, is of a white colour and resembles the 
root of the elm. The leaves are small and narrow like willow- 
leaves. It blossoms in the second month. Purple flowers in 
spikes resembling those of the tse‘ king [Cercis]. There is 
one sort in Kiang chou [in Shan si, App. 123], with yellow 
flowers, which is called $¥ 38 ZE huang (yellow) yuan hua. 
Lit Sui-cozen:—The name is also written #7 yian. 
Thrown into the water it [flowers or leaves] poisons fish. Its 
smell causes head-ache, whence it is popularly called xj J 76 
tou t‘eng hua (head-ache flower) The dictionary Yae pien 
[6th cent.] states that the yuan tree grows in Yi chang 
[Kiang si. See Bot. sin., II, sub 513]. Its juice when 
boiled preserves fruit and eggs from spoiling. The Yung 
chai sui pi [12th cent.] says that it is common in Jao 
chou [in Kiang si, App. 109]. From the stem it cannot be 
decided whether it is a tree. People sometimes rub the skin 
with this drug [it is not said what part of the plant, probably 
the bark] to produce an inflammatory swelling, in order to 
simulate wounds, Eggs when rubbed with a mixture of this 
drug with salt assume an ochre colour. 
Tatar., Cat., 31:— Yuan hua, Passerina Chamedaphne, 
Bunge [ Wickstreemia Chamudaphne, Meissn.]}. This plant, 
common near Peking, has small, yellow, fragrant flowers. It 
is poisonous, and belongs to the order Thymelacee,— 
