_ MATERIA MEDICA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 379 
- Ia Sat-cuxy :—The ta ma (great hemp) is also called 
X Wii huo (fire) hemp and ¥ jij huang (yellow) ma. The 
Rh ya i calls it $F jj Han ma (Chinese hemp). It is largely 
cultivated for the oil of its seeds as well as for its textile 
fibres. There is a male and a female hemp plant. Only 
the latter bears seed. The leaves are narrow and long, 
resembling those of the i mu [Leonurus. See 78]. From 
seven to nine leaves (leaflets) proceed from the top of a 
common stalk. It blossoms in the 6th month. Small yellow 
flowers in spikes (or racemes). The fruit is as large as 
that of the hu sui (Coriander).—L1 SHI-CHEN observes that 
the early authors do not agree in their statements regarding 
the ma fen. The Pen king says that ma jen and ma pu 
both denote the flowers of the plant, and mentions besides 
this the seeds. But according to Wu P‘u [8rd cent.] ma 
fen and ma pu are not the same, ma pu being a name for 
the flowers, which are not poisonous, whilst the fen, called 
also ji BE ma lan and 4 ts‘ing ko, is poisonous. Wu 
Py does not explain what he understands by ma fen, but 
evidently he means the seeds. Su Kune, who wrote four 
centuries later, says ma fen is the seed. L1 SuI-CHEN comes 
to the conclusion that fen is the covering of the seed. It is 
Poisonous, whilst the Ji {2 ma jen, or the kernel within, 
is innoxious and can be eaten. This explains the statement 
in the Chow 1i that the ma seed was used for food and offered 
to the emperor. The leaves of the ma are poisonous. 
The ta ma of the Pen ts‘ao is the common hemp, 
Cannabis sativa, Further particulars regarding this important 
. 
se textile plant will be given in another part. 
In the Cust. Med. the Ke We F or | | FE is stated 
to be imported to many of the Treaty ports. It is said to 
come from Han kow, Shang hai, Tien tsin and Chefoo, See 
— dso P. Sura, 111, | 
