MATERIA MEDICA OF THE ANCIENT CHINESE. 415 
ya are called #% keng [W.D., 323.—K.D.].—The yi is 
frequently spoken of by authors of the Han period. 
Further details regarding these plants will be given in 
another part. 
262.—33 F9 shu yi. P., XXVII, 33. T., LIV. 
Comp. Classics, 379. 
_ Pen king :—Shu yii. The root is officinal. Taste sweet. 
Nature warm. Non-poisonous. 
Pie lu:—The shu yii grows in Sung kao [in Ho nan, 
App. 317], in mountain-valleys. The root is gathered in the 
2nd and 8th months and dried in the sun. 
By the shu yit of the ancient authors we have to understand 
various species of Dioscorea, as D. japonica and D. Batatas 
and others, cultivated for their edible roots and found also 
in a wild state in China. The popular name is [Ij $% shan 
yao. Comp. Henry, Chin. pl., 412. 
* Tarar., Cat., 51, 55.—P. Suara, 86. 
For medical use the roots of wild species of Dioscorea 
are employed. Several sorts of this drug are mentioned in 
the Cust. Med.,—p. 46, (27), shan yao exported 1885 from 
Chefoo 250.66 piculs,—p. 24 (24), 36 IL #8 huai shan yao 
from Tien tsin 4,365 piculs,—p. 68 (25), the same from 
Han kow 1,858 piculs,—p. 26 (49), WL 34 HA shan yao tou 
from Tien tsin 843 piculs. 
_ Further particulars regarding Dioscorea will be given 
in another part. 
263.— & po ho. P., XXVII, 39. 7., CXXII. 
Pen king:—Po ho. The root is officinal. Taste sweet. 
Nature uniform. Non-poisonous. Flowers and seeds also 
used in medicine. 
