VEGETABLE KINGDOM. I9 



Adiantiim monochlamys^ Shih-ch'ang-slieng {^ ^ ^), 

 is a true Filix. It is found in mountainous districts, growing 

 upon the edge of cliffs. The root is the part used, and its 

 taste is said to be salt}', slightly cooling, and the drug is 

 somewhat poisonous. Its properties are febrifuge and para- 

 siticide. It is recommended in parasitic skin diseases. 



^GLE SEPIARIA.— In the Customs Lists fa (Chih), 

 133, 137, is so identified. But the preponderance of authority 

 seems to be in favor of considering this as Citrus fusca. or 

 Citrus trifoliata. (See Citrus. ) 



^SCUIvUS CHINENSIS.— 5fc U ^ (T'ien-shih-li). The 

 fruit of this sapandaceous plant is but little different from the 

 common horse-chestnut. The Pentsao says that it is found only 

 in the mountains of Western Szechuan, but it is said also to 

 come from the province of Hupeh. The name is derived from 

 51 5c Bifi (Chang T'ien-shih), a famous Taoist priest, who 

 dwelt at Ts'ing-ch'en {% ^\ a city situated in this part of 

 Szechuan, and studied "tao. " It is probable that this is the 

 same as ^ j^ -^ or ^ ^ -^ (So-lo-tzii), as given in Tatari- 

 nov's list. The fruit is also compared to the acorn. The 

 hilum is large and the integument of a dark, reddish-brown 

 color. The bark of the tree contains a crystalline, fluorescent 

 principle, and some species of this genus are poisonous, but 

 these nuts are sweet, and are merely credited with being 

 useful iu cases of contracted limbs from palsy or rheumatism. 

 The fruits selling at a valuation of threepence each in Hankow, 

 induces the Chinese to put some faith in them, for they usually 

 value a remedy in proportion to its cost. 



Another representative of this genus is the ^sculus tur- 

 binata (^ ^ jg^, Ch'i-yeh-shu\ It is so classified in the 

 Japanese lists, is not mentioned in the Pentsao^ and may not 

 be found in China. 



AGAVE CHINENSIS.— J: U ^ (T'u-ch'en-hsiang), 

 1365. This amaryllidaceous plant is not mentioned in the 

 Pintsao, but is apparently met with in Formosa. The Agave 

 Americana {Bi 9^ Mi Lu-sung-ma), is said by Mr. T. Sampson 



