VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 35 



mixed up with certain transcendental powers wliich it is sup- 

 posed to possess. But in addition to the many fanciful ones, 

 it is credited with being useful in the treatment of catarrh of 

 the bowels or the bladder, the convulsive disorders of children^ 

 and as a tonic and alterative. 



Another form of amber, darker in color and more like 

 jade, is called ^ (Hsi). It is said to have been brought from 

 Turfan, where it was found among the black rocks. It is 

 considered to be an older form of the amber, having laid in the 

 ground for two thousand years, instead of one thousand. Like 

 the Hii-p''o^ the Phitsao suggests that it may have originated 

 from the {^ ;^, Fu-ling {Pachyma cocos\ found growing like a 

 fungus from the roots of fir trees, or from |^ '^^ Chu-ling, a 

 tuberiform fungus found growing on liquidamber roots above 

 ground. Its medicinal virtues are regarded as correspondingly 

 higher than those of amber. 



Two special formulae are given in the Phitsao in which 

 amber is considered to be the chief ingredient. One, called 

 Jj^ Jfl ^ (Hu-p'o-san), is composed of amber, the shell of 

 Trionyx sine^isis, the roots of Cyperus rotiuidus^ the tubers of 

 Corydalis ambigiia^ rhubarb, and myrrh. Its use is considered 

 to be beneficial in all of the vital functions and to promote 

 nutrition. It is specially prescribed in circulatory disorders 

 after labor. Other formulae are for urinary disorders, injuries, 

 and certain nervous diseases of uterine fetal life. 



AMOMUM AMARUM.— g ^ ^ (I-chih-tzu), 543. This 

 is the bitter-seeded cardamom^ the origin of which has not yet 

 been fully studied. The classification is therefore still doubtful. 

 It has been referred to Zingiber nigrum^ which is identical 

 with Alpinia allughas^ but is considered by Pereira and Han- 

 bury to be a totally different species. The term was introduced 

 by Porter Smith, who is followed by Faber. The Chinese 

 term is also referred to, Nephelitim longan^ but later writers re- 

 strict it to the bitter-seeded cardamom. The Phitsao says that 

 the fruits come from Kunlun and Lingnan (Thibet and Cochin 

 China). They are also said to come from the island of Hainan 

 and from Kuangtung. According to Hanbury's description, 

 " the capsules are mostly oval; some ovate-oblong and a few 



