VEGETABLE KINGDOM. ,45 



very slightly odorous, being used to scent clothes. Various 

 names are given to the drug, which seem to refer to its form 

 or the part of the tree from which it is taken. These are 

 M 5f f= iMa-t'i-hsiang), H # ^ (Chi-ku-hsiang), ^ M ^ 

 (Ch'ing-kuei-hsiang), and ^ %- (Chan-hsiang). The product 

 of the root is called %^ ^ :^ (Huang-shu-hsiang). After the 

 tree has been felled for some months or years, a dark, resinous, 

 aromatic juice is met with in the wood, mainly deposited in 

 certain portions of the vascular tissue, more especially of the 

 heart of the tree. This valuable heavy wood is called ao-?ir, a 

 name also applied to the drug in Bengali. The trees are some- 

 times buried in order to increase, or to facilitate the removal of 

 the prized oleoresin. The coarse, reddish-brown wood, sold 

 under the name of j^L ^ ;^ (Ch'eu-hsiang-mu), and used in the 

 making of incense, has an odor similar to that of sandal-wood, 

 and a faintly bitter taste. It is very hard, and being capable 

 of a very high polish, is carved into ornamental articles, as well 

 as being burned in the form of incense sticks. Paper is said to 

 have been formerly made of the bark of this tree. The drug is 

 placed by Dr. Williams among Chinese imports, but it is not 

 noted in the Customs lists. Much interesting information in 

 regard to this substance can readily be found in Hanbury's 

 "Notes" and Royle's Illustrations. Tonic, stimulant, carmin- 

 ative, aphrodisiac, and diuretic properties are ascribed to the 

 drug, besides which it is supposed to possess certain occult 

 virtues, making it useful in getting rid of evil spirits. 



ARAIvIA CORDATA.—i l" If (T'u-tang-kuei ). Such 

 is the identification of Faber and the Japanese. Siebold says 

 that this is the same as Aralia edulis. It may be an Angelica. 

 Its uses in medicine are not great ; it being considered carmin- 

 ative and slightly stimulating. The young stalks are used 

 as a vegetable. According to the Customs Reports, the root 

 of this plant is imported into Shanghai from Japan under the 

 name of '^ |f (Tang-kuei), 1250. 



ARCTIUM LAPPA.— ^ ^ (Wu-shih). Other common 

 names are -^ ^ -^p (Niu-p'ang-tzu), 906, and :h ^ ^ (Ta-li- 

 tzii), 1226. This is the common burdock which grows plenti- 



