VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 97 



said to yield it. The long, reddish pods contain very many 

 dark brown, shining seeds called ^ B^ -^ (Chiieh-ming-tzu), 

 1341, of an irregularly compressed, cylindrical shape, about 

 three lines in length, and marked with two light stripes on 

 opposite sides. They are pointed at one end, and truncated 

 or rounded at the other, and have a bitterish, mucilaginous 

 taste. It is said that if eaten on an empty stomach during the 

 day, on the succeeding night articles will appear as if 

 illuminated. The drug is therefore considered to be of especial 

 use in diseases of the eye, being used both internally and 

 locally in their treatment. It is also recommended in herpes 

 and furunculoid sores. The Phitsao says that the leaves 

 can be eaten as a vegetable. This must refer to the Chiang- 

 mang^ which may be Cassia aicriailata^ an edible species 

 of India. The leaves of Cassia tora are said to be used by 

 Indian physicians as a substitute for senna. Another name 

 for the Chiieh-ming is ,^ Sijj ^ ^ (Ma-ti-chlieh-ming), so 

 called from the shape of the seeds. The Pentsao also speaks 

 of another plant, apparently of this genus, which it calls 

 «^ fljj ;^ (Ho-ming-ts'ao). It is as yet unidentified. In 

 addition to its other virtues, it is considered to be diuretic. In 

 China, as in India, a spirituous liquor and a leaven are made of 

 the Cassia tora^ by the addition of some starchy or saccharine 

 ingredient. 



CASTANEA VULGARIS. — ^ (Li). This is the 

 common chestnut^ of which several varieties grow in China. 

 They are cultivated throughout the empire, and are used as an 

 article of diet, being most frequently cooked with chicken. 

 However, they are thought to be somewhat diflBcult to digest, 

 and are therefore not recommended to the sick as food, or to 

 those suffering from deranged digestion. They are among the 

 fruits considered suitable to be presented to the Son of Heaven, 

 and by the ancient Chinese were used as a present of in- 

 troduction by women. Owing to the similarity of the leaves 

 and fruits of some varieties to those of certain kinds of 

 QuercuSy there is a certain amount of confusion among th€ 

 Chinese in regard to these plants. Of the different kinds of 

 chestnuts, the Phitsao mentions a large, smooth, flat variety, 



