VEGETABLK KINGDOM. 123 



COLOCASIA.— ^ (Yii), ± ^ (T'u-chih). This is the 

 same as the ^aro of the South Sea Islands, which is cultivated 

 for its edible roots, known as ^ ^M, (Yii-t'ou). But the name 

 taM or kopeh is also applied in New Zealand to the root of 

 Pteris esadenta^ an edible fern. Several species of Colocasia 

 are cultivated in China. It has been known since before the 

 Han period. The seeds are used in medicine, as are also the 

 leaves and stalk. The former are considered to be somewhat 

 poisonous, and are recommended in indigestion, flatulence, and 

 in disorders of parturient women. A decoction is prescribed 

 as a wash in pediculosis. The leaves and stalk are recom- 

 mended in similar cases and as an application in insect bites 

 and other poisons. 



COMMELYNA POLYGAMA. — H % % f Ya-chih-ts'ao), 

 ft ^ ^ (Chu-yeh-ts'ai). This is an identification of Tatarinov 

 adopted by Porter Smith, who says in regard to it: "This 

 'duck's- foot-grass,' with its flat narrow leaves and herbaceous 

 calyx, is considered to be related to the bamboo. The flower of 

 this Spider-wort is compared by the Chinese to a moth. The 

 plant is much cultivated as a pot herb, which is eaten in the 

 spring, and the juice of the flower is used as a bluish pigment 

 in painting upon transparencies. Demulcent, diuretic, and 

 lenitive qualities evidently reside in the herbage of this plant, 

 which is taken internally in cyanache, fevers, dysentery, 

 abdominal obstructions, and dysuria, and is applied topically 

 to piles, abcesses, and bites. Dr. Hasskarl, of Java, has pub- 

 lished a valuable monograph on the Commelynacese of India 

 and the Indian Archipelago. In some countries the rhizomes 

 of Comviclynas become very starchy, and are eaten. Com- 

 melyna rumphii is used in India as an emmenagogue." 



CONIOSEUNUM UNIVITTATUM.— "^ || (Hsiung- 

 ch'iungi, 469. This is a Japanese identification. It is an 

 umbelliferous plant, resembling Angelica. The common 

 name by which it appears in commerce is ]\\ ^ (Ch'uan- 

 hsiung), 247. Other names are ^ |f (Hu-ch'iung) and ^ ^ 

 (Hsiang-kuo). The leaves are called ^ M (Mi-wu), which is 

 given a special article in the Pentsao. Faber calls this 



