VEGETABLE KINGDOM. I43 



D. 



DALBERGIA HUPEANA.— =jf (T'an). The P&ntsao 

 describes this as a tree with finely veined, hard wood, and 

 leaves resembling those of the Sophera. The flowers are 

 yellow or white, and there is said to be a purple flowered 

 variety. This plant is not to be confounded with ^ ^ (T'an- 

 hsiang), which is Santaliim albinn. ■|f ^ (Ch'ing-t'au) is said 

 by Henry to be a name for Celtis sinensis. The bark of both 

 trunk and root is the part of Dalbergia used in medicine. It 

 is considered to be slightly poisonous, but mixed with elm 

 bark and pulverized, it may be used as food in time of famine. 

 As an external application (presumably in the form of a poul- 

 tice) it is used in scabies and parasitic skin diseases. 



DAMNACANTHUS INDICUS.— {/c ^ tS (Fu-niu-hua), 

 )j^ ;$lj (Hu-tzu), 1425. This is a rubiaceous plant, found grow- 

 ing in the marshy river valleys of Szechuen, having a small 

 deep green leaf, a thorny stalk, and pale yellow flowers in 

 clusters like apricot flowers. Another kind of similar shrub, 

 which goes by the second name given above, is said to be 

 evergreen. Of the former, the flowers are used in medicine for 

 rheumatism, headaches, and bleeding piles. Of the latter, the 

 root and leaves are used in the treatment of dropsical swellings. 



DAPHNE GENKWA.— |g:j!g (Yiian-hua., 1561, fiLIBI^ 

 (Men-t'ou-hua). It is also called % @^ (Tu-yii, " fish poison "), 

 since, when thrown into ponds or streams, it poisons the fish. 

 Another name is H^ '^ (T'ou-t'ung-hua, " headache flower"), 

 as the odor is said to give one a headache. The name Yiian- 

 hita is applied in the Peking region to a plant having small 

 yellow flowers, which has been identified by Tatarinov as 

 Passerina chamcBdaphne^ Dunge (Wickstroimia chajucB daphne^ 

 Meissn.). The Daphne grows upon a perennial root Its 

 leaves are at first green, but as they grow older, they grow 

 thicker and darker in color. The flowers are purple, red, and 

 white. Flowers, leaves, and root are all used in medicine. 

 The flowers and root are employed in the form of tincture in 

 the treatment of coughs, as a cordial, tonic, and antifebrile 



