l6o CHINESK MATHRIA MEDICA. 



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ECHINOPS SPHyEROCEPHALUS.— ^1 H (Lou-lu), 

 756. Another name is |Jj^ ]^J (Yeli-laii), wild EupatoriiDH. 

 Also 5^5 '^y\ XCliia-hao), arteniisia with pods, 011 account of 

 its resemblancfe to Artoiiisia. Still another name given in 

 the Pcnlsao is ^ ff{i ]^% (Kuei-yu-ma), but this is, in all prob- 

 ability, another plant, may be Syphonostcgia. The identifi- 

 cation used here is Faber's, but without doubt the Chinese 

 confound several plants under the above names. The plant 

 is said to have a general resemblance to Arteuiisia.^ Iiicar- 

 villca^ and Sesaniiini ; so it is little w^onder that the Chinese, 

 with their lack of any definite system of classification, should 

 have confounded these. The plant has a quill-like stem, 

 and grows to the height of four or five feet. It bears yellow 

 flowers, and fruits in a pod. When dry, the pods, as well 

 as the whole plant, turn very dark, almost black in color. 

 Various parts are used in medicine, but the P^ntsao mentions 

 particularly the root and shoots. The root goes by the name of 

 M ^ft ^ (Lu-li-ken). It is considered to be a very efficacious 

 and beneficial remedy, and is prescribed for virulent ulcers 

 and sores, failure of secretion of milk, to check exhausting 

 discharges, as an anthelmintic, and it is recommended for 

 use in the bath. 



ECUPTA ALBA.— il I| (Li-ch'ang% #. -f ^ (Han- 

 lien-ts'ao), 359. A number of other names are given in 

 the Pentsao for this plant. Its identification is tolerably 

 certain, although Braun in the Hankow list called the product 

 '■^ dried lilies^\f The plant when broken exudes a black, 

 sticky juice, on which account it is called ^ ^ (Mo-ts'ai), 

 "ink-vegetable." It grows in damp soil to the height of 

 one or two feet, has a white flower, and seeds like the Inula. 

 A yellow flowered kind is spoken of, but this is confounded 

 with Forsythia. The medicinal action of the plant is said to 

 be astringent, checking hemorrhage and fluxes, and it is used 

 to blacken the hair, tighten the teeth, and in all sorts of eye 

 troubles. 



