VEGETABI,E KINGDOM. 1 75 



called ^ f[[i ^ (TMen-hsien-kuo), is Firus erecta ; while the 

 third, whicii is unidentified, is called '^ )§, -^ (Kii-tii-tza). 

 Stomachic and corrective qualities are ascribed to the fig, 

 which is sometimes called ufc |g ^ ( Mu-man-t'ou), as is also 

 the fruit ot Ficus pumila. The leaves, which are thought 

 to be slightly poisonous, are recommended to be used to 

 steam painful and swollen piles. Mr. Eitel (Handbook of 

 Chinese Buddhism) gives ^^^>^i^ (Yu-yiin-po-lo) as the name 

 of a tree, the Udumbara of the Buddhists, which is Finis 

 glomerata. This may be the fig referred to by the third name 

 at the head of this article. 



FICUS PUMILA,— ;fC ^ (Mu-lien), ^ ^ (Pi-li), /f; || p| 

 (Mu-man-t'ou), % |^ B| (Kuei-nian-t'ou). Tlie Chinese names 

 given to this plant are also applied to other plants. The first 

 above given is used for the Magnolia^ while the third is equally 

 applied to Fiats stipiilata^ and probably also to Ficits carica. 

 Probably the most distinctive name is the second. The leaves 

 are large and round, and if bruised, exude a white juice, like 

 varnish. This suggests its similarity to the Ficus indica^ the 

 source of guyn lac. The plant is a creeper, and bears a hollow 

 *' fruit " of red color. This product is much esteemed by the 

 birds, which eat of it with great avidity. The leaves are used 

 in medicine in the treatment of dysentery, hematuria, and 

 locally as an application to carbuncle. The juice of the vine 

 is also employed in the treatment of skin diseases. The whole 

 plant is thought to have a beneficial action upon the virile 

 powers, and is therefore used in the treatment of spermator- 

 rhoea, and as a galactagogue. The plant, when eaten, is said to 

 remove pain in the heart. 



FICUS RETUSA.— ;^ (J"ng). This is the Banyan tree, 

 of which the adventitious rootlets, called |^ ^ (Jung-hsii), are 

 used in medicine. The Pentsao speaks of the varnish-like 

 juice which exudes from the tree, but does not mention its 

 being used in medicine. The tree is found in China inost 

 plentifully in the province of Fukien. A good description is " 

 given in the appendix to the Pentsao. The only use to which 

 the rootlets seem to be put is in the treatment of toothache, 



