VEGETABLE KINGDOM. I79 



laria grandiflora may be correct in some parts of China. These 

 genera are closely allied and somewhat difficult to distinguish. 

 The classical name of the plant is '^ (Meng) or ^ (Meng). The 

 first character of the common name is also written ]^. This 

 name has reference to the bulbs resembling a bunch of cowry 

 shells. The corms are dug up in the spring and autumn, so 

 that the difference in size depends not only on the difference ia 

 species, but also on the stage of development of the corm. 

 Those coming from Chekiang are usually as large as a good 

 sized marble. The Szechuan variety is smaller and held in 

 more esteem than the others, and commands a higher price. 

 These corms are naked, of a white, or yellow color, and may 

 be broken into two or more segments, disclosing the central 

 shoot. They are easily crushed by the teeth to a white, 

 starchy, and almost tasteless powder. The likeness of this 

 product to the oriental Hermodactyls and Colchiciim is suggest- 

 ed. The corms are used by the Chinese in medicine, and are 

 prescribed in fevers, coughs, dysuria, hemorrhages, deficiency 

 of milk, threatened mammary abscess, lingering labor, rheumat- 

 ism, and diseases of the eye. They are regarded as having 

 specially favorable action on the viscera and the bone marrow. 

 They are also highly recommended in spider, snake, and 

 scorpion bites. 



FUCUS SACCHARINUS. See Algcs. 



FUMARIA OFFICINALIS.—^ I^Ji \% T (Tzu-hua-ti- 

 ting), 141 1 ( ? ). This is a common roadside weed in China, 

 described in the Pentsao as of two varieties : one having purple, 

 and the other white flowers. The herbage of these plants is 

 used in decoction as an application to glandular swellings, 

 strumous sores, carbuncles, and every kind of abscess. It is 

 also taken internally for jaundice, and to remove wheat awns 

 from the throat. 



FUNGI.— ^* ffi m (Chih-erh-lei). Fungi growing on 

 trees (TfC 3, Mu-erh, "wood-ears") are preferred by the 

 Chinese to the more delicate mushrooms. Many of the latter 

 are apparently poisonous, and some of the more delicate varie- 



