184 CHINESK MATERIA MRDICA. 



shops. The pericarp is fragile and horn}', marked internally 

 by two narrow, projecting receptacles. The seeds are numer- 

 ous and embedded in a dark orange pulp. The smaller fruits 

 are met with as ovoid, smooth, six-ribbed, light or dark brown, 

 or even black berries, crowned with more of the calyx than are 

 the larger fruits. They vary from one-half to an inch or more 

 in length. These are the berries which are more frequently 

 used in medicine than are the large ones. In the Customs lists 

 several different kinds of the drug are mentioned as appearing 

 in commerce. M M "? (Huang-chih-tzu), 512, is given as the 

 principal term for this product, while ^ ;|^ (Chien-chih), 103, 

 is a kind from Chienchang prefecture in Kiangsi. The name 

 ^ iiJi ■? ' Huang-chih-tzii) is not found in the Pintsao^ but is 

 mentioned in other Chinese medical works. It seems to be 

 identical with the common ^ ^ (Chih-tzii). ill t^ -? (Shan- 

 chih-tzU) and jjj M ;|^ (Shan-hei-chih), 1092, are given as 

 names for the variety yielding the small fruit. The Hankow list 

 speaks of the ^X Wi 'P (Hung-chih-tzu) as a species of Gardenia 

 from Szechuan. All of these fruits are used for dyeing pur- 

 poses, producing a beautiful yellow color, but there is some 

 difference in the value of the different fruits for this purpose ; 

 the Szechuan variety producing a reddish yellow or orange color. 

 The flowers of the plant are very fragrant, and are used for 

 flavoring tea and in cosmetic preparations. In the season when 

 they are in bloom, they are much Avorn by Chinese women as 

 hair ornaments. The medicinal uses of the smaller fruits are 

 various ; they being prescribed in fevers, fluxes, dropsies, lung 

 diseases, jaundice, and externally as a vulnerary remedy. The 

 larger fruits are more particularly used externally ; the pulp 

 being applied to swellings and to injuries, and to such diffi- 

 culties as wine-nose, dog bite, slight burns and scalds, and the 

 like. Other names given for this plant are Tf; j^ (Mu-tan), ^ |)B 

 (Yiieh-t'ao), and ^ -^ (Hsien-chih). In the Customs lists the 

 root of this plant, |)| -J* ;^ (Chih-tzu-ken), 140, is spoken of as 

 an article of commerce, but this is not mentioned in the Pentsao. 



GASTRODIA ELATA. — 7^; ^ rCh'ih-chien), ^ % 

 T'ien-ma), 1296. This orchidaceous plant, called "red- 

 arrow" by the Chinese, grows in the plains of the central 



