220 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



is made and floated on the water. Seeds are dropped into 

 crevices in the reeds, and the plant grows thus directly from 

 the water. The plant is said not to have much taste, but is 

 cooked with pork, and is relished in this way. It is considered 

 to have a beneficial influence upon the body, and is used as an 

 antidote to poisoning by an unidentified plant, called ^ ^ 

 (Yeh-ko) or ]§5 ^ :^ (Hu-wan-ts'ao). It is also recommended 

 in diflficult labor. 



IPOMCEA BATATAS. — t ^ (Kan-shu), llj ^ CShan- 

 yii). The Chinese do not distinguish clearly between taro, 

 the yanty and the sweet potato. The second name given above 

 is properly Batatas ediilis^ but in the Pentsao it is included 

 with ^ ^ (Shu-yli), which is Dioscorea quinqtieloba. The 

 plant under discussion is much cultivated at the south and its 

 tubers used as food ; sometimes to the complete exclusion of 

 rice or other cereals. It is considered to have a good efiect 

 upon the body, giving strength, and especially benefiting the 

 spleen, stomach, and kidneys. However, those who live largely 

 upon these and yams do not seem to be so well nourished as do 

 those who live on rice. 



IRIS ENSATA.— ^ % (Li-shih). This name is also 

 written |^ g (Li-shih), and the plant is mentioned in the 

 Liclii under this character. A common name is J^ ^ (Ma- 

 lin), 805, which at Peking is Iris oxypetala. Porter Smith, 

 following Tatarinov, wrongly writes this ,^ "^ (Ma-lan), but 

 this is the aster. This plant has blue or white flowers ; the 

 fruit is a capsule, and the seeds resemble those of the hemp. 

 The leaves resemble those of Allium^ but are longer and 

 thicker. The root is long and fibrous, and the Chinese use 

 it to make brooms or brushes. For this reason it is called 

 ^ ^ '1^ (T'ieh-sao-chou), "iron broom." The fruits are 

 prescribed in fevers, rheumatism, hemorrhages, post-partum 

 difficulties, and fluxes. They are considered to be diuretic, 

 stimulant to the appetite, astringent, and antagonistic to vege- 

 table and animal poisons. To the flowers, leaves, and roots are 

 ascribed similar virtues, and they are specially recommended 

 as anthelmintic remedies. In Japan ^\% % (T'ieh-sao-chou) 



