VKGETABLE KINGDOM. 221 



is Lespedesa juncea^ a leguminous plant, and drawings in some 

 Chinese works seem to agree with this. 



IRIS SIBIRICA.— ^ H (Chi-sun). The Chinese do not 

 distinguish this from j^ ^ (Pai-ch'ang) or jifc ^ fit (Shui- 

 ch'ang-p'u), Acorus calamus^ and it is described in the Pentsao 

 under this title. All that is said is that there is one kind 

 found in eastern China in rivulets and swamps, which is called 

 by this name. In odor and color, its root is said to resemble 

 the ^ ^ (Ch'ang-p*u) which grows among stones {Acorus 

 gra?mneus)y but its leaves have no central ridge. It is not 

 eaten, but is used as an expectorant, and is also employed for 

 destroying insect vermin. 



IRIS TECTORUM.— j^ Ji (Yiian-wei). Another name 

 is ,^ H (Wu-ytian). The root is called j^ gf (Yiian-t'ou). At 

 Peking it is cultivated as an ornamental plant under the name 

 of ]^ 3^ '^ (Ts'ao-yli-lan). The root is said to somewhat re- 

 semble galangal root, having a yellow skin and white flesh. 

 When chewed, it gives a scratchy sensation to the throat. The 

 taste is bitter, and the drug is slightly poisonous. Its medicinal 

 properties are regarded as being somewhat transcendental, 

 being chiefly recommended for driving away evil influences 

 and miasms. It is used in marasmus and wasting diseases. 



IXORA Sp.— ^ ^ 51 (Hu-huang-lien). This identifica- 

 tion is suggested by Faber. See Barkhausia repens. 



IXORA STRICTA.— ^ ^ % (Mai-tzu-mu). The name 

 is also written ^ •? ;?t; (Mai-tzu-mu). It is said to come from 

 the mountain valleys of Lingnan, and has a leaf like that of 

 the persimmon. It grows up with a slender shaft to the height 

 of about seventeen feet. It has dark green leaves from one to 

 two inches long, and its branches have a purplish color. The 

 flowers are red and in clusters. The seeds are black and 

 shining, and resemble Zanthoxylmn seeds. The stems are the 

 parts used in medicine, and are recommended in bruises, ex- 

 travasated blood, and wounds. The drug is said be beneficial 

 to the bone marrow, to be anodyne, and quieting to the 

 pregnant uterus. 



