VEGETABLK KINGDOM. 2^^ 



K^MPFERIA PUNDURATA.— ^ %\ ^ - (P'eng-o- 



mou). Another name by which it is known in the Customs 

 lists is j^f]i|^(P'eng-o-shu), 1003. An alternative name given 

 in the Pentsao is ^ |^ ( Shu-yao). The drug comes from the 

 East Indies and the southern provinces of China. The Pentsao 

 says that tliere are two kinds, a poisonous and a non-poisonous, 

 and that the method of testing this matter is to offer the root 

 to a sheep, and if the sheep will not eat it, it is rejected. The 

 root is specially prepared for medical uses by digesting in 

 vinegar, as is sometimes done in the case of aconite. Carmina- 

 tive, stomachic, peptic, emmenagogue, and cholagogue proper- 

 ties are atributed to the drug. 



KERRIA JAPONICA.— 4^ % (Ti-t'ang). This is the 

 identification in both China and Japan, but the Chinese term 

 is almost uniformly confounded with ^ \% (T'ang-ti), or ^ ;^ 

 (Ch'ang-ti), which is another name for ^fj ^ (Yu-li), Primus 

 japonica. The Kiiang-chiin-fa^ig-pu makes the distinction be- 

 tween these clear, and gives a very good description of this 

 plant. It is much cultivated in gardens, and is prized for its 

 golden yellow, polypetalous flowers, especially as it blooms 

 with such magnificence in the early spring. The plant is used 

 medicinally in the diseases of women. 



KOCHIA SCOPARIA.— M 1 (Ti-fu), 1263. This plant 

 grows in marshes and fields. It is also cultivated in gardens, 

 the young tender leaves being used as food. The old plant is 

 used for makino brooms, and its common name at Peking is 

 ^ ^ !^ (Sao-chou-ts'ao). The seeds, shoots, and leaves are 

 used medicinally, and to all are attributed diuretic and restora- 

 tive properties. The seeds are prescribed in fevers, colds, 

 intercostal neuralgia, hernia, dysentery, and incontinence of 

 urine in pregnant women. The shoots and leaves are pre- 

 scribed chiefly in dysentery and diarrhoea, and in digestive 

 disorders generally. 



KCELREUTERIA PANICULATA.— ^ ^ (Luan-hua). 

 The Pentsao describes this as a tree growing in Central China, 

 the leaves of which resemble those of Hibiscus syriacus^ 



