VKGETABI,K KINGDOM. 229 



L. 



LACTUCA.— ^ H (Pai-chii), ^ H (Shih-clui), ^ ^ 

 (Sheng-ts'ai). The Pentsao says that ^ "^, ^ H (K'u-chii, 

 possibly Cichormrn endivia), and ^ "^ (Wo-chii, Lactiica sativci) 

 should not be cooked, but should be eaten raw with salt and 

 vinegar. For this reason they are called ^^ "raw vege- 

 table." The name t^^ (Pa) is also given for this plant, but 

 this is an error ; it should be ^ (Chi). Faber calls q ^ 

 Lactiica albifiora^ but this does not agree with the Penfsao^ as 

 the plant there described bears yellow flowers. The *' white" 

 refers to the leaves, which are slightly hirsute. Two crops 

 are grown in the year: one being sown in the first or second 

 moon, and the other from the eighth to the tenth moon. Two 

 other varieties are mentioned, called ^ '^ (Tzti-clui) and ^ "i^ 

 (K'u-chii) respectively. The former is sometimes mixed with 

 clay in making pottery, producing an imitation copper. These 

 are both probably only varieties of Lactuca saliva. The 

 action of this lettuce is considered to be highly beneficial, 

 toning up the sinews, dispelling flatus, aiding the circulation, 

 strengthening the intellect, correcting poisons, relieving thirst, 

 and opening the emunctories. The expressed juice of the 

 stalk is instilled into the interior of a bubo after it has been 

 opened and the pus removed. 



In the article on f^ ^ (Wo-chii), also called 1^ -% (Wo- 

 ts'ai) and ^ ^% (Ch'ien-chiu-ts'ai), and which is also Lactuca 

 sativa^ the Pentsao says that it was brought to China from a 

 country called ^ (Kua, i§ Kuo ?) in the time of the Haa 

 dynasty. The envoys who brought it received such a rich 

 reward that the plant was called ^ ^% (Ch'ien-chiu-ts'ai), 

 "thousand ounces of gold vegetable," from this fact. It is 

 cultivated in the same manner as the j^ ]g, and is found in 

 two varieties — the white and the purple. The seed stalk, when 

 it first shoots up, is eaten under the name of ^ ^ (Wo-sun). 

 It is consumed raw, and its taste is likened to that of the 

 cucumber. The action of this plant upon the body is con- 

 sidered to be identical with that of Pai-chii, but it is more 

 highly regarded as a diuretic and parasiticide. Insects do not 



