VEGETABLE KINGDOM. i243 



LINUM SATlVUxM. — il] W ^ £ (Shan-si-hu-ma). This 

 plant seems to have been unknown to the ancient Chinese, and 

 it has probably been a comparatively recent introduction into 

 China, It is cultivated in the north for the oil of its seeds, and 

 its use as a textile does not yet seem to be appreciated. Its oil 

 is not distinguished from that of Cannabis^ Sesa?}t2cm^ or of 

 other species of Limnn. It is employed medicinally in the 

 same manner and for the same purposes as these other oils. 



LINUM USITATISSIMUM.— JJ^ % (Chih-ma). This 

 is thoroughly confounded with Cannabis and Sesamiim. The 

 term is found in the Pcntsao under the latter article, and the 

 name ^ %, (Hu-ma), 486, is without doubt applied to both 

 genera. The plant is evidently of foreign origin, although it 

 is extensively cultivated in China for the oil of its seeds. The 

 medicinal uses of this plant and of its oil do not differ from 

 those of Sesamum (see that article). 



LIQUIDAMBAR ALTINGIANA.— This is a tall tree of 

 Java, the Malay name of which is rassamala. It has a fra- 

 grant wood, which when incised yields a sweet scented resin 

 of about the consistency of honey, and which hardens ujxjn 

 exposure to the air. This substance, which is found in Chinese 

 drug shops, goes by the name of ^^ f^ (Su-ho-yu), 11 96, 

 or ^ -^ ^ (Su-ho-hsiang). The substance is very similar to, 

 if not identical with, the Liquid Storax derived from Liqiiid- 

 ambar orientalis of Asia Minor, The term '■'' rose-maloes,^^ 

 by which this substance is sometimes known, is probably 

 derived from the Malay name for the tree, Garcia says that 

 *■'■ Roca'7nalha'''' is the name by which it is known in China, 

 but this has not been confirmed by any Chinese work con- 

 sulted. According to some early writers the substance is 

 produced in the country called 1^ ^ (Su-ho), from which fact 

 it receives its name. What this country may have been is not 

 known, but it may suggest Sumatra. The present source of 

 supply for this drug to China is uncertain. The account in 

 the Pentsao suggests Annam, Sumatra, Central India, and 

 Western Asia. This renders it probable that both the product 

 of Liquidavibar altingiana and that of Liquidambar orientalis 



