VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 245 



wood of the tree is considered to be especially appropriate for 

 making idols, being thought to ^ (Ling, "spiritualize ") more 

 easily than any other. This is probably due to the fact that 

 on account of the free movement of its leaves and branches in 

 the wind, the tree top is thought to be the abode of various 

 sorts of spirits. The tree bears a white flower, and its fruits 

 are said to be as large as a duck's egg. It produces a resinous 

 extract resembling Rose-maloes and Liquid Storax^ called 

 !^ ^ Ha (Feng-hsiang-chih), that produced from the fruits 

 being called {g /jp ^ (Pai-chiao-hsiang). Indian and Sanscrit 

 names for the substance aie given as ^ Uf ^ ^ ^ (Sa-chih- 

 lo-p'o-hsiang) and j^ ID ^ ^^^ (Sa-she-lo-p'o-hsiang). This 

 gum-resin is of a pale yellow color, and is said to resemble 

 frankincense. Its medicinal action is that of a hemostatic, 

 astringent, anodyne, and corrective remedy. It is used in all 

 sorts of wounds, skin affections, and ulcers. It is combined 

 with two sorts of RJiammis berries in preparing a suppository 

 (^g it'i^. Ting-na) for the treatment of chronic constipation. 

 The bark of the tree is employed in fluxes and as an astringent 

 wash in skin diseases, while the leaves and the root are used in 

 cancerous growths. The Erhya says that Liquidamhar resin 

 which has been buried in the ground for a thousand years 

 becomes amber. An unidentified excrescence found growing 

 on the tree, which is said to somewhat resemble the form of 

 the human body, and which is reputed to grow to the length 

 of three or four feet, is called IE "F ^ (Feng-tza-kuei) and 

 IE A (Feng-jen). It is said to be poisonous, and to produce, 

 when ingested, a laughing delirium which is persistent. 

 Faber gives jj[j \%^ (Shan-ch'iu) as a term for Liqiiidambar 

 forniosana^ but Chinese botanical works do not seem so to 

 recognise it, but on the other hand identify this with Catalpa^ 

 as the name implies. 



LITHOSPERMUM OFFICINALE (ERYTHRORHI- 

 ZON).— ^ % (Tza-ts'ao). Other names are ^ ^ (Tzu-tan), 

 % ifil (Ti-hsiieh), and || ^ :^ (Ya-hsien-ts'ao). The Erkya 

 writes the first character jfjj (Tz'u). This plant is indigenous 

 to the central and northern provinces of China. It is cultivated 

 for the purple dye yielded by its root. This is dug up in the 



