248 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



but in some cases ^ ^ ^ (Sang-cbi-sheng), 1067, is Loranthus 

 yadoriki and ^j ||£ (Sung-lo) is LoraiitJius kccmpferi. The 

 former is most highly valued in medicine. It is described as 

 being two or three feet long, having round, thick, soft, green 

 leaves, white flowers, and yellow fruit. The medicinal action 

 of the plant is regarded as anodyne, and quieting to the preg- 

 nant uterus. It is employed in puerperal difficulties, threatened 

 abortion, menorrhagia, and insufficient secretion of milk. It 

 is also considered to promote the growth of hair. The fruits 

 are regarded as vitalizing in their action. The i^ ^ (Sung- 

 lo), which is also called -^ || (Nii-lo), and which grows prin- 

 cipally upon the pine and fir tree, is thought to be antiseptic, 

 antimalarial, diuretic, and somewhat soporific. It is also used 

 in scalp diseases and difficulties of the" external genital organs 

 of women. 



LOTUS CORNICULATUS.— -g U ^ (Pai-mai-ken). 

 This product comes from Kansu and Northern Szechuan, is 

 said to resemble lucerne^ has a yellow flower, a root like that of 

 Polygala japonica,, which is gathered in the second and eighth 

 moons and dried in the sun. Its action is carminative, thirst- 

 relieving, antifebrile, restorative, and tonic. It is administered 

 in tinctures, decoction, pill, or powder. 



LUFFA CYLINDRICA.— ff, JR (Ssu-kua). Other names 

 are ^ lifi S (T'ien-ssii-kua), 5^ ^ (T'ien-lo), ^ Jl (Pu-kua), 

 and ^ JfJS;. (Man-kua). It was unknown in China prior to the 

 Tang dynasty. Now it is grown in all parts of the empire for 

 use as a vegetable. It is planted in the second moon, and the 

 vine is trained over bushes, bamboos, or houses, or a frame- 

 work of reeds or bamboo poles is made, over which it runs. 

 The leaves are about the size of hollyhock leaves and hairy. 

 The expressed juice of these will dye a green color. The stalk 

 is angled. In the sixth or seventh moon there is produced a 

 five-parted, yellow flower, slightly resembling that of the 

 cucumber. The pepo is something over an inch in diameter, 

 from one to four feet long, deep green in color and mottled, 

 and when it is fresh it can be baked, stewed, or otherwise 

 prepared as a vegetable food. When old and ripe, the fibrous 



