254 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



peach, it is called |f^ i^^ (Hou-t'ao). When the flower first 

 opens it resembles a Chinese pen, and for this reason it is called 

 /^ ^ (Mu-pi), "wood pencil." Since the flowers appear 

 very early in the spring, the tree is called jfg ^ (Ying-ch'un). 

 This must not be confounded with Jasminuvi midifiorum. The 

 white flowered magnolia is called ^ '^ (Yii-lan), and has been 

 by some botanists designated as Magnolia yiilan. These names 

 are all used for this species of magnolia, and usually indicate 

 varieties. It also is called /fC j^ ^^ (Mu-lien-hua), because its 

 flowers resemble those of the lotus iyNelnmbium speciosum). 

 The tree flowers twice a year : once in the early spring and 

 once in the autumn. It is much cultivated in gardens, and 

 the flowers are usually purple or white. It rarely perfects its 

 fruits. The unopened flower buds (^, P*ao) are the parts used 

 in medicine. This is one of the many drugs reputed to give 

 lightness to the body, brightness to the eye, added length of 

 life, culminating in a green old age. *' It warms the centers, 

 lubricates the muscles, benefits the nine cavities, opens up the 

 nose, expells mucus, relieves swelling of the face and tooth- 

 ache, mitigates cart and boat vertigo, promotes the growth of 

 whiskers and hair, and expels white worms." It is prescribed 

 in headaches and all diflSculties of the nose, in which latter 

 case it is especially recommended if combined with musk and 

 onions. The flowers appear in commerce under the name 

 of ^ :j^ (Ch'un-hua), 272. 



MAGNOLIA FUSCATA.—- g- ^ (Han-hsiao). This is 

 the same as Michelia fiiscata. There are said to be two kinds : 

 the large and the small ; and flowers of two colors : white and 

 purple. It is a southern species, not being found in the north- 

 ern provinces. It flowers in every season, but is most prolific 

 in summer. The flowers are very fragrant, reminding one of 

 Jasminuni sambac. It does not seem to be used in medicine, 

 but it is possible that its buds are sometimes substituted for 

 those of Magnolia conspicna. 



MAGNOLIA HYPOLEUCA.— Jf ;f;h (Hou-p'o), 381. This 

 tree is cultivated in the upper Yangtse provinces for its bark, 

 which on account of its extensive use as a medicine is quite an 



