VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 28l 



leaf are considered to be antifebrile, antihemorrhagic, con- 

 structive to the blood, promotive of labor and the expulsion of 

 the afterbirth, antidotal to poisonous fungi, and useful as an 

 application in eruptive fevers and other skin diseases. Some 

 of these properties are attributed to the leaf stalk, and it is said 

 to have the special quality of quieting the pregnant uterus. 

 Two lotus-like flowers, brought from some foreign country, 

 and called i^I ^ jH ^ (Hung-pai-lien-hua), are spoken of in 

 the Pentsao. The prolonged use of these drives away old age 

 and gives a fine complexion. They may be Nymphaese. 



NEPETA GLECHOMA.— i^ @ % (Chi-hsiieh-ts'ao). 

 Because this plant has leaves like Chinese copper coin, it is 

 also called %^'^ (Ti-ch'ien-ts'ao) and % ^'% (Lien-ch'ien- 

 ts'ao). On account of its fragrance it is called ]|^ |^ i^ (Hu- 

 po-ho). It grows in the river valleys of the central and 

 northern provinces, and is the well known ground ivy. The 

 stalk and leaves of the plant are used in medicine, and their 

 chief virtue seems to be that of an antifebrile remedy. They 

 are also anodyne, and are prescribed in every form of fever and 

 in all sorts of spontaneous pain^ including toothache and 

 earache. 



NEPHEUUM LAPACUM.— IS ^ (Shao-tziS). This 

 grows in Lingnan, resembles the lichee^ and is esteemed as a 

 fruit. It is recommended in severe dysentery and as a warm- 

 ing carminative in " cold " dyspepsia* 



NEPHELIUM LITCHI.-||;^ (Li-chih), 700, ^|| (Tati- 

 li). Many of the sapindaceous plants are poisonous, but the 

 Nephelmm fruits are an exception, being much esteemed both 

 in the fresh and in the dry state. These grow throughout 

 China, but are only found in their perfection in the southerti 

 provinces ; those from Fukien being regarded as the best. The 

 fruits are dried in the sun or by artificial heat, and are used 

 as a sweetmeat at feasts, and often given as presents to the 

 newly married. They are not regarded as entirely without 

 deleterious propertieSj and when the raw fruits are partaken of 

 freely they are said to produce feverishness and nosebleed. 



