VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 



315 



PEUCEDANUM JAPONICUM.— jSjJ ^ (Fang-k'uei). 

 The root and leaves are like those of Malva, and tlie flowers, 

 seeds, and the odor and taste of the root are like ^ |^ (Fang- 

 feng) (see the next article), hence the name. The plant has 

 palmately three-divided leaves, and an umbelliferons flower 

 head with white flowers. The drug, which is the root, easily 

 decays. It is tested in water ; if it sinks it is good, but if it 

 floats it is decayed. Most observers regard the root as non- 

 poisonous, but by some it is considered to be slightly delete- 

 rious. Its properties are represented as eliminative, diuretic, 

 tussic, nerve sedative, and if taken for some time is thought to 

 benefit the marrow, increase the vitality, and give activity to 

 the body. It is prescribed in constipation, suppression of 

 urine, various mental and epileptoid affections, delirium and 

 hallucinations, nocturnal polyuria, malaria, and typhoid fever. 



PEUCEDANUM RIGIDUM, Pencedamun terebintha- 

 ceuni. — ^ ^ (Fang-feng), 292. At Peking this Chinese name 

 is sometimes applied to the former species, and in the mount- 

 ains of Hnpeh it represents the latter. But it properly refers 

 to Slier divaricatiini (which see). 



PHARBITIS HEDERACEA.— See Ipomcea hederacea. 



PHASEOLUS MUNGO.— i^ 1; (Lu-tou). Vicia saliva 

 is known by this Chinese name in Hupeh. This is a small 

 bunch-bean, the stalk growing to the height of a foot or more, 

 and having small, roundish, hairy leaves. It is grown exten- 

 sively for food, the bean being made into a congee, or only 

 cooked soft. It is also ground into a meal and used as a 

 porridge or pancake, and it is used for distilling into spirit. 

 It is also sprouted and the sprouts used as food. The beans 

 are largely fed to horses and cattle. Prolonged use of these 

 beans as food is thought to produce billiousness. The bean is 

 recommended to be used together with its tegmen, and is 

 considered to be a resolvent, carminative, antifebrile, and 

 counter-poisonous remedy. It is prescribed in the sequelae to 

 smallpox, obstinate dysentery, bladder difficulties in the aged, 

 and all sorts of poisons. The bean meal, 778, is similarly 



