VEGETABLK KINGDOM. 319 



PHYLLOSTACHYS.— ^ ft (Tzii-chu), i^ ft (Shui- 

 chu). See Bavibitsa. 



PHYSALIS AIvKEKENGL— |$^(Snaii-chiang). This 

 is a common plant, its habitat being the provinces of Hukiiang; 

 but it is also grown in fields and gardens in other parts of the 

 empire. The plant resembles Solanum 7iigrum^ bears small 

 white flowers, and a reddish-yellow, cherry-like fruit, enclosed 

 in an inflated calyx. On account of this bladder-like calyx, the 

 plant is called '^ || :^ (Teng-leng-ts'ao), "lantern plant". 

 The fruit is edible, bat does not have much taste. The seeds 

 are sour and the shoot is bitter. A smaller kind is called ^ Ij^ 

 (K'u-chih). This is Physalis angiilata. The shoot, leaves, 

 stalk, and root are used in medicine, and are considered to be 

 antifebrile, diuretic, and expectorant. They are prescribed in 

 a number of feverish conditions, especially those of children. 

 The seeds are also used, and besides the properties ascribed to 

 the other parts, they are said to promote easy labor, and to 

 specially benefit children. 



PHYTOLACCA ACINOSA.— •^- ^ (Shaug-lu), iiii. 

 This term also evidently includes Phytolacca dccandra. Two 

 kinds are described ; one with white flowers and a white root 

 which is edible when cooked, and the other with reddish- 

 purple flowers and a purple root which is poisonous. The 

 former is cultivated in some parts of the empire for food. The 

 toxic action of the drug is said to manifest itself in bloody 

 stools and hallucinations. It is prescribed in dropsy and as a 

 counter-poison, especially in abdominal parasites. Externally 

 it is used in foul sores of all kinds. The flowers, called ^ f^ 

 (Ch'ang-hua), are prescribed in apoplexy. 



PICRIS REPENS.— j^ ^- ii (Hu-huang-lien). See 

 Barkhaiisia repens. 



PIERIS OVALIFOLIA.— f,i % (Li-mu). No description 

 is given of this tree, except that its wood is veined in dark 

 green, from which fact it receives its name. A tincture (of 



