344 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



leaves are large, pinkish in color, and the plant grows to the 

 height of several feet. The stalk is as thick as a thumb and 

 hairy. The plant bears reddish-black seeds with white kernels, 

 which when steamed or roasted can be eaten. They are said 

 to relieve thirst and fever, brighten the eye, and benefit the 

 breath. They are prescribed in tuberculous swellings and 

 flatulence. The flowers are said to thin the blood, remove 

 obstructions, and ease pain. 



POLYGONUM Sp.—W- (Liao). In addition to those 

 already given, the Pentsao speaks of others under this title. 

 It is probable that the term more particularly refers to Poly- 

 gonum hydropiper^ Polygonum persicaria^ and Polygonum 

 bistorta ; but there are others mentioned, such as -^^ (Ch'ing- 

 liao), ^ ^ (Hsiang-liao), and ^ ^ (Ch'ih-liao), including 

 Polygonum barbatum and other edible species. They are 

 somewhat pungent in taste, but used for food. The seeds are 

 considered to be stimulant, carminative, and diuretic. They 

 are also used in scalp eruptions in children. The shoots and 

 leaves are carminative, warming, and anthehnintic. They 

 are prescribed in the cramps of liver diseases and cholera, in 

 dysentery in children, and for mad-dog bite. 



POLYGONUM TINCTORIUM.— ^^(Liao-lan). This 

 is mentioned in the Pentsao under the article on Lidigofera Sp. 

 (see that article). No medicinal properties are therefore dis- 

 tinguished from those belonging to the latter. 



Another tinctorial plant is mentioned in the Pentsao under 

 the name ^ '^ (Chin-ts'ao). An identification of Phalaris 

 arundinacea has been suggested for it, but the plant described 

 in the Pentsao is not Phalaris. The description corresponds 

 more to that of the Polygonaceae. Its common names are ^ ^ 

 (Lii-ju) and ^ ft (Lu-chu), and it is used for making a 

 greenish-yellow dye for cloth. It is used medicinally in old 

 coughs, asthma, tremor, itch, tinea, as an insecticide, in fevers 

 of children, and as a wash for foul sores. 



POLYPODIUM BAROMETZ.— ^ ^ (Kou-chi), 606. 

 This is Loureiro's term, and is the same as Cibotium barometz 

 of J. Smith. The plant is found extensively in eastern Asia, 



