VEGETABI^E KINGDOM. 383 



RUBUS THUNBERGIL— $i fi (P'eng-lei). H (Piao) 

 is a name for berries like the blackberr)^, raspberry, or straw- 

 berry. Under the present article in the Pentsao a number 

 of species and varieties of Riibus are mentioned, such as 

 1^ g ^ (Nou-t'ien-piao), which is Riibus pai'vijolius ; ^ -^ 

 ^ (Hao-ying-piao), Rnbits tn'Jidus ; % ^ (Han-mei), Rubiis 

 buergeri ; J^ ffl ^ (Ch'a-t'ien-piao), Riibus corcanus ; and 

 ^ ^ -^ (Tung-piao-tzn), Riibiis ichaiigensis. The general 

 description given in the Pentsao is quite characteristic, but 

 detailed account of the various species is so incomplete that 

 identifications are difficult. Nor is this necessary, since all 

 are used medicinally in the same way. These fruits are 

 said to quiet the five viscera, strengthen the virile powers, 

 increase the yin^ give force and vigor to the body, and 

 promote fertility. They improve the complexion, promote 

 the growth of hair, and cure fevers and colds. The shoots 

 and leaves are used in the same cases as those of the Fii- 

 P^en-izYt. 



RUBUS TOKKURA.— ^ ^ ^ (Fu-p'en-tzii), 335. 

 Ancient writers did not distinguish this from the last. The 

 Chinese name, meaning "a turned-over bowl," refers to the 

 shape of the fruit. A number of other names are given, some 

 of which evidently refer to a foreign origin for the plant. 

 Some of the names given in the last article are also applied to 

 this. This is the common Chinese wild raspberry, resembling 

 the American Rubiis sij^zgosus. It is found in the uplands of 

 the central and western provinces, and the fruit is not much 

 used by the Chinese, especially in the fresh state. It is some- 

 times dried or made into jam. The fruit is bruised, made into 

 cakes, and dried for medicinal use, or it is made into a conserve 

 with honey. It is supposed to benefit respiration, give vigor 

 to the body, and prevent the hair from turning grey. Tonic, 

 restorative, and aphrodisiac properties are ascribed to it, and it 

 is recommended in phthisis, wasting, diabetes, impotence in 

 the male and sterility in the female. The fresh leaves are 

 bruised and the juice employed in ophthalmia, especially the 

 infectious kind. The root is used in decoctiou in ophthalmia 

 and opacities following smallpox. 



