VEGETABLE KINGDOM. 407 



of Benincasa cerifera, and pomegranate bark, digested in 

 spirits for three dnys. Applied to the face after first washing, 

 and doing this for some days, tlie skin will gradually assume 

 a lustrous appearance like jade. 



SIEGSBECKIA ORIENTALIS.— |i 1^ (Hsi-lien), 395, 

 It « # (Chu-kao-mu), j^ # (Hu-kao), |S| ^ (Kou-kao), |^ 

 W\ '% (Nien-hu-ts'ai). This composite plant is said to smell 

 like a pig and have an acrid, bitter taste ; hence the principal 

 name. The third and fourth names are derived from the fact 

 that wounds by dogs and tigers are treated with this drug, 

 and the last name from the use of the plant as food after 

 boiling, which removes the bad odor and taste and produces 

 a mucilaginous pot-herb. It is probable that a number of 

 varieties, species, or even genera, are included under the 

 several names given for the plant in the Pentsao. Li Shih- 

 chen gives a lengthy description of the diflferences, but in 

 general characteristics the plants seem to be very similar. 

 Some are regarded as being slightly deleterious (emetic), while 

 others are thought to have no untoward properties. It is used 

 in worm fever and loss of appetite, in wounds to relieve pain, 

 as a mild stimulant in ulcers, in chronic malaria, dog and 

 tiger bites, spider and insect bites, and numbness of the extrem- 

 ities. Two other similar plants are mentioned in a footnote 

 to this article, called |^ ^^ (Lei-pi) and q^ M ^ (Yang-shih- 

 ch'ai) ; but these are not identified. The leaves of the former 

 are used as a tonic, and those of the latter to treat cancerous 

 sores. The root of this latter may be used to poison fish. 



SILER DIVARICATUM.— pj^ Jt (Fang-feng), 292. 

 This is an umbelliferous plant, and it is not quite certain 

 whether the name refers to this, to Peiicedarnim rigidtun^ or 

 to Peucedanii7fi ferebinthaceum; possibly to all these, as well 

 as to others. There is not much description, and that given 

 is very unsatisfactory. The plant is found in most of the 

 central and northern provinces. It is compared to the fennel 

 plant, and is eaten as a pot-herb. The best root is sold in 

 long, brownish-yellow, irregular, branching pieces, having 

 some of the stem attached to the root-stock. It has a sweetish 



