440 CHINKSK MATERIA MEDICA. 



red dish -brown membrane. They have little taste, but are 

 repnted to be peptic, anthelmintic, laxative, and tussic in their 

 qualities. They contain much oil, and in Japan this is ex- 

 pressed and sold on the market. They can be eaten in large 

 quantities without fear of disease from their use. The Pen- 

 tsao distinguished the \]^ ^ as being slightly deleterious ; so 

 sometimes this must refer to the fruits of another tree ; prob- 

 ably CunniiigJiaviia. Their only use is as an anthelmintic. 

 A product called \% ^- (Pai-hua), and described as flower of 

 Torrcya iiucifcra^ is also given. It is said to be bitter, car- 

 minative, anthelmintic, and to give a good color. It cannot 

 be taken very long without deleterious effects 



TRACHYCARPUS EXCELSA.— fi |i (Tsuug-lii) ; see 

 Ch a m cprops c. reels a . 



TRACHYLOSPERMUM JASMINOIDEvS.— ^^ M (Wan- 

 Ian) ; see Metaplcxis staiDitonii. ^ ^ (Lo-shih) ; see RJiyn- 

 cospcrnmm jasiiiinoides. 



TRAPA BISPINOSA, Trapa natans.—^ ^ (Chi-shih), 

 ^(Ling), 7j< ^ (Shiu-li). This is the watcr-calthrop^ or ivaier- 

 chestmit. The common names are ^ Vj (Ling-chio) and ^ ^ 

 (Lao-ling). The common kind is the two horned ; but there 

 are three and four horned kinds. The first name is said to 

 refer to the three horned, while Ling refers to the two and 

 four horned. But in central China they are all called Ling. 

 The plant is sometimes confounded with Euryale ferox. It 

 grows plentifully in the ponds, lakes, and rivers of China, 

 has been used from very ancient times as an article of diet, 

 and is included among the things to be offered in religious 

 ritual. Li Shih-chen gives a very good description of the 

 plant, its fruit, and the manner of cultivation. It is said that 

 if eaten raw it will injure the digestive tract, producing worms 

 and intestinal disorders. This is not surprising, since the nut 

 is usually produced in filthy ponds. Boiled, it is eaten in great 

 quantities with great relish by all classes of people, especially 

 children, and without danger. It is regarded as nutritions and 

 constructive, and being a water product, it is thought to 



