ifTi CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



root, which is the part used in medicine, is also red. It is used 

 in throat difficulties, being made into a gargle with vinegar 

 and water. 



ARDISIA HORTORUM.— -0 S| ^ (Pai-liang-chin). 

 This is a woody shrub not more than two or three feet high, 

 growing in Yunnan. The leaves are at first green on both 

 sides ; but later the under side turns purple, and the shrub is 

 only partially deciduous. It bears pearl colored flowers and 

 fruits tlie size of a pea, which turn red when ripe. The root 

 is red and fleshy. It is used in fevers, throat difficulties, and 

 excessive salivation. 



ARDISIA JAPONICA.— ^ ^ i|^ (Tzu-chin-niu). This 

 grows in Fukien, has a leaf like that of the tea shrub, green 

 on the face and purple on the back. The fruits are round and 

 purplish-red in color. The root is used in medicine for 

 influenza and as a carminative. It is said to render fluid the 

 blood. >J^ ^ (Hsiao-ch'ing) is also suggested as Ardisia 

 japonica; but the descriptions do not agree. 



ARIS.^MA SURATUM.— p §ij fj (P'an-tao-tseng). 

 There is no description of this except that it has a stalk and 

 leaves like Mentha arvensis. It is antifebrile and thirst- 

 relieving. 



ASPARAGUS GIBBUS.— II %_ % (Luug-hsii-ts'ao). 

 This term is found in the Pentsao in two places ; but one 

 seems to refer to a cyperaceous grass used to make mats, while 

 the other refers to a sea- weed. Asparagus gibbits grows in the 

 northern provinces, but it does not seem to be mentioned in 

 the books. 



BECKMANNIA ERUC^FORMIS.— ]i :^ (Wang-ts'ao). 

 The classical name is ^ (Huang), and others are ^ g (Shou- 

 t'ien) and ^ ^ (Shou-ch'i). It grows in wet fields and resem- 

 bles wheat, but is smaller. It is ripe in the fourth month and 

 is used for food. It has some resemblance to Hydropyriim. 

 The grain is cooling, nutritious, and generally beneficial to the 

 digestive organs. 



