490 CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA. 



horary character ^ belongs to the zodiacal constellation 

 Taurns, the ox. So this charaeter is used instead of '^. Li 

 Shih-chen describes both the black and the white (^ ^^ 

 Pai-ch'ou) kinds, the latter of which is frequently cultivated, 

 and is ipomoea 7iil. This has cordiform, tomentose leaves, 

 while the black kind has trilobed leaves. Both kinds bear 

 a beautiful blue flower. The fruit, which is a capsule, is 

 gathered while still unripe and roasted in honey, to be eaten as 

 a sweet-meat. It is called 5^ ^ (T'ien-ch'ieh), which is also a 

 name for Solamim nigrum. As seen in the Chinese shops, 

 the seeds of the two kinds are usually found mixed together. 

 Their properties are regarded as diuretic, anthelmintic and de- 

 obstruent, and they are prescribed in dropsy, constipation, to 

 promote menstruation, and to produce abortion. The seeds 

 have a sweetish and subacrid taste, and contain an essential oil 

 and brown, purgative resin. In the Indian Pharmacopoeia, they 

 are recommended as a substitute iox jalap. Several preparations 

 of the black seeds, which there go by the name of Kaladana,, 

 are found in India. 



LICHENS AND MOSSES.— Some kinds of these are 

 found mentioned in the Pentsao as being used in medicine. 

 One of them, ^ ^^. (Shih-jui), is found growing on the top of 

 mountains, especially the ^ (Meng) mountain in Kwangtung, 

 for which reason it is called ^ ]g :^ (Meng-ting-ch'a). The 

 description is not very clear. The plant may be a Liverwort. 

 It is considered to be tonic, rejuvenating, and nourishing. Its 

 use is recommended in fevers and as an expectorant. 



^ ^ (Sang-hua), ^ ^ (Sang-hsien), is a lichen or moss 

 growing on the bark of the mulberry tree. It is considered to 

 be strengthening to the spleen, lubricating to the intestines, 

 hemostatic in nose-bleed, hemoptysis, and menorrhagia, and is 

 prescribed in coughs. 



Another found on old pine trees is called ^ ^ (Ai-na), 

 and is similar to the above. One variety is used by Buddhist 

 priests as food. 



Another moss of lichen is known as i ^ ,|^ (T'u-ma- 

 tsung), and is likened to Tricomanes japonicum. The name 

 means * 'earthy horse mane," on account of its appearance. It 



