Compendium of Materia Medica

Compendium of Materia Medica Illustrations

A traditional Chinese woodblock botanical illustration of the Gualou plant (Trichosanthes kirilowii). The illustration depicts a climbing vine with several lobed leaves and two round, melon-like fruits hanging from the stems. At the top, the vine ends in a spiral tendril. The vine is shown growing from a large, elongated, and textured tuberous root at the bottom, which is the source of Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes root powder). The entire image is framed within a double-line border.