Compendium of Medicinal Substances, Volume 33

Compendium of Materia Medica
Page Two

Water Caltrop Seed Originally from the Supplementary Records; also known as the Water Caltrop original: 别録 (Bielu). The water caltrop is known for its bat-like shape and starchy interior.

Euryale Seed Originally from the Classic of Materia Medica; also known as "Chicken Head" original: 雞頭 (Jitou). These are the seeds of the Gorgon plant (Euryale ferox); the name refers to the distinctive shape of the flower bud, which resembles a bird's head.

Water Chestnut Originally from the Supplementary Records; also known as Biqi original: 荸薺 (Biqi). While "Wu Yu" (literally "Black Taro") is an older name, Biqi remains the standard name for this crunchy aquatic tuber in modern Chinese.

Arrowhead From the Materia Medica of Master Rihua original: 日華 (Rihua). Referring to the Rihua Bencao, a 10th-century pharmaceutical text. Arrowhead (Sagittaria) is an aquatic plant with edible tubers.

Appendix of Miscellaneous Fruits

Twenty-one types from the Compendium and one type from the Supplement
Poisonous fruits are listed separately as an attachment at the end

Jinfuzi A fruit historically recorded as coming from the Persian region or Central Asia.

Pistachio original: 必思荅 (Bisi Da). This is an early phonetic transliteration of the Persian word pista.

Ganjianzi A fruit or seed mentioned in historical trade records, likely of foreign origin.