Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica, Volume 4 (1871) - Page 3

Excerpts from the Annotated Catalog of Stone and Herbaceous Plants, Volume 4


Elephant Trunk Herb original: "象鼻草" (Xiangbicao). Named for its coiled flower spike which resembles the trunk of an elephant.	Bone-Penetrating Herb original: "透骨草" (Tougucao). A name given to several plants believed to treat ailments residing deep within the joints and bones.	Immortal Herb literally "Never-Dying Herb," often referring to succulents or evergreens.
Fisted Yellow Chick likely a descriptive name for a plant with a curled, yellow rhizome or bud.	Chicken Foot Herb	Sword and Spear Herb traditionally used to treat wounds caused by metal weapons.
Bitter Earth-Gall original: "苦地膽" (Kudidan). Known for its intense bitterness and use in clearing "heat" from the body.	Arrowhead Wind	Red Fruit Herb
Hooking Gold Bark	Lapis Lazuli Herb original: "琉璃草" (Liulicao). Named for its vibrant blue flowers.	Immortal’s Jelly original: "仙人凍" (Xianrendong). A plant used to create a cooling herbal jelly, still popular today.
Golden Silk Herb original: "金絲草" (Jinsicao).	Red Pearl Great Brocade Herb	Vajra Herb original: "金剛草" (Jingangcao). Named after the vajra (ritual diamond/thunderbolt) due to the plant's toughness or its perceived strength in medicine.
Seven-Mile Stage	Foreign Fragrant Madder original: "番惹茹" (Fanreru). The prefix "Fan" indicates a species introduced from outside China.	Horse-tail Thread
Square and Upright Herb	Seven Immortals Herb	Great Mother Medicine
Blue Cloth Skirt original: "藍布裙" (Lanbuqun). A poetic name describing the shape and color of the flower.	Exposed Vein Herb	Hundred-Mile Stream Herb
Yellow Ancestor De	Spotted-Joint Yearning original: "斑節相思" (Banjie xiangsi). "Xiangsi" or "Yearning" is the traditional name for the acacia tree.	Wild Old Man
Wen-yu’s Crown original: "戴文玉" (Dai Wenyu). Likely a name referencing a specific historical figure or a literary allusion to jade-like beauty.	Golden Fruit Olive	Goose-Coming Red original: "雁來紅" (Yanlaihong). A plant whose foliage turns a brilliant red in autumn, coinciding with the migration of wild geese.