Tiger’s Paw

Tiger’s Paw Original: Huzhang (虎掌). In modern botanical terms, this is often identified as Pinellia pedatisecta. grows in the mountain valleys of Hanzhong A region in modern Shaanxi province. and in Yuanju An ancient county in modern Shandong province.; it is also found in the prefectures and commanderies north of the Yellow River. In the third or fourth month of the lunar calendar, the sprouts emerge to a height of over one foot. It has a single stem topped with leaves shaped like claws, with five or six lobes distributed in a pattern that is both sharp and rounded. One plant cluster produces seven or eight stems. Occasionally, a single stem emerges to form a flower spike An inflorescence. that stands straight up like a rat’s tail. In the middle, a leaf shaped like a spoon A spathe, a large leaf-like bract enclosing the flower cluster. wraps around the stem to form a chamber, with an opening on the side that is sharp at the top and wide at the bottom. Inside are tiny greenish-brown flowers. It produces fruit the size of hemp seeds; when ripe, they turn white and fall to the ground on their own. Each seed produces one plant.

In the ninth month, when the sprouts wither, the roots The tubers. are harvested. They are placed in a vessel with hot water and soaked for five to seven days. Once the water cools, it is changed; this is done three or four times a day to wash away the slime. It is then sun-dried for use. The people of Jizhou An ancient province covering parts of modern Hebei, Henan, and Shanxi provinces. harvest them similarly?.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb Original: Dahuang (大黃), literally "The Great Yellow," so named for the distinctive deep yellow color of its medicinal root.

(The woodcut illustration on this page depicts the Rhubarb plant with its characteristically large, lobed leaves and its thick, powerful rhizome system, which is the primary part used in traditional medicine.)