...imitate the "lacquer head" characteristic of the genuine variety.

Gold Star Grass

original: 金星草 (Jinxingcao); likely the Scurfy Fern (Phymatodes hastata) or a similar species of Lepisorus.

(Illustration: A woodcut depicting a fern-like plant growing from sloped ground adjacent to a decorative, porous garden rock. The fronds are marked with distinct, circular spots.)

This illustration is a classic example of a Chinese botanical woodcut from a historical Bencao|A traditional pharmacopoeia or herbal manual. It highlights the essential diagnostic features used by herbalists to identify the plant in the wild—specifically the prominent sori|Clusters of spore-producing structures on the underside of the leaves. These spots, often golden-yellow or orange in color, are the namesake "gold stars" of the herb.