Sancai Tuhui, Volume 8: Plants, Section 6
Page 7

Melia

The fruit of the Melia is the same as the Golden Bell seed original: 金鈴子 (jinlingzi), so named for the fruit's shape and color. It grows in the valleys of Mount Jingshan, though it is now found everywhere; those sourced from the Shuchuan region modern-day Sichuan are considered the finest. The tree grows to a height of over ten feet, with dense leaves that resemble the locust tree but are longer. In the third or fourth month of the lunar calendar, it produces reddish-purple blossoms whose fragrance fills the entire courtyard. The fruit is shaped like a small pellet, green when raw and turning yellow when ripe. The fruit is harvested in the twelfth lunar month, while the roots may be gathered at any time. There are male and female varieties of this species. The male variety has reddish roots, produces no seeds, and is highly toxic. The female variety has white roots, produces seeds, and is only slightly toxic; the female variety should be used for medicinal purposes. It is commonly known as the Bitter Melia seed. It is primarily used to treat febrile illnesses, "cold damage" disorders a broad category of acute infectious diseases in traditional medicine, and high fevers. It also kills the "three worms" a traditional term for various internal parasites, heals scabies and sores, and aids the flow of the urinary tract.