Compendium of Materia Medica

original: 本草綱目, Běncǎo Gāngmù; the most comprehensive and influential pharmaceutical text in traditional Chinese medicine, compiled by Li Shizhen in the 16th century.

Chickpea

original: 回回豆, Huíhuí dòu; literally "Muslim bean," referring to the Hui people and the plant's introduction from Central or West Asia via the Silk Road. Scientifically known as Cicer arietinum.

According to the Famine Relief Herbal original: 救荒本草, Jiùhuāng Běncǎo; a 15th-century treatise on plants edible during famines, the Chickpea is also known as the Nahe bean original: 那合豆, Nàhédòu; a transcription of the Persian word for chickpea, nakhud. It grows in wild fields. The stems are green, and the leaves resemble those of the puncture vine original: 蒺藜, jílí; Tribulus terrestris; they also look like the young, tender leaves of the honey locust original: 皁莢, zàojiá, but they possess fine serrations along the edges. It opens five-petaled, pale purple flowers that look similar to those of the goosefoot plant original: 漢藜, hànlí. It produces pods that are shaped like almonds original: 杏仁, xìngrén but are plumper. Inside are beans that resemble morning glory seeds original: 牽牛子, qiānniúzǐ but are slightly larger. The taste is sweet. Gather the beans and boil them to eat.