Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica (Vol. 6)

Page 4

Vegetables, Volume 16

Carrot

original: 胡蘿蔔 (Hu Luobo). The name literally translates to "foreign radish," signifying its introduction to China from Central or Western Asia (the "Hu" regions) during the Yuan Dynasty.

term: 植物名實圖考 (Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao); this is the title of the work, meaning "Illustrated Investigation of Plant Names and Realities," published in 1848 by Wu Qijun.

term: 蔬類 (Shulei); the "Vegetable" category or classification within this botanical compendium.

The following illustration from the original manuscript depicts the carrot plant (Daucus carota). It is a detailed woodcut showing the plant's characteristic feathery, lace-like foliage and a large, dense, rounded flower head known as an umbel. This level of detail in the 1848 edition represents a significant peak in traditional Chinese botanical art, emphasizing empirical observation.

[A detailed botanical woodcut illustration of a carrot plant, depicting its characteristic feathery foliage and a large, dense, rounded umbel of flowers.]