Illustrated Investigation of Plant Names and Realities

The illustration on this page is a masterwork of Qing Dynasty botanical art. It depicts the Shashen (Adenophora) with scientific precision, showing the thick, fleshy taproot that is the primary source of medicine. Above ground, the artist has captured the plant’s serrated leaves and its distinctive clusters of nodding, bell-shaped flowers. This visual detail was revolutionary for its time, allowing readers to distinguish the "True Shashen" from lookalikes in the wild.