Illustrated Compendium of Materia Medica (Vol. 20) (1848) - Page 3

Creeping Herbs (Continued)


Prickly Plowshare original: Cilìtou (Polygonum perfoliatum). Also known as Mile-a-Minute Weed, named for its triangular leaves resembling a plow's blade and its hooked prickles.	Sour Vine original: Suānteng (Embelia laeta). Its leaves have a tart taste and are often used in traditional medicine or as a seasoning.	Wild Watermelon original: Yěxīgua (Hibiscus trionum). Named for its seed pods that vaguely resemble small melons.	Silver Carp Whiskers original: Liányúxu. A descriptive name for a plant with thin, trailing tendrils.	Golden Lotus original: Jīnliánhuā (Trollius chinensis). Though usually an upright herb, it appears here in the context of sprawling varieties.
Bone-Penetrating Dissolver original: Tòugǔxiāo (Glechoma longituba). A ground-creeping herb used for "dissolving" inflammation or pain that reaches the bones.	Wild Bitter Gourd original: Yěkǔguā (Momordica charantia var. abbreviata). A smaller, wilder relative of the common bitter melon vine.	Catfish Whiskers original: Niányúxu (Smilax sieboldii). Named for its long, sensitive tendrils that resemble the barbels of a catfish.	Golden Thread Hanging Turtle original: Jīnxiàn diào wūguī (Stephania cepharantha). A poetic name describing the way the round, shield-shaped leaf (the "turtle") hangs from a slender stem (the "golden thread").	Small Golden Melon original: Xiǎojīnguā (Gymnopetalum chinense). A vine producing small, orange-yellow fruits.


Horse Hoof Herb original: Mǎtícǎo. Likely refers to Centella asiatica (Gotu Kola), named for the hoof-like shape of the leaves.	Green Silk Vine original: Bìsīténg. A descriptive name for a slender, verdant vine.	Blood Vine original: Xuèténg (Spatholobus suberectus). Named for the reddish resin that oozes from the stem, used in medicine to "invigorate blood."	White Horse Bone original: Báimǎgǔ (Serissa japonica). A small shrub with white flowers and pale stems often categorized with trailing plants.
Melon Ear Herb original: Guā'ěrcǎo. A descriptive folk name likely referring to the leaf shape.	Golden Chicken Leg original: Jīnjītuǐ (Potentilla discolor). Named for the shape of its thickened, fleshy root.	Yellow Eel Vine original: Huángshànténg (Berchemia lineata). Named for its smooth, flexible stems that resemble a yellow eel.	Golden Peafowl original: Jǐnjī'ér (Caragana sinica). A shrub with pea-like flowers that can exhibit a low, sprawling growth habit.