Illustrated Investigation of Plant Names and Realities
Page Seven
Vining Plants, Volume 22

Hanging Vine

The Hanging Vine original: 倒掛藤, Dǎoguàténg; literally "the vine that hangs backward" grows in Nan'an A historical prefecture in modern-day Jiangxi Province. It has a vining growth habit and stems of a purple color. Its leaves are notable for having long stalks original: 長柄, chángbǐng; referring to the elongated petioles that attach the leaf to the stem; the upper surface of the leaf is a deep green, while the underside is pale. In the autumn, it produces five-petaled purple flowers with yellow centers. It bears fruit resembling peppercorns original: 椒, jiāo; likely referring to the texture or shape of the Sichuan pepper that are approximately the size of a bean. Folk doctors 俚醫 (lǐyī): rural or local healers whose knowledge often came from oral tradition rather than formal texts use this plant to treat wind-vapors 風氣 (fēngqì): a traditional medical term for ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, or limb numbness believed to be caused by "wind" and "dampness" in the body.