Sword flower

Sword flower

(Guangdong traditional Chinese Medicine)

[synonyms] tianchihua, bawanghua (Lingnan medicine collection record), Tanhua (Guangzhou flora), qixingjianhua, longlonglonghua (Guangdong traditional Chinese Medicine II), Bawangbian (Guangzhou Air Force Manual of commonly used Chinese herbal medicine).

[source] it is the flower of Tianchi, a cactus plant.

[plant morphology] Tianchi

Perennial climbing plants. The stem is very elongated, about 8 meters long or longer. It climbs on shrubs or trees or walls with air roots. It is green and fleshy, and often shrinks into nodes. It has three broad edges, with wavy edges. The leaves degenerate, and there are small pit holes in the armpit of the edge. The distance between pit holes is 4-5 cm, and there are 1-3 small spines. Flowers solitary, open at night, closed during the day, 25-30 cm long; calyx petal shaped, yellow green, lobes thick, lanceolate, reflexive, calyx tube with large scales, without thorns; petals pure white, erect; stamens mostly, 2-row, milky white; ovary inferior, style 1, stigma split, lobes milky white. Fleshy berry elliptic, ca. 10 cm long, red, scaly, nearly smooth when ripe. The flowering period is summer and autumn.

It grows on waste walls or trees and is cultivated in gardens.

[collection] the flowers were harvested in summer and autumn, cut longitudinally (connected with the base), steamed slightly and dried in the sun.

[medicinal material] the dried flowers are irregular long bundles, about 15-17 cm long. Perianth brown or yellowish brown. The slender part of calyx tube is twisted into fascicles, and there are scales on the outside. Upper perianth narrowly lanceolate, longitudinally veined, often several whorls glued together. There are many stamens in perianth. The air is weak and the taste is slightly sweet. It is better to have big flower, bright color and sweet taste.

Made in Guangdong.

[chemical constituents] TRIACONTANE and β - sitosterol were isolated from the whole plant.

[nature and taste] Guangdong traditional Chinese Medicine II: "sweet, slightly cold. "

[functions and indications] ① Lingnan medicine collection record: "it can stop Qi and pain, regulate phlegm and fire, cough, and take pork decoction.". "

② "Clearing away heat, moistening lung and relieving cough" is a common Chinese herbal medicine manual of Guangzhou air force. Treatment of tuberculosis, bronchitis, cervical lymph node tuberculosis, mumps. "

[usage and dosage] oral: decoction, 3-5 yuan.

Chinese PinYin : Jian Hua