|
Ludisia discolor (Ker-Gawl.) A. Rich.
|
English Name |
Discolor Ludisia, Rock Silk-worm |
|
Latin name |
Ludisia discolor (Ker-Gawl.) A. Rich. |
|
Family & Genus |
Orchidaceae, Ludisia |
|
Description |
Perennial herbs, plant 25cm tall. Stem near base with (2-) 3-4 leaves. Leaves ovate or ovate oblong, fleshy, 3-7cm long, 1.7-3cm wide, upper greenish black with 5glossy golden red veins, below light red, longitudinal veins 5 and network veins red or golden yellow; petiole 1.5-2.2cm long, bottom sheath amplexicaul with 2-3 light red sheath like bracts. Inflorescence has flowers 2-10, 3-8cm long, rachis pubescent, bract ovate or ovate lanceolate, light red, membranous, ca. 1.5cm long, fine ciliate, ovary cylindrical, crispately pubescent, peduncle 1.5-2cm long, flowers white or light red, ca. 7mm in diam; dorsal sepal ovate elliptic, cymbiform, equilong, 8-9mm long, pasting with petals cucullate, lateral sepal obliquely ovate or nearly elliptic, 0.9-1cm long, back front carinate; petals nearly semi-ovate, 8-9mm long, labellum 0.9-1cm long, bottom with the gynandrium inferior connate into a tube, base vesicular, upper twisting, middle 2mm wide, top horizontal rectangular, 5-6mm wide, labellum base capsule 2 lobed, with 2 fleshy callosums in capsule; gynamdrium ca. 5mm long, underpart slender, top expanding, stigma 1, under the rostellum of gynamdrium front. Flowering: February to April. |
|
Distribution |
Growing on hill-slopes or dank places under ever-green and broad–leaf forests in ravines. Distributed in North and Central Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangxi and Southeast Yunnan. The medicinal materials are mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Yunnan and etc. |
|
Part Used |
Medical part: whole plant. Chinese name: Xueyelan. |
|
Harvest & Processing |
Harvested in summer and autumn, used fresh or chopped into segments, and sun-dried. |
|
Properties & Actions |
Taste sweet, cool in nature.Nourishing yin moistening the lung, invigorating spleen and calming the mental state. |
|
Indications & Usage |
Used for tuberculous empsyxis, poor appetite, neurasthenia.Oral administration: decocting, 3-9g, fresh products 9-15g. |
|
Examples |
Empsyxis due to tuberculosis: discolor ludisia herb 30g. Wash clean, chew and swallow, or pestle, collect and drink the juice. |
|
