Introduction of Lian Zi and Lian Xu:Lotus Seed or Semen Nelumbinis, Lotus Stamen or Stamen Nelumbinis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Lotus Seed and Lotus Stamen, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Lotus Seed and Lotus Stamen, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Semen Nelumbinis(Lotus Seed).
Pin Yin Name: Lián Zǐ.
English Name: Lotus Seed.
Latin Name: Semen Nelumbinis.
Property and flavor: neutral in nature, tastes sweet, puckery.
Brief introduction: The Herb Semen Nelumbinis is the dried ripe seed of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., used as an astringent for the treatment of chronic diarrhea, spontaneous emission, and luekorrhagia. The herb is commonly known as Semen Nelumbinis, Lotus Seed, Lián Zǐ.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Semen Nelumbinis(Lian Zi) as the fruit or seed of the Nymphaeaceae family plant species (1).Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.It is a plant of the Nelumbo Gaertn genus, the Nelumbonaceae family (lotus-lily family) of the Proteales order. This commonly used species is introduced:
(1).Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.
Botanical description: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn is a plant of the Nymphaeaceae family (water lily family) and Nelumbo genus, it is commonly known as Nelumbo nucifera, or Lián, a perennial aquatic herb. Rhizomes grow cross, hypertrophic, internode is enlarged, many vertical venthole cavities inside, fibrous adventitious root grow outside. Leaves grow on nodes, and grow out on the water surface; the petiole inserted in the center of the leaf blade back, is thick, cylindrical, and thorniness; the leaf blade is circular, 25~90 cm in diameter, entire or slightly undulate, the upper surface is pinkish green, leaf veins radiate from the center on the under surface, with 1~2 secondary forked branches. Solitary flowers grow on the top end of the peduncle, peduncle and petiole are equal length or slightly longer, with scattered small thornlets; flower diameter is 10~20 cm, fragrance, red, pink, or white; petals are elliptic or obovate, 5~10 cm long, 3~5 cm wide; many stamens, anthers are stripe-shape, the filament is slender, inserted below receptacle; many carpels, hide in the enlarged receptacle, the ovary is elliptic, style is very short. After flowering the seedpod of the lotus grows out, obconical, 5~10 cm in diameter, with 20~30 small holes, 1 fruit in each hole; the nut is elliptic or oval, 1.5~2.5 cm long, the pericarp is coriaceous, firm and hard, turns black-brown when mature. Seeds are oval, or elliptic, 1.2~1.7 cm long, and spermoderm (seed coat) is red or white. Its flowering period is from June to August, the fruiting period is from August to October.
Ecological environment: The plant grows in marshy land, ponds, lake marsh, or paddy field, in the wild or cultivated. This species is mainly distributed in areas of China from south to north where there is water and is commonly cultivated in water gardens. This species is also distributed in Southeast Asia.
Growth characteristics: The plant prefers warm and humid climates, lotus seed starts to seedling when the soil temperature is over 10 °C (Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit), the stem and leaves grow when the temperature is over 15 °C (Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit), the temperatures of 20~30 °C (Celsius, or 68~86 degrees Fahrenheit) is suitable for its growth, flowering, and fruiting, 25~35 °C (Celsius, or 77~95 degrees Fahrenheit) is most suitable for the growth of lotus root, the plant stops growing when temperature lower than 15 °C (Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit). The requirement in water level:5~10 cm is optimum for the early stage of growth, 20~30 cm is optimum for the peak of the growing season, and the highest water level should not cover the leaves.
The rhizomes of the lotus are planted in the mud at the bottom of the pond or river, while the lotus leaves rise to the surface. A few centimeters of flower stems on the surface of the water grow flowers. The lotus generally grows to 150 cm in height and extends horizontally to 3 meters. The lotus leaf is up to 60 cm in diameter. The eye-catching lotus has a diameter of up to 20 cm. There are many cultivars for lotus, ranging from snow-white to yellow or pink.
Lotus can be bred with seeds or rhizomes. In particular, lotus seeds can survive for thousands of years. Some scientists have cultivated some thousand-year-old lotus seeds, and the lotus that has been produced is still alive. The two ancient lotus seeds found in the Yangshao cultural site have a history of more than 3,000 years, but they are too precious to be cultivated.
Building a pond with lotus plants and building bridges and bridges along the water constitutes a scenic view of the lotus. It is a traditional method of Chinese gardens. Scenic spots are widely used throughout the country. It also applies to garden water, purified water, or potted plants. The lotus root and lotus seeds are rich in nutrients. Raw and cooked foods are suitable. Lotus root stems can be processed into wolfberry powder, candied fruit, and so on. Lotus seeds have a soothing effect, often used as a soup or candied fruit, to nourish people. Lotus petals and young leaves can be eaten. All parts of lotus can be used as herbs.
Characters of herbs: The seeds are slightly elliptic or subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 1.2–1.7 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm in diameter, or 1.2–1.8 cm in diameter. The surface is light yellow-brown to reddish-brown, has fine longitudinal lines and wide veins, the center of the front end is papillary, dark brown, often has rifts, and its all-round and lower parts are slightly sunken. The spermoderm (seed coat) is thin, tightly appressed to the cotyledons, and not easy to peel off. The texture of the herb is hard, two yellowish-white hypertrophic cotyledons are visible after being broken, the center of which is concave into a groove shape with a green lotus plumule, or a small hole at the bottom without a lotus plumule. The herb has a slight odor, it tastes sweet, and slightly puckery, and the lotus plumule tastes extremely bitter. The herb of a better grade is big and full.
Pharmacological actions: ①.effect of astringency; ②.sedative action.
Medicinal efficacy: Nourishing the spleen and anti-diarrhea, stop leukorrhea, nourishing the heart, tonifying the kidney and stopping seminal emission, tranquilizing by nourishing the heart. It is indicated for dreaminess at night, feel ill at ease (unsettled), palpitate with fear, palpitation and insomnia, splenasthenic diarrhea (diarrhea due to spleen deficiency), splenasthenic chronic diarrhea, slipping diarrhea, diarrhea of deficiency type, protracted dysentery, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, morbid leukorrhea, spermatorrhea (seminal emission), emission with renal asthenia, aconuresis (incontinence of urine), stranguria with turbid discharge, etc.
Administration of Semen Nelumbinis (Lián Zǐ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Semen Nelumbinis (Lián Zǐ)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 6~15 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~4 qian (about 6~9 grams);or prepare to pill, powder; ③.Internally:water decoction, 6~15 grams;or prepared to pill, powder.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: the herb Semen Nelumbinis should avoid using in conditions abdominal distension, distention and fullness, constipation.
Stamen Nelumbinis(Lotus Stamen).
Pin Yin Name: Lián Xū.
English Name: Lotus Stamen.
Latin Name: Stamen Nelumbinis.
Property and flavor: neutral nature, tastes sweet, puckery.
Brief introduction: The Herb Stamen Nelumbinis is the dried stamen of Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., used as an astringent to consolidate kidney Qi for the treatment of seminal emission and leukorrhagia. The herb is commonly known as Lián Xū.
Botanical source: Common official herbal classics and other famous herbal classics defined the herb Stamen Nelumbinis (Lotus Stamen) as the dried stamen of Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. The Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn is a plant of the Nelumbo Gaertn genus, the Nelumbonaceae family(lotus-lily family) of the Proteales order. This commonly used species was introduced in last entry "Semen Nelumbinis (Lotus Seed)".
Characters of herbs: The herb is the dried stamen, linear(filate), often twisted spirally, anthers are 1.2–1.5 cm long, and about 2 mm in diameter, faint yellow (pale yellow), 2-loculed, vertical split, and contain much yellow pollen inside; filaments are filiform (threadlike) and slightly flat, slightly curved, 1-1.5 cm long, brown or tan (chocolate brown), light. The herb has a slight odor, and it tastes slightly puckery.
Medicinal efficacy: Clearing away the heart fire, tonifying the kidney, stopping seminal emission, hemostasis (stanch bleeding). It is indicated for spermatorrhea (seminal emission), frequent urination, uracratia (enuresis, bed-wetting), morbid leukorrhea, hematemesis (spitting blood), hemorrhinia (nose bleeding), metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, diarrhea and dysentery, etc.
Administration of Stamen Nelumbinis (Lián Xū):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Stamen Nelumbinis (Lián Xū)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 3~5 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 0.8~1.5 qian (about 2.4~4.5 grams);or prepare to pill, powder; ③.Internally:water decoction, 3~9 grams;or prepared to pill, powder.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: the herb Lotus Stamen should avoid be used with rehmannia root, scallion, garlic. The herb should not be used in conditions inhibition of urination.
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1.Introduction of Lian Zi and Lian Xu:Lotus Seed or Semen Nelumbinis, Lotus Stamen or Stamen Nelumbinis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Lotus Seed and Lotus Stamen, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source one plant species, ①.Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of this plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, the features of the herb Lotus Seed and Lotus Stamen, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Lián Zǐ.
Botanical description: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn is a plant of the Nymphaeaceae family (water lily family) and Nelumbo genus, it is commonly known as Nelumbo nucifera, or Lián, a perennial aquatic herb. Rhizomes grow cross, hypertrophic, internode is enlarged, many vertical venthole cavities inside, fibrous adventitious root grow outside. Leaves grow on nodes, and grow out on the water surface; the petiole inserted in the center of the leaf blade back, is thick, cylindrical, and thorniness; the leaf blade is circular, 25~90 cm in diameter, entire or slightly undulate, the upper surface is pinkish green, leaf veins radiate from the center on the under surface, with 1~2 secondary forked branches. Solitary flowers grow on the top end of the peduncle, peduncle and petiole are equal length or slightly longer, with scattered small thornlets; flower diameter is 10~20 cm, fragrance, red, pink, or white; petals are elliptic or obovate, 5~10 cm long, 3~5 cm wide; many stamens, anthers are stripe-shape, the filament is slender, inserted below receptacle; many carpels, hide in the enlarged receptacle, the ovary is elliptic, style is very short. After flowering the seedpod of the lotus grows out, obconical, 5~10 cm in diameter, with 20~30 small holes, 1 fruit in each hole; the nut is elliptic or oval, 1.5~2.5 cm long, the pericarp is coriaceous, firm and hard, turns black-brown when mature. Seeds are oval, or elliptic, 1.2~1.7 cm long, and spermoderm (seed coat) is red or white. Its flowering period is from June to August, the fruiting period is from August to October.
Growth characteristics: The plant prefers warm and humid climates, lotus seed starts to seedling when the soil temperature is over 10 °C (Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit), the stem and leaves grow when the temperature is over 15 °C (Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit), the temperatures of 20~30 °C (Celsius, or 68~86 degrees Fahrenheit) is suitable for its growth, flowering, and fruiting, 25~35 °C (Celsius, or 77~95 degrees Fahrenheit) is most suitable for the growth of lotus root, the plant stops growing when temperature lower than 15 °C (Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit). The requirement in water level:5~10 cm is optimum for the early stage of growth, 20~30 cm is optimum for the peak of the growing season, and the highest water level should not cover the leaves.
The rhizomes of the lotus are planted in the mud at the bottom of the pond or river, while the lotus leaves rise to the surface. A few centimeters of flower stems on the surface of the water grow flowers. The lotus generally grows to 150 cm in height and extends horizontally to 3 meters. The lotus leaf is up to 60 cm in diameter. The eye-catching lotus has a diameter of up to 20 cm. There are many cultivars for lotus, ranging from snow-white to yellow or pink.
Lotus can be bred with seeds or rhizomes. In particular, lotus seeds can survive for thousands of years. Some scientists have cultivated some thousand-year-old lotus seeds, and the lotus that has been produced is still alive. The two ancient lotus seeds found in the Yangshao cultural site have a history of more than 3,000 years, but they are too precious to be cultivated.
Characters of herbs: The seeds are slightly elliptic or subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 1.2–1.7 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm in diameter, or 1.2–1.8 cm in diameter. The surface is light yellow-brown to reddish-brown, has fine longitudinal lines and wide veins, the center of the front end is papillary, dark brown, often has rifts, and its all-round and lower parts are slightly sunken. The spermoderm (seed coat) is thin, tightly appressed to the cotyledons, and not easy to peel off. The texture of the herb is hard, two yellowish-white hypertrophic cotyledons are visible after being broken, the center of which is concave into a groove shape with a green lotus plumule, or a small hole at the bottom without a lotus plumule. The herb has a slight odor, it tastes sweet, and slightly puckery, and the lotus plumule tastes extremely bitter. The herb of a better grade is big and full.
Pin Yin Name: Lián Xū.
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