✵The article records the herb Red Peony Root—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Paeonia lactiflora Pall. and (2) Paeonia veitchii Lynch, along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb Red Peony Root; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Red Peony Root)
Pinyin Name: Chì Sháo
English Name: Red Peony Root
Latin Name:Radix Paeoniae Rubra Properties and Flavor: Slightly cold; bitter
Brief Introduction:Radix Paeoniae Rubra is the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch. It is used to dispel blood stasis, clear heat from the blood, and cool the blood. It is indicated for epidemic febrile diseases with maculopapular eruptions, pain due to blood stasis, dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, traumatic injuries, boils, and sores. The herb is commonly known as Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Red Peony Root, or Chì Sháo.
Botanical Source:Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Red Peony Root) is the dried root of Paeonia lactiflora Pall. or Paeonia veitchii Lynch—both perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the genus Paeonia, family Paeoniaceae (peony family), order Saxifragales. The two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Paeonia lactiflora Pall.
Botanical Description: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. is a perennial flowering herb of the family Paeoniaceae and genus Paeonia. It is also known as Paeonia albiflora Pall. and commonly referred to as White Peony or Sháo Yào. Plants grow 40–70 cm tall and are glabrous. The main root is hypertrophied, fusiform (spindle-shaped) or cylindrical, and dark brown to blackish-brown. The stem is erect and branched in the upper part; several sheath-like membranous scales occur at the base. Leaves are alternate; petioles reach up to 9 cm in length, with shorter petioles on upper stem leaves. Lower stem leaves are biternate compound leaves; upper stem leaves are trifoliolate. Leaflets are narrowly ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate (7.5–12 cm long, 2–4 cm wide), with an acuminate apex and cuneate or oblique base; margins bear white cartilaginous teeth. Both surfaces are glabrous, though sparse pubescence may occur along the veins on the lower surface; texture is nearly coriaceous (subcoriaceous).
Flowers are hermaphroditic, grow singly or in small clusters at the stem apex or in leaf axils, 7–12 cm in diameter. There are 4–5 lanceolate bracts of unequal size; 4 sepals (calyx lobes), broad-ovate to orbicular (1–1.5 cm long, 1–1.7 cm wide), green and persistent; 9–13 obovate petals (3.5–6 cm long, 1.5–4.5 cm wide), usually white—sometimes with dark purple (modena) or pink patches at the base; cultivated varieties exhibit diverse flower colors and polyphyllous forms. Stamens are numerous; filaments are 7–12 mm long; anthers are yellow. The floral disc is shallowly cyathiform (cotyloid), enveloping the base of the carpels; apical lobes are blunt. Carpels number 2–5, free, and glabrous.
Follicles are ovate or ovoid (2.5–3 cm long, 1.2–1.5 cm in diameter), with a beaked apex. Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting from June to August.
Ecological Environment: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. grows on sunny hillsides, grasslands, and along forest margins.
Growth Characteristics: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. prefers a warm, humid climate but is cold-tolerant and drought-resistant; it does not tolerate waterlogging. Optimal cultivation sites receive ample sunlight, have deep, well-drained, fertile, loose loam or sandy loam soils rich in humus. Saline-alkaline soils and low-lying waterlogged areas should be avoided. Continuous cropping is discouraged; crop rotation with Carthamus tinctorius, Chrysanthemum morifolium, or legumes is recommended.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried root is cylindrical and slightly curved, 10–40 cm long and 0.6–3 cm in diameter. The surface is brown to blackish-brown, coarse and rough, bearing thick, slightly twisted longitudinal wrinkles and prominent lenticels; the outer periderm peels off easily. The texture is hard and brittle, fracturing readily; the fracture surface is flat, pinkish-white or yellowish-white, with a narrow, dark-colored cortex and conspicuous radial xylem (wood) rays—sometimes fissured. The herb has a faint fragrance and a slightly bitter, astringent taste.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and cools the blood, invigorates blood and dispels stasis, and alleviates pain. It is indicated for febrile maculopapular eruptions, hematemesis and epistaxis, hematochezia, conjunctival redness and swelling with ocular pain, liver qi stagnation with hypochondriac pain, menorrhagia and dysmenorrhea, abdominal masses and abdominal pain, traumatic injuries, hernia, blood stasis and qi stagnation, and carbuncles and abscesses.
Administration of Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chì Sháo):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Radix Paeoniae Rubra (Chì Sháo)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 6–12 grams; (2) Internally: Water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (≈4.5–9 grams), or prepared as pills or powders; (3) Internally: Water decoction, 4–10 grams, or prepared as pills or powders.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Radix Paeoniae Rubra is contraindicated with Veratrum nigrum (black false hellebore). It should be used with caution in cases of blood deficiency without stasis or in patients with ulcerated sores.
(2) Paeonia veitchii Lynch.
Botanical Description: Paeonia veitchii Lynch is a perennial herb of the family Paeoniaceae (peony family) and genus Paeonia. It is commonly known as trichocarpous peony, Máo Guǒ Chì Sháo ("hairy-fruited red peony"), or Tiáo Chì Sháo ("striped red peony"). Plants grow 30–120 cm tall. The root is cylindrical, solitary or branched, 1.5–2 cm in diameter. The stem is erect, with a thick, bluntly angled margin, and glabrous. Leaves are alternate; petioles measure 3–9 cm in length. Lower stem leaves are biternate compound leaves; the leaf blade outline is broadly ovate (7.5–20 cm long). Leaflets are pinnately lobed; lobes are narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate (4–16 mm wide), with an acuminate apex and entire margins. The upper surface is dark green, with sparse pubescence along the veins; the lower surface is pale green (pea-green), glabrous, and prominently veined.
Flowers are hermaphroditic, usually 2–4 per plant, grow singly or in small clusters at the stem apex or in leaf axils—typically only one flower opens at a time. Flowers measure 4.2–10 cm in diameter. There are 2–3 lanceolate bracts (3–7 cm long), either entire or shallowly parted. There are 4 sepals (calyx lobes), broad-ovate (1.7 cm long, 1–1.4 cm wide), green and persistent. Petals number 6–9, obovate (2.3–4 cm long, 1.5–3 cm wide), violet-red (purple-red) or pink. Stamens are numerous; filaments are 5–10 mm long; anthers are yellow. The floral disc is succulent and envelops only the base of the carpels. Carpels number 2–5, free, densely covered with yellow tomentum; styles are persistent.
Follicles are 1–2 cm long, densely covered with yellow tomentum; mature fruits dehisce and often reflex backward. Flowering occurs from May to June; fruiting from July to August.
Ecological Environment: Paeonia veitchii Lynch grows in forests on mountain slopes, along roadsides, or at forest margins, at elevations of 1,800–3,700 m above sea level.
✵The article records the herb Red Peony Root—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Paeonia lactiflora Pall. and (2) Paeonia veitchii Lynch, along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb Red Peony Root; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Chì Sháo
Botanical Description: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. is a perennial flowering herb of the family Paeoniaceae and genus Paeonia. It is also known as Paeonia albiflora Pall. and commonly referred to as White Peony or Sháo Yào. Plants grow 40–70 cm tall and are glabrous. The main root is hypertrophied, fusiform (spindle-shaped) or cylindrical, and dark brown to blackish-brown. The stem is erect and branched in the upper part; several sheath-like membranous scales occur at the base. Leaves are alternate; petioles reach up to 9 cm in length, with shorter petioles on upper stem leaves. Lower stem leaves are biternate compound leaves; upper stem leaves are trifoliolate. Leaflets are narrowly ovate, elliptic, or lanceolate (7.5–12 cm long, 2–4 cm wide), with an acuminate apex and cuneate or oblique base; margins bear white cartilaginous teeth. Both surfaces are glabrous, though sparse pubescence may occur along the veins on the lower surface; texture is nearly coriaceous (subcoriaceous).
Ecological Environment: Paeonia lactiflora Pall. grows on sunny hillsides, grasslands, and along forest margins.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried root is cylindrical and slightly curved, 10–40 cm long and 0.6–3 cm in diameter. The surface is brown to blackish-brown, coarse and rough, bearing thick, slightly twisted longitudinal wrinkles and prominent lenticels; the outer periderm peels off easily. The texture is hard and brittle, fracturing readily; the fracture surface is flat, pinkish-white or yellowish-white, with a narrow, dark-colored cortex and conspicuous radial xylem (wood) rays—sometimes fissured. The herb has a faint fragrance and a slightly bitter, astringent taste.
Botanical Description: Paeonia veitchii Lynch is a perennial herb of the family Paeoniaceae (peony family) and genus Paeonia. It is commonly known as trichocarpous peony, Máo Guǒ Chì Sháo ("hairy-fruited red peony"), or Tiáo Chì Sháo ("striped red peony"). Plants grow 30–120 cm tall. The root is cylindrical, solitary or branched, 1.5–2 cm in diameter. The stem is erect, with a thick, bluntly angled margin, and glabrous. Leaves are alternate; petioles measure 3–9 cm in length. Lower stem leaves are biternate compound leaves; the leaf blade outline is broadly ovate (7.5–20 cm long). Leaflets are pinnately lobed; lobes are narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate (4–16 mm wide), with an acuminate apex and entire margins. The upper surface is dark green, with sparse pubescence along the veins; the lower surface is pale green (pea-green), glabrous, and prominently veined.
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