✵The article records the herb Patrinia—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources (two plant species): (1) Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Trev., and (2) Patrinia villosa Juss.—along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the morphological characteristics of the herb Patrinia; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Patriniae (Patrinia)
Pinyin Name: Bài Jiànɡ, Bài Jiànɡ Cǎo
English Name: Patrinia, Patrinia Herb, or Dahurian Patrinia Herb
Latin Name:Herba Patriniae Properties and Flavor: Cool, pungent, bitter
Brief Introduction:Herba Patriniae is the dried whole plant of Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Trev. or Patrinia villosa Juss., used for clearing heat, detoxifying, draining abscesses, invigorating blood circulation to remove stasis, and relieving pain—indicated for lung abscess, acute appendicitis, boils, sores, ulcers, and postpartum abdominal pain. It is commonly known as Herba Patriniae, Patrinia, or Bai Jiang Cao.
Botanical Source: Herbal classics define Herba Patriniae (Patrinia) as the dried whole plant of (1) Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Trev. or (2) Patrinia villosa Juss. Both belong to the genus Patrinia, family Valerianaceae (formerly classified under Caprifoliaceae, subfamily Valerianoideae), order Dipsacales. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch.ex Trev.
Botanical Description: Also known as Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Trev., this species is commonly called Yellow-flowered Patrinia, Huang Hua Bai Jiang, or Huang Hua Long Ya. It is a perennial herb reaching 70–130 cm in height. The underground rhizome is slender and elongated, decumbent or obliquely ascending, emitting a distinctive odor. The stem is erect, yellowish-green with purplish tinges, branched in the upper portion. Basal leaves are fasciculate, with long petioles; they wither and abscise during flowering. Cauline leaves are opposite; petioles measure 1–2 cm; upper leaves gradually become sessile. Leaf blades occur in 2–3 pairs and are pinnately divided, 5–15 cm long; the central lobe is largest—elliptic or ovoid; lateral lobes are narrowly elliptic to linear; apices are acuminate; bases are cuneate; margins are coarsely serrate; both surfaces are sparsely covered with coarse hairs or glabrous.
Cymose panicles aggregate into loose, large corymbs, terminal or axillary. Peduncles are often pubescent on both sides—or only on one side; at the base of the inflorescence are a pair of small, linear involucral bracts. Flowers are ~3 mm in diameter; the calyx is short, with five inconspicuous teeth; the corolla is yellow, 5-lobed in the upper portion, with a short tube bearing white, long hairs internally; there are four stamens, nearly equal in length to the corolla; the ovary is inferior, trilocular, but only one locule develops fully; the stigma is capitate.
Achenes are oblong-ovoid, 3–4 mm long; the margin is slightly flattened, extending dorsally and laterally into narrow, wing-like structures (aliform). Flowering occurs from July to September; fruiting from September to October.
Ecological Environment: This species grows along bush margins on hillsides and mountain slopes, in ditches and valleys, at forest edges and grasslands—including semi-humid grasslands—at altitudes of 700–1,600 meters above sea level.
Growth Characteristics:Patrinia scabiosaefolia prefers a moderately humid environment and is cold-tolerant. It grows in ordinary soils, though fertile sandy loam is optimal for cultivation.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is known as Herba Patriniae Scabiosaefoliae or Yellow-flower Patrinia Herb. The whole herb is often folded into bundles. The stem is cylindrical and curved, 5–15 cm long and 2–5 mm in diameter; the root top is up to 9 mm in diameter. There is cork bark on the surface—easy to fall off—that is purple-brown or dark-brown, with loose or dense nodes; bud marks and root marks are present on the nodes. The fracture surface is fibrous, with a brown duramen (wood core) at the center. The root is long-conical or long-cylindrical, 10 cm long and 1–4 mm in diameter; longitudinal striations are present on the surface, and the fracture surface is yellowish-white. The herb stem is cylindrical, 2–8 mm in diameter; the surface is yellowish-green or brown, with longitudinal ridges and fine striations, and inverted coarse hairs. The cauline leaves are mostly curled or broken; both surfaces are sparsely covered with white hairs. Intact leaves are pinnately parted or deeply divided, with 5–11 lobes, and margins are serrate; cauline leaves on the upper stem are smaller and often 3-lobed. Inflorescences or infructescences occur on some branch tips; the small flowers are yellow. The achenes are oblong-oval and lack membranous aliform bracts. The herb has a peculiar odor and tastes slightly bitter.
(2) Patrinia villosa Juss.
Botanical Description:Patrinia villosa Juss. is also known as Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss. or Valeriana villosa Thunb.; it is commonly known as White-flower Patrinia or Bái Huā Bài Jiànɡ. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 50–100 cm tall; the rhizome has a distinctive foul odor; the stem is covered with coarse white hairs, which gradually fall off with age. Basal leaves are fasciculate or clustered; the petiole is slightly longer than the leaf blade; the leaf blade is broadly ovate or orbicular, with a coarsely serrate margin. Cauline leaves are opposite; petioles are 1–3 cm long; leaves on the upper part gradually become sessile; leaf blades are oval (egg-shaped), rhomboid-ovate, or narrowly elliptic, 4–11 cm long and 2–5 cm wide; the apex is acuminate or narrowly acuminate; the base is cuneate and decurrent; leaves occur in two pairs and are pinnately lobed; both surfaces are sparsely covered with coarse appressed hairs or nearly glabrate.
Cymose panicles aggregate into sparse, large corymbs; involucral bracts are ovate-lanceolate; the calyx is small, with five calyx teeth and inconspicuous; the corolla is white, about 5 mm in diameter; the corolla tube is short, and the limb is 5-lobed; there are four stamens, exserted; the ovary is inferior, and the style is slightly shorter than the stamens.
The achenes are obovate; persistent bracts are adnate, orbicular, and membranous, with conspicuous reticulated veins.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows at altitudes of 50–2000 meters above sea level, in grasslands on barren hills and desolate mountains, and along forest edges and in shrublands.
Growth Characteristics:Patrinia villosa Juss. prefers a slightly humid environment and is cold-tolerant; general soil is suitable for its cultivation, but fertile sandy loam is preferable.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is known as Herba Patriniae Villosae or White-flower Patrinia Herb. The rhizome is short—about 10 cm long—and some specimens bear thin, elongated stolons; the fracture surface lacks a brown duramen (wood core). The stem is smooth, up to 1.1 cm in diameter. Intact leaves are oval (egg-shaped) or oblong-oval, either undivided or bearing one pair of basal lobules; the flowers are white, and the bracts are membranous—most bearing two prominent veins.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) inhibitory effect against influenza virus; (2) hepatoprotective effect; (3) anticancer effect, etc.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies; expels phlegm and discharges pus; activates blood circulation and resolves stasis. It is indicated for acute appendicitis, pulmonary abscess, carbuncles and furuncles, dysentery, leukorrhea with reddish discharge, postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis, malignant carbuncles, red and swollen eyes, and scabies.
Administration of Herba Patriniae (Bài Jiànɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Herba Patriniae (Bài Jiànɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 6–15 grams, water decoction; externally: appropriate amount. (2) Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qián (≈9–15 grams); fresh herb, 2–4 liǎng (≈60–120 grams); externally: mashed and applied topically. (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams; externally: fresh herb, appropriate amount, mashed and applied to the affected area.
✵The article records the herb Patrinia—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources (two plant species): (1) Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Trev., and (2) Patrinia villosa Juss.—along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the morphological characteristics of the herb Patrinia; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Bài Jiànɡ, Bài Jiànɡ Cǎo
Botanical Description: Also known as Patrinia scabiosaefolia Fisch. ex Trev., this species is commonly called Yellow-flowered Patrinia, Huang Hua Bai Jiang, or Huang Hua Long Ya. It is a perennial herb reaching 70–130 cm in height. The underground rhizome is slender and elongated, decumbent or obliquely ascending, emitting a distinctive odor. The stem is erect, yellowish-green with purplish tinges, branched in the upper portion. Basal leaves are fasciculate, with long petioles; they wither and abscise during flowering. Cauline leaves are opposite; petioles measure 1–2 cm; upper leaves gradually become sessile. Leaf blades occur in 2–3 pairs and are pinnately divided, 5–15 cm long; the central lobe is largest—elliptic or ovoid; lateral lobes are narrowly elliptic to linear; apices are acuminate; bases are cuneate; margins are coarsely serrate; both surfaces are sparsely covered with coarse hairs or glabrous.
Cymose panicles aggregate into loose, large corymbs, terminal or axillary. Peduncles are often pubescent on both sides—or only on one side; at the base of the inflorescence are a pair of small, linear involucral bracts. Flowers are ~3 mm in diameter; the calyx is short, with five inconspicuous teeth; the corolla is yellow, 5-lobed in the upper portion, with a short tube bearing white, long hairs internally; there are four stamens, nearly equal in length to the corolla; the ovary is inferior, trilocular, but only one locule develops fully; the stigma is capitate.
Ecological Environment: This species grows along bush margins on hillsides and mountain slopes, in ditches and valleys, at forest edges and grasslands—including semi-humid grasslands—at altitudes of 700–1,600 meters above sea level.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is known as Herba Patriniae Scabiosaefoliae or Yellow-flower Patrinia Herb. The whole herb is often folded into bundles. The stem is cylindrical and curved, 5–15 cm long and 2–5 mm in diameter; the root top is up to 9 mm in diameter. There is cork bark on the surface—easy to fall off—that is purple-brown or dark-brown, with loose or dense nodes; bud marks and root marks are present on the nodes. The fracture surface is fibrous, with a brown duramen (wood core) at the center. The root is long-conical or long-cylindrical, 10 cm long and 1–4 mm in diameter; longitudinal striations are present on the surface, and the fracture surface is yellowish-white. The herb stem is cylindrical, 2–8 mm in diameter; the surface is yellowish-green or brown, with longitudinal ridges and fine striations, and inverted coarse hairs. The cauline leaves are mostly curled or broken; both surfaces are sparsely covered with white hairs. Intact leaves are pinnately parted or deeply divided, with 5–11 lobes, and margins are serrate; cauline leaves on the upper stem are smaller and often 3-lobed. Inflorescences or infructescences occur on some branch tips; the small flowers are yellow. The achenes are oblong-oval and lack membranous aliform bracts. The herb has a peculiar odor and tastes slightly bitter.
Botanical Description: Patrinia villosa Juss. is also known as Patrinia villosa (Thunb.) Juss. or Valeriana villosa Thunb.; it is commonly known as White-flower Patrinia or Bái Huā Bài Jiànɡ. A perennial herb, the plant grows up to 50–100 cm tall; the rhizome has a distinctive foul odor; the stem is covered with coarse white hairs, which gradually fall off with age. Basal leaves are fasciculate or clustered; the petiole is slightly longer than the leaf blade; the leaf blade is broadly ovate or orbicular, with a coarsely serrate margin. Cauline leaves are opposite; petioles are 1–3 cm long; leaves on the upper part gradually become sessile; leaf blades are oval (egg-shaped), rhomboid-ovate, or narrowly elliptic, 4–11 cm long and 2–5 cm wide; the apex is acuminate or narrowly acuminate; the base is cuneate and decurrent; leaves occur in two pairs and are pinnately lobed; both surfaces are sparsely covered with coarse appressed hairs or nearly glabrate.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows at altitudes of 50–2000 meters above sea level, in grasslands on barren hills and desolate mountains, and along forest edges and in shrublands.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is known as Herba Patriniae Villosae or White-flower Patrinia Herb. The rhizome is short—about 10 cm long—and some specimens bear thin, elongated stolons; the fracture surface lacks a brown duramen (wood core). The stem is smooth, up to 1.1 cm in diameter. Intact leaves are oval (egg-shaped) or oblong-oval, either undivided or bearing one pair of basal lobules; the flowers are white, and the bracts are membranous—most bearing two prominent veins.
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