✵The article records the herb Paris Rhizome—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources (two plant species): (1) Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara, and (2) Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz.—along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the morphological characteristics of the herb Paris Rhizome; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Rhizoma Paridis (Paris Rhizome)
Pinyin Name: Zhònɡ Lóu
English Name: Paris Rhizome
Latin Name:Rhizoma Paridis Properties and Flavor: Slightly cold, bitter, mildly toxic
Brief Introduction:Rhizoma Paridis is the dried rhizome of Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz., used for treating acute suppurative inflammations and as an anticonvulsant in infantile convulsions. It is commonly known as Rhizoma Paridis, Paris Rhizome, or Zhong Lou.
Botanical Source: Herbal classics define Rhizoma Paridis (Paris Rhizome) as the dried rhizome of (1) Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara or (2) Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz. Both belong to the genus Paris L., family Liliaceae (lily family), order Liliales. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara.
Botanical Description: Also known as Paris chinensis Franch. (P. chinensis Franch.), commonly called Hua Zhong Lou, this is a perennial herb reaching 30–100 cm in height. The rhizome is hypertrophied, tawny (yellowish-brown), 1–3 cm in diameter, with a rough surface bearing conspicuous nodes. The stem is simple, erect, and cylindrical, often purplish-red or cyanotic; at the base, 1–3 membranous leaf sheaths envelop the stem. Leaves are arranged in a terminal whorl, numbering 5–9 (usually 7); petioles measure 5–18 mm; leaf blades are oblong-lanceolate, obovate-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 8–27 cm long and 2.2–10 cm wide; apices are acute or acuminate; bases are cuneate; margins are entire; texture is membranous or thin chartaceous (papery).
Pedicels arise from the center of the whorled leaves—typically longer than the leaves—with one flower grow terminally. Flowers are hermaphroditic: the outer whorl bears 4–6 tepals—foliaceous, green, ovate-oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 3–7 cm long; the inner whorl bears the same number of filiform or linear tepals, yellow or yellowish-green, 1–1.5 mm wide, approximately one-third the length of the outer tepals—or nearly equal in length. There are 8–10 stamens arranged in two whorls; anthers are 1.2–2 cm long; filaments are very short—only one-third to one-quarter the length of the anthers; the septum extends 0.5–2 mm beyond the anther apex; anthers are subglobose with distinct edges; the style is short and bears 4–5 revolute branches.
The fruit is a globular capsule that dehisces valvularly at maturity; seeds are numerous, with bright red, juicy testae. Flowering occurs from May to July; fruiting from August to October.
Ecological Environment: This species grows in shaded forest habitats on hillsides or mountain slopes, or beside ravines, at altitudes of 600–1,350 meters above sea level.
Growth Characteristics: It prefers cool, shady, and humid conditions. Cultivation is best conducted in deep, loose, fertile, humus-rich soil—or sandy loam.
Characteristics of the Herb: The rhizome is conical, often curved, 3.7–10 cm long and 1.3–3.0 cm in diameter; the upper and middle portions are enlarged, tapering gradually toward the apex. The surface is pale yellowish-brown or yellowish-brown, bearing successive nodes and internodes 1.5–5 mm apart; the upper surface displays semicircular or elliptical, sunken stem scars (0.5–1.1 cm in diameter), arranged alternately; the lower surface bears sparse fibrous roots and few residual root fragments; the enlarged apical portion shows sunken stem remnants, with visible scale leaves on some nodes. The texture is firm and brittle; fracture surfaces are flat, mealy (powdery) in part, with some corneous areas; the mealy portion is chalky-white; the corneous portion is pale yellowish-brown; calcium oxalate raphides appear as glossy spots. The herb has a faint odor and a distinctly bitter taste.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies; reduces swelling and alleviates pain; cools the liver and calms convulsions. Indicated for malignant boils, carbuncles, sore throat with swelling and pain, venomous snakebite, traumatic injuries (e.g., falls), convulsions, and muscle spasms.
Administration of Rhizoma Paridis (Zhònɡ Lóu):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Rhizoma Paridis (Zhònɡ Lóu)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams. External use: appropriate amount—prepare as a fine powder and apply topically; (2) Externally: prepare as a paste and apply topically for swelling due to traumatic injury or venomous bites.
(2) Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz.
Botanical Description: Also known as Paris yunnanensis Franch. (P. yunnanensis Franch.) or Paris polyphylla Smith var. platypetala Franch., this species is commonly called Kuan Ban Zhong Lou or Kuo Ban Zhong Lou ("broad-lobed Polyphylla"). The plant reaches 35–100 cm in height and is glabrous. The rhizome is hypertrophied, 2–3.5 cm in diameter, with conspicuous nodes and internodes. Leaves number 6–10 in a whorl; petioles measure 5–20 mm; leaf blades are lanceolate, ovate-oblong, or obovate, 5–11 cm long and 2–4.5 cm wide.
Tepals in the outer whorl are green, lanceolate or ovate-oblong; those in the inner whorl are yellow, filiform or linear, and slightly lanceolate—the portion above the midpoint is 2–6 mm wide, approximately half to nearly equal in length to those of the outer whorl. There are 8–10 stamens arranged in two or three whorls; anthers are 1–1.5 cm long; filaments are shorter than the anthers; the septum extends 1–2 mm beyond the anther apex; the ovary is globular; the style is thick and short, with 5–6 apical ramifications. Flowering occurs from June to July; fruiting from September to October.
Ecological Environment: This species grows in forests or along roadsides, at altitudes of 1,400–3,600 meters above sea level.
Growth Characteristics: It prefers cool, humid environments. Most individuals grow in densely shaded, moist habitats—such as forest margins, roadside verges, and weedy gullies. Optimal germination temperature for the apical bud is 18–20 °C (64.4–68 °F); seedlings emerge when temperatures exceed 20 °C (68 °F). Above-ground growth proceeds continuously at 16–20 °C (60.8–68 °F), while underground rhizome development occurs optimally at 14–18 °C (57.2–64.4 °F). It thrives in shaded forest habitats at altitudes of 2,000–3,000 m; strong light causes leaf scorching. The optimal altitude range is 2,300–2,700 m, characterized by cool climate and adequate rainfall. It grows well in slightly acidic, humus-rich soil or in well-draining red loam; it is unsuitable for heavy, clayey soils prone to compaction and waterlogging.
Characteristics of the Herb: The rhizome is subcylindrical, often straight, 4.5–12 cm long and 1.2–6.0 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-brown; occasionally taupe (dust-colored). Nodes and internodes are relatively sparse; stem scars are semicircular or flattened circular, irregularly arranged. The texture is firm and hard—difficult to break—and the fracture surface is mealy (powdery).
✵The article records the herb Paris Rhizome—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources (two plant species): (1) Paris polyphylla Smith var. chinensis (Franch.) Hara, and (2) Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz.—along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the morphological characteristics of the herb Paris Rhizome; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Zhònɡ Lóu
Botanical Description: Also known as Paris chinensis Franch. (P. chinensis Franch.), commonly called Hua Zhong Lou, this is a perennial herb reaching 30–100 cm in height. The rhizome is hypertrophied, tawny (yellowish-brown), 1–3 cm in diameter, with a rough surface bearing conspicuous nodes. The stem is simple, erect, and cylindrical, often purplish-red or cyanotic; at the base, 1–3 membranous leaf sheaths envelop the stem. Leaves are arranged in a terminal whorl, numbering 5–9 (usually 7); petioles measure 5–18 mm; leaf blades are oblong-lanceolate, obovate-lanceolate, or oblanceolate, 8–27 cm long and 2.2–10 cm wide; apices are acute or acuminate; bases are cuneate; margins are entire; texture is membranous or thin chartaceous (papery).
Ecological Environment: This species grows in shaded forest habitats on hillsides or mountain slopes, or beside ravines, at altitudes of 600–1,350 meters above sea level.
Characteristics of the Herb: The rhizome is conical, often curved, 3.7–10 cm long and 1.3–3.0 cm in diameter; the upper and middle portions are enlarged, tapering gradually toward the apex. The surface is pale yellowish-brown or yellowish-brown, bearing successive nodes and internodes 1.5–5 mm apart; the upper surface displays semicircular or elliptical, sunken stem scars (0.5–1.1 cm in diameter), arranged alternately; the lower surface bears sparse fibrous roots and few residual root fragments; the enlarged apical portion shows sunken stem remnants, with visible scale leaves on some nodes. The texture is firm and brittle; fracture surfaces are flat, mealy (powdery) in part, with some corneous areas; the mealy portion is chalky-white; the corneous portion is pale yellowish-brown; calcium oxalate raphides appear as glossy spots. The herb has a faint odor and a distinctly bitter taste.
Botanical Description: Also known as Paris yunnanensis Franch. (P. yunnanensis Franch.) or Paris polyphylla Smith var. platypetala Franch., this species is commonly called Kuan Ban Zhong Lou or Kuo Ban Zhong Lou ("broad-lobed Polyphylla"). The plant reaches 35–100 cm in height and is glabrous. The rhizome is hypertrophied, 2–3.5 cm in diameter, with conspicuous nodes and internodes. Leaves number 6–10 in a whorl; petioles measure 5–20 mm; leaf blades are lanceolate, ovate-oblong, or obovate, 5–11 cm long and 2–4.5 cm wide.
Ecological Environment: This species grows in forests or along roadsides, at altitudes of 1,400–3,600 meters above sea level.
URL QR code:
