✵The article records the herb Smoketree Twig—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb Smoketree Twig, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Folium et Ramulus Cotini (Smoketree Twig)
Pinyin Name: Huánɡ Lú or Huánɡ Lú Zhī Yè
English Name: Smoketree Twig, Twig and leaf of Common Smoketree
Latin Name:Folium et Ramulus Cotini Properties and Flavor: Cold, pungent, bitter
Brief Introduction:Folium et Ramulus Cotini is the dried leaf and twig of Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl., used for treating jaundiced hepatitis, dysentery, and pruritic eczema. It is commonly known as Folium et Ramulus Cotini, Smoketree Twig, or Huánɡ Lú.
Botanical Source: Herbal classics and official pharmacopoeias define Folium et Ramulus Cotini (Smoketree Twig) as the dried leaf and twig of (1) Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl., a species in the genus Cotinus, family Anacardiaceae (formerly classified under Julianiaceae; commonly grouped with mango and sumac), order Sapindales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl.
Botanical Description:Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl. is commonly known as Huánɡ Lú or Guānɡ Yè Huánɡ Lú. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up to 2–4 meters tall. The bark is dark gray and scaly; twigs are gray and pubescent. Leaves are simple and alternate; petioles are short and slender, about 1.5 cm long; leaf blades are obovate or oval, 3–8 cm long and 2.5–6 cm wide; apex is rounded or slightly emarginate; base is rounded or broadly cuneate; margins are entire; both surfaces—or especially the abaxial surface—are conspicuously gray-pubescent; lateral veins occur in 6–11 pairs, often bifurcated near the apex.
Panicles are terminal and pubescent; flowers are hermaphroditic, ~3 mm in diameter; pedicels are ~7–10 mm long; calyx is glabrous, with ovate-triangular lobes ~1.2 mm long and ~0.8 mm wide; petals are oval or ovate-lanceolate, 2–2.5 mm long and ~1 mm wide, glabrous; stamens number five, ~1.5 mm long, with oval anthers equal in length to the filaments; floral disc is 5-lobed and purplish-brown; ovary is subspheroidal (~0.5 mm in diameter), with 2–3 short, free, unequal lateral styles; fruit is reniform, ~4.5 mm long and ~2.5 mm wide, glabrous.
Nutlet is oblate-reniform, bearing a residual sterile pedicel and a purple, thin, elongated, plumose appendage.
Ecological Environment: This shrub commonly grows in sunny forests on hillsides or mountain slopes at altitudes of 700–1,620 meters above sea level.
Growth Characteristics: The shrub prefers full sun but tolerates partial shade, drought, cold, salinity, alkalinity, and aridity; it is intolerant of waterlogging and excessive moisture. It thrives in deep, fertile, well-drained sandy loam soil. It exhibits rapid growth, develops an extensive root system, and sprouts vigorously. It shows strong resistance to sulfur dioxide. In autumn, when the diurnal temperature difference exceeds 10 °C (50 °F), leaves turn red.
Characteristics of the Herb: Leaves are chartaceous (papery), mostly wrinkled, curled, fragmented, or broken; intact flattened leaves are ovoid to obovate, 3–8 cm long and 2.5–10 cm wide. The herb is celadon (sage green); both surfaces are white-pubescent, with denser pubescence along the veins on the abaxial surface; petioles measure 1–4 cm (occasionally up to 7.5 cm). The herb has a faintly fragrant aroma and tastes astringent and slightly bitter.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Anti-inflammatory effect; (2) Astringent and antibacterial effect; (3) Treatment of gastroenteritis.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and dampness; clears heat and detoxifies; invigorates blood circulation; alleviates pain. Indicated for jaundice, icteric hepatitis, scalds (thermal or chemical), contact dermatitis (e.g., poison ivy), erysipelas, conjunctivitis, contusions, and traumatic injuries.
Administration of Folium et Ramulus Cotini (Huánɡ Lú):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Folium et Ramulus Cotini (Huánɡ Lú)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams (1–3 qián); for hepatitis treatment, adult dosage is 1 liǎng (approximately 30 grams) daily; infants receive half the adult dose. Decoct twice, combine the decoctions, and administer in two divided doses—one in the morning and one in the evening. External use: Prepare a decoction of twigs and leaves for washing affected areas, or crush fresh leaves and apply topically.
✵The article records the herb Smoketree Twig—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—one plant species: Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl., and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb Smoketree Twig, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Huánɡ Lú or Huánɡ Lú Zhī Yè
Botanical Description: Cotinus coggygria Scop. var. cinerea Engl. is commonly known as Huánɡ Lú or Guānɡ Yè Huánɡ Lú. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, growing up to 2–4 meters tall. The bark is dark gray and scaly; twigs are gray and pubescent. Leaves are simple and alternate; petioles are short and slender, about 1.5 cm long; leaf blades are obovate or oval, 3–8 cm long and 2.5–6 cm wide; apex is rounded or slightly emarginate; base is rounded or broadly cuneate; margins are entire; both surfaces—or especially the abaxial surface—are conspicuously gray-pubescent; lateral veins occur in 6–11 pairs, often bifurcated near the apex.
Ecological Environment: This shrub commonly grows in sunny forests on hillsides or mountain slopes at altitudes of 700–1,620 meters above sea level.
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