Introduction of Lian Zi Xin:Lotus Plumule or Plumula Nelumbinis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Lotus Plumule, 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 Plumule, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Plumula Nelumbinis(Lotus Plumule).
Pin Yin Name: Lián Zǐ Xīn.
English Name: Lotus Plumule.
Latin Name: Plumula Nelumbinis.
Property and flavor: cold, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Plumula Nelumbinis is the dried plumule and radicle in the ripe seed of Nelumbo nucifera Gartn., used (1).to clear the heart and induce tranquilization for treating delirium in cases of acute febrile diseases, insomnia and nocturnal emission, and (2).to stop seminal discharge and bleeding in cases of seminal emission and hematemesis due to blood heat. The herb is commonly known as Plumula Nelumbinis, Lotus Plumule, Lián Zǐ Xīn.
Botanical source: The herb Plumula Nelumbinis (Lotus Plumule) is the dried plumule and radicle in the ripe seed of Nelumbo nucifera Gartn., it is a plant of the Nelumbo 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 (lotus-lily family) and Nelumbo genus, it is commonly known as Nelumbo nucifera or Lian, 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 wavy, 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 corious, 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. It is widely planted in areas from south to north of China.
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), when the temperature is over 15 °C (Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit), the stem and leaves grow, 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, when temperature lower than 15 °C (Celsius, or 59 degrees Fahrenheit) the plant stops growing. 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 on 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 herb is the embryo of lotus seed with cotyledon removed, small rod-shaped, green, 1~1.5 cm long, and about 2 mm in diameter. Inside, there are 2 young leaves, one is long and another is short, rolled into an arrow shape, and reflexed downward; the plumule is very small, located between two young leaves, the radicel is cylindrical, about 3 mm long, yellowish white. The texture of the herb is brittle and easily broken, with many small holes in the fracture surface. The herb has no smell, it tastes extremely bitter.
Medicinal efficacy: Clear heart fire, calm the heart and tranquilization, restoring normal coordination between heart and kidney, calm down liver fire, eliminate heat, stanch bleeding, controlling nocturnal emission. It is indicated for heat into the pericardium, coma (unconsciousness) and delirium, dysthesia and insomnia(restlessness and can not sleep), abnormal coordination between heart and kidney, vertigo and dizziness, thirst, upset, hot eyes and swelling pain, spermatorrhea, insomnia, blood heat, hematemesis (vomiting blood).
Administration of Plumula Nelumbinis (Lián Zǐ Xīn):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Plumula Nelumbinis (Lián Zǐ Xīn)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:2~5 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 0.5~1 qian (about 1.5~3 grams), or prepare to powder; ③.Internally:water decoction, 1.5~3 grams,or prepared to powder.
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1.Introduction of Lian Zi Xin:Lotus Plumule or Plumula Nelumbinis.
✵The article gives records of the herb Lotus Plumule, 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 Plumule, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Lián Zǐ Xīn.
Botanical description: Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn is a plant of the Nymphaeaceae family (lotus-lily family) and Nelumbo genus, it is commonly known as Nelumbo nucifera or Lian, 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 wavy, 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 corious, 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. It is widely planted in areas from south to north of China.
Characters of herbs: The herb is the embryo of lotus seed with cotyledon removed, small rod-shaped, green, 1~1.5 cm long, and about 2 mm in diameter. Inside, there are 2 young leaves, one is long and another is short, rolled into an arrow shape, and reflexed downward; the plumule is very small, located between two young leaves, the radicel is cylindrical, about 3 mm long, yellowish white. The texture of the herb is brittle and easily broken, with many small holes in the fracture surface. The herb has no smell, it tastes extremely bitter.
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