Introduction of Shan Zha:Hawthorn Fruit or Fructus Crataegi.
✵The article gives records of the herb Hawthorn Fruit, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E. Br., ②.Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Hawthorn Fruit, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Fructus Crataegi(Hawthorn Fruit).
Pin Yin Name: Shān Zhā.
English Name: Hawthorn Fruit.
Latin Name: Fructus Crataegi.
Property and flavor: slightly warm nature, tastes sour, sweet.
Brief introduction: The herb Fructus Crataegi is the dried ripe fruit of Large Chinese Hawthorn, Crataegus pinnatifida Bge.var.major N.E. Br.or Chinese Hawthorn, Crataegus pinnatifida Bge., used to improve digestion and relieve food stagnation for the treatment of dyspepsia and stagnation of fatty food, also to activate blood flow for treating amenorrhea and postpartum abdominal pain due to blood stasis. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Crataegi, Hawthorn Fruit, Shān Zhā.
Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Hawthorn Fruit (Shan Zha) as the dry ripen fruit of the Rosaceae family (the rose family) Crataegus genus plant species (1). Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E. Br., or (2). Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge. These 2 commonly used species are introduced:
(1).Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E.Br.
Botanical description: The plant, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E.Brown is a plant of the Rosaceae family (the rose family) and Crataegus genus, is commonly known as Mountain Red, mountain hawthorn, or Shan Li Hong (means red tree in mountain). A deciduous tree, the tree grows up to 6 meters high. Shoot thorns are 1~2 cm long, or anacanthous (stingless). Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 2~6 cm long; leaf blades are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, rarely rhomboid ovate, 6~12 cm long, 5~8 cm wide, has 2~4 pairs of pinnately lobes, apex is acuminate, the base is broadly cuneate, the upper surface is glossy, the under surface is pubescent along leaf veins, edges are irregular biserrate.
Corymbals, about 4-6 cm in diameter; hypanthium (calyx tube) is campanulate (bell-shaped), 5-dentate lobed; corolla is white, about 1.5 cm in diameter, 5 flower petals, obovate or orbicular (subrotund); about 20 stamens, anthers are pink; 1 pistil, ovary is inferior, 5-loculed, 5 styles.
Melonidum (pome) is nearly spherical, up to 2.5 cm in diameter, crimson (deep red), has yellowish-white small spots, sepals fall off very late, leaving a round deep pit on the front end; 3～5 small stones (nuts), the surface outside slightly has edges, two lateral surfaces inward are smooth. Its flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from August to October.
The Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E.Brown. is a deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family, the tree grows up to 6~8 meters high, is a fruit tree, but also an ornamental plant. Leaves are alternate, broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, the margin is pinnately 5~9-lobed, serrate, and veins are pubescent. Umbels are with 10~12 floscules (flowerets), white or pink, flowering in May, fruiting from August to October, pyriform (pear-shaped) or subsphaeroidal (near spherical), about 2 cm in diameter, dark red exocarp, and light brown spots.
The Mountain red is a famous fruit tree in China. It has more than 3,000 years of cultivation history. Due to its strong adaptability, it has fewer pests and diseases and no need for fine management, it has been cultivated in all parts of the country, while the cultivation area in the north is larger than in the south.
The Mountain red is resistant to cold, has strong vitality, and begins to fruit in 4~5 years after cultivation, resulting in countless spherical, pyriform (pear-shaped) small fruits, thick red exocarp, so that the green hills are covered with bright red fruits, very beautiful. The fruit is also known as hawthorn.
Ecological environment: The tree grows in valleys, or shrubs, in areas at altitudes of 100~1,500 meters above sea level. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in the northern area, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The tree is tolerant to coldness and wind, it can be cultivated on flat lands and hillsides or mountain slopes. For its soil requirements, sandy loam is the best, and the growth in heavy clay soil is poor.
Characters of herbs: The fruit is subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 1~2.5 cm in diameter. The surface is scarlet (bright red) to prunus (violet red), glossy, covered with ash gray (grayish-white) spots, with persistent calyx at the tip and carpopodium residue at the base. Commodities of the herb are often processed into vertical slices or cross slices, their thickness is 2~8 mm, which are often curled and wizened, uneven. The pulp is thick, dark yellow to hazel (light brown), and there are 3~5 faint yellow seeds on the cut surface, some seeds have fallen off. The texture of the herb is firm and hard. The herb has a slightly delicate fragrance, it tastes sour and slightly sweet. The herb of a better grade has big slices, red epicarp, and thick pulp.
(2).Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge.
Botanical description: The plant, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge is a plant of the Rosaceae family (the rose family) and Crataegus genus, it is commonly known as Hawthorn Tree, or Shan Zha, this species is very similar to Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E.Brown. A deciduous tree, the tree grows up to 6 meters high, bark is coarse and rough, dull gray (dark gray) or taupe (grayish brown); thorns are about 1-2 cm long, sometimes anacanthous; branchlets (twigs) are cylindrical, branches of one-year-old are puce (purple-brown), glabrous or glabrate, has sparse lenticels, old branches are taupe(grayish-brown); winter buds are triangular-ovate, the front end is blunt, glabrous, purple.
Leaf blades are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, rarely rhomboid ovate, 5-10 cm long, and 4-7.5 cm wide, the front end is short acuminate, base is truncated to broadly cuneate, usually both sides have 3-5 pinnae, lobes are ovate-lanceolate or band-shaped, the front end is short and acuminate, edges are sharp sparse irregularly biserrate, the upper surface is sap green (dark green), and glossy, the under surface has sparse pubescence along leaf veins or has beard hairs in axillaris, lateral veins are in 6–10 pairs, some reach to the front end of lobes, some reach to the split part of lobes; petioles are 2-6 cm long, glabrous; stipules (peraphyllum) are herbaceous, sickle-shaped, edges are serrated.
Corymbals have many flowers, 4~6 cm in diameter, peduncles and pedicels are both pubescent, fall off after flowering, reduced, pedicels are 4~7 mm; bracts are membraneous, linear-lanceolate, about 6~8 mm long, front end is acuminate, edges have glandular teeth, caducous; flowers are about 1.5 cm in diameter; hypanthium (calyx tube) is campanulate (bell-shaped), 4~5 mm long, outside is densely covered with ash gray (grayish-white) pilose; sepals are triangular-ovate to lanceolate, the front end is gradually acuminate, entire, about equal length as hypanthium, glabrous on both the inner surface and outer surfaces, or has beard hairs on tip of the inner surface; flower petals are obovate or orbicular (subrotund), 7~8 mm long, 5~6 mm wide, white; 20 stamens, shorter than flower petals, anthers are pink; 3~5 styles, base is pubescent, stigma is capitate.
Fruits are subsphaeroidal (near-spherical) or pyriform (pear-shaped), 1~1.5 cm in diameter, dark red, have light-colored spots; 3~5 stones (small nuts), the outside is slightly ridged, both sides of the inner surface are smooth; sepals fall off very late, leave a deep round pit on the front end. Its flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Ecological environment: The tree grows in valleys, forest edges on hillsides or mountain slopes, or in bushes, in areas at altitudes of 100~1,500 meters above sea level. Geographical distribution: This species is mainly distributed in the northern, and northwest areas, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and other areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The tree grows in forest edges or bushes, in areas at altitudes of 100~1,500 meters above sea level. The tree has a strong adaptability, it prefers cool and moist environments, is tolerant to coldness and high temperatures, can grow between -36~43 °C (Celsius, or -32.8~109.4 degrees Fahrenheit), prefers sunlight, and is tolerant to shade, in general, it grows on barren mountain and bare mountain, sunny hillsides and mountain slopes, valley, 15-25 degree of slope is optimal, it is tolerant to drought, excess water leads to excessive growth of branches and leaves, its soil requirements are not strict, but it can grow well in fields with deep soil layers, fertile and loose, subacid sandy loam with good drainage.
Characters of herbs: The fruit is subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 1~1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is dark red with small spots, with a persistent calyx on the spical end, and a thin and long carpopodium (fruit stalk) at the base. The texture of the herb is hard. The herb has a slightly delicate fragrance, it tastes sour and slightly sweet, or slightly puckery. The herb of a better grade is well-proportioned, red-brown, and thick fruit pulp.
Pharmacological actions: ①. promoting digestion and lipid elimination; ②. protect the cardiovascular system; ③. antioxidant effect; ④. enhance immune function; ⑤. antimicrobial effect: Hawthorn fruit has a strong antibacterial effect on Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Sonne bacillus; also has an antibacterial effect on Staphylococcus aureus, beta streptococcus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus proteus, Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus diphtheriae, Bacillus typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other bacteria; Its effect is generally stronger on Gram-positive bacteria than on Gram-negative bacteria, etc.
Medicinal efficacy: Invigorating the stomach and promoting digestion, eliminate dyspepsia or indigestion, promoting the circulation of Qi and eliminating stasis to activate blood circulation, removing stasis, remove turbidity and reduce fat. It is indicated for dyspepsia and indigestion of meat, dyspepsia and indigestion of food, distension and fullness in gastric cavity, epigastric distended pain, diarrhea dysentery and abdominal pain, diarrhea and dysentery, blood stasis and amenia, amenia (amenorrhea, menischesis), dysmenorrhea due to blood stasis (abdominal pain after menstruation due to blood stasis), postpartum stasis obstruction, postpartum abdominal pain, lochiorrhagia, stabbing pain in heart and abdomen, chest discomfort and cardialgia (thoracic obstruction, heartache), colic pain (pain of hernia), hyperlipemia (hyperlipoidemia, presence of excess lipids in the blood). It is also indicated for abdominal mass, phlegm and retained fluid, distention and fullness, acid regurgitation, hemorrhoidal hamorrhage, lumbago(low back pain), stagnation of infant breastfeeding, etc.
Administration of Fructus Crataegi (Shān Zhā):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Fructus Crataegi (Shān Zhā)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 9~12 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~4 qian (about 6~12 grams);or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:wash with water decoction or mashed and apply stick; ③.Internally:water decoction, 3~10 grams;or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:proper amount, wash with water decoction or mashed and apply stick.
Contraindications,Precautions and Adverse Reactions: The herb Fructus Crataegi should better not be used in conditions decayed tooth. Should avoid using with Panax Ginseng, etc.
Pin Yin Name: Jiāo Shān Zhā.
English Name: Charred Hawthorn Fruit.
Latin Name: Fructus Crataegi Preparatus.
Property and flavor: slightly warm nature, tastes sour, sweet.
Brief introduction: The herb Fructus Crataegi Preparatus is hawthorn fruit stir-baked to a brown color, used to improve digestion and relieve food stagnation for the treatment of dyspepsia and stagnation of fatty food. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Crataegi Preparatus, Charred Hawthorn Fruit, Jiāo Shān Zhā.
Common official herbal classics and other famous herbal classics defined the herb Fructus Crataegi Preparatus (Charred Hawthorn Fruit) as the stir-baked hawthorn fruit. The Hawthorn Fruit botanical origins was introduced in the above entry "Fructus Crataegi (Hawthorn Fruit)".
Medicinal efficacy: The Fructus Crataegi Preparatus has a boosting digestion aid and removing food stagnation effect. It is indicated for meat food retention in stomach, difficulty in defecation.
Administration of Fructus Crataegi (Shān Zhā):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Fructus Crataegi (Shān Zhā)
TCM Books:
①.Internally: 9~12 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 2~4 qian (about 6~12 grams);or prepare to pill, powder. Externally:wash with water decoction or mashed and apply stick.; ③.Internally:water decoction, 3~10 grams;or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:proper amount, wash with water decoction or mashed and apply stick.
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1.Introduction of Shan Zha:Hawthorn Fruit or Fructus Crataegi.
✵The article gives records of the herb Hawthorn Fruit, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source two plant species, ①.Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E. Br., ②.Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these two plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two plant species, the features of the herb Hawthorn Fruit, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Shān Zhā.
Botanical description: The plant, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E.Brown is a plant of the Rosaceae family (the rose family) and Crataegus genus, is commonly known as Mountain Red, mountain hawthorn, or Shan Li Hong (means red tree in mountain). A deciduous tree, the tree grows up to 6 meters high. Shoot thorns are 1~2 cm long, or anacanthous (stingless). Simple leaves are alternate; petioles are 2~6 cm long; leaf blades are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, rarely rhomboid ovate, 6~12 cm long, 5~8 cm wide, has 2~4 pairs of pinnately lobes, apex is acuminate, the base is broadly cuneate, the upper surface is glossy, the under surface is pubescent along leaf veins, edges are irregular biserrate. 
The Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E.Brown. is a deciduous tree of the Rosaceae family, the tree grows up to 6~8 meters high, is a fruit tree, but also an ornamental plant. Leaves are alternate, broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, the margin is pinnately 5~9-lobed, serrate, and veins are pubescent. Umbels are with 10~12 floscules (flowerets), white or pink, flowering in May, fruiting from August to October, pyriform (pear-shaped) or subsphaeroidal (near spherical), about 2 cm in diameter, dark red exocarp, and light brown spots.
The Mountain red is resistant to cold, has strong vitality, and begins to fruit in 4~5 years after cultivation, resulting in countless spherical, pyriform (pear-shaped) small fruits, thick red exocarp, so that the green hills are covered with bright red fruits, very beautiful. The fruit is also known as hawthorn.
Characters of herbs: The fruit is subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 1~2.5 cm in diameter. The surface is scarlet (bright red) to prunus (violet red), glossy, covered with ash gray (grayish-white) spots, with persistent calyx at the tip and carpopodium residue at the base. Commodities of the herb are often processed into vertical slices or cross slices, their thickness is 2~8 mm, which are often curled and wizened, uneven. The pulp is thick, dark yellow to hazel (light brown), and there are 3~5 faint yellow seeds on the cut surface, some seeds have fallen off. The texture of the herb is firm and hard. The herb has a slightly delicate fragrance, it tastes sour and slightly sweet. The herb of a better grade has big slices, red epicarp, and thick pulp.
Botanical description: The plant, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge is a plant of the Rosaceae family (the rose family) and Crataegus genus, it is commonly known as Hawthorn Tree, or Shan Zha, this species is very similar to Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge var.major N.E.Brown. A deciduous tree, the tree grows up to 6 meters high, bark is coarse and rough, dull gray (dark gray) or taupe (grayish brown); thorns are about 1-2 cm long, sometimes anacanthous; branchlets (twigs) are cylindrical, branches of one-year-old are puce (purple-brown), glabrous or glabrate, has sparse lenticels, old branches are taupe(grayish-brown); winter buds are triangular-ovate, the front end is blunt, glabrous, purple.
Leaf blades are broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, rarely rhomboid ovate, 5-10 cm long, and 4-7.5 cm wide, the front end is short acuminate, base is truncated to broadly cuneate, usually both sides have 3-5 pinnae, lobes are ovate-lanceolate or band-shaped, the front end is short and acuminate, edges are sharp sparse irregularly biserrate, the upper surface is sap green (dark green), and glossy, the under surface has sparse pubescence along leaf veins or has beard hairs in axillaris, lateral veins are in 6–10 pairs, some reach to the front end of lobes, some reach to the split part of lobes; petioles are 2-6 cm long, glabrous; stipules (peraphyllum) are herbaceous, sickle-shaped, edges are serrated.
Corymbals have many flowers, 4~6 cm in diameter, peduncles and pedicels are both pubescent, fall off after flowering, reduced, pedicels are 4~7 mm; bracts are membraneous, linear-lanceolate, about 6~8 mm long, front end is acuminate, edges have glandular teeth, caducous; flowers are about 1.5 cm in diameter; hypanthium (calyx tube) is campanulate (bell-shaped), 4~5 mm long, outside is densely covered with ash gray (grayish-white) pilose; sepals are triangular-ovate to lanceolate, the front end is gradually acuminate, entire, about equal length as hypanthium, glabrous on both the inner surface and outer surfaces, or has beard hairs on tip of the inner surface; flower petals are obovate or orbicular (subrotund), 7~8 mm long, 5~6 mm wide, white; 20 stamens, shorter than flower petals, anthers are pink; 3~5 styles, base is pubescent, stigma is capitate.
Fruits are subsphaeroidal (near-spherical) or pyriform (pear-shaped), 1~1.5 cm in diameter, dark red, have light-colored spots; 3~5 stones (small nuts), the outside is slightly ridged, both sides of the inner surface are smooth; sepals fall off very late, leave a deep round pit on the front end. Its flowering period is from May to June, and the fruiting period is from September to October.
Growth characteristics: The tree grows in forest edges or bushes, in areas at altitudes of 100~1,500 meters above sea level. The tree has a strong adaptability, it prefers cool and moist environments, is tolerant to coldness and high temperatures, can grow between -36~43 °C (Celsius, or -32.8~109.4 degrees Fahrenheit), prefers sunlight, and is tolerant to shade, in general, it grows on barren mountain and bare mountain, sunny hillsides and mountain slopes, valley, 15-25 degree of slope is optimal, it is tolerant to drought, excess water leads to excessive growth of branches and leaves, its soil requirements are not strict, but it can grow well in fields with deep soil layers, fertile and loose, subacid sandy loam with good drainage.
Pin Yin Name: Jiāo Shān Zhā.
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