Introduction of Shi Wei:Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf or Folium Pyrrosiae.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its herbal classic book defined botanical source three plant species, ①.Pyrrosia sheareri(Bak.) Ching., ②.Pyrrosia lingua(Thunb.) Farwell., ③.Pyrrosia petiolosa(Christ)Ching., and other two usable plant species, ④.Pyrrosia gralla(Gies.) Ching., ⑤.Pyrrosia davidii(Bak.) Ching., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these five plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these five plant species, the features of the herb Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Folium Pyrrosiae(Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf).

Folium Pyrrosiae:herb photo Pin Yin Name: Shí Wéi.
 English Name: Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf.
 Latin Name: Folium Pyrrosiae.
 Property and flavor: cool, bitter, sweet.

 Brief introduction: The herb Folium Pyrrosiae is the dried leaf of Pyrrosia sheareri(Bak.) Ching, Pyrrosia lingua(Thunb.) Farwell or Pyrrosia petiolosa(Christ)Ching, used (1).to induce diuresis, relieve dysuria for treating bladder damp-heat, and (2).to clear the lung for relieving cough and dyspnea. It is commonly known as Pyrrosia Leaf, Folium Pyrrosiae, Leaf of Shearer's Pyrrosia, Shí Wéi.

 Botanical source: Herbal classic book defined the herb Folium Pyrrosiae(Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf) as the dried leaf of the species (1). Pyrrosia sheareri(Bak.) Ching., or (2). Pyrrosia lingua(Thunb.) Farwell., or (3). Pyrrosia petiolosa(Christ)Ching. Other famous herbal classics defined the herb Folium Pyrrosiae(Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf) as the dried leaf of the species (1). Pyrrosia sheareri(Bak.) Ching., or (2). Pyrrosia lingua(Thunb.) Farwell., or (3). Pyrrosia petiolosa(Christ)Ching., (4). Pyrrosia gralla(Gies.) Ching., (5). Pyrrosia davidii(Bak.) Ching. They are plants of the Pyrrosia Mirbel genus, the Polypodiaceae family (fern family) of the Polypodiales order. These 3 commonly used species and other 2 usable species are introduced:

(1).Pyrrosia sheareri(Bak.)Ching.


 Pyrrosia sheareri Bak.Ching.:growing plants Botanical description: It is commonly known as Pyrrosia sheareri, Pyrrosia sheareri (Baker) Ching, or Lú Shān Shí Wéi. Plant height is 20~60 cm. Rhizome is transverse, densely lanceolate scaly, margin is serrate. Leaves are tufted; Petiole is stout, 10~30 cm long, articulately grow on rhizome; Leaf blade is leathery, broadly lanceolate, 20~40 cm long, 3~5 cm wide, tapering toward the top, pointed, base is slightly wider, to unequal round auricular or cordate, not spreading; Lateral veins are slightly concave on both sides. The sporangium is small, arranged in many lines between lateral veins; No capping.

 Pyrrosia sheareri Bak.Ching.:growing plants Plants are usually 20~50 cm tall. Rhizome stout, recumbent, densely linear brown scales; Scales grow acuminate, brim has eyelash, touch place is close brown. Leaves proximate, type I; Petiole stout, 2~4 mm thick, 3.5~5 cm long, base densely scaly, up sparsely stellate hair, straw color to gray straw color; Leaf blade elliptic-lanceolate, most wide near base, tapering up, acuminate, apex obtuse, base truncate or cordate, 10~30 cm long or longer, 2.5~6 cm wide, entire, after dry soft thick leathery, above grayish-green or light brown, a few smooth glabrous, but full of depresses, brown below, by thick layer stellate hair. Main veins are thick, both sides are raised, side veins are visible, small veins do not show. The sporangium is irregularly arranged between lateral veins, covered with leaves above the base, uncovered, stellate when young, spore dehiscent and brick red when mature.

 Pyrrosia sheareri Bak.Ching.:growing plants Ecological environment: It grows on tree trunks or stones in forests with an elevation of 500~2,200 meters. It grows on rocks under evergreen broad-leaved forests at an elevation of 1,100~2,400 meters. Love the humid environment, able to withstand -16 °C (Celsius, or 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) low temperature, not afraid of frost and snow, air relative humidity is above 75%; It prefers scattered light, avoids direct sunlight. Although Pyrrosia sheareri is an epiphyte, it grows more luxuriant in the fertile saprophyte soil. The pyrrosia sheareri is distributed in the area below an altitude of 800 meters above sea level. Due to the change of humidity and soil acidification, coupled with seasonal drought, spores cannot be produced normally, or spores are not mature. The plant is distributed in the southwest and the middle and lower reaches areas of the Yangtze River, the Zhujiang river area, Taiwan, and other areas of China.

 Growth characteristics: The plant Pyrrosia sheareri prefers a cool and dry climate, grows on rocks.

 Shearers Pyrrosia Leaf:herb photo Characters of herbs: Leaf one type, the texture is firm and leathery. Leaf-blade is broadly lanceolate, 20~40 cm long, 3~5 cm wide, apex is tapering, base is ear-shaped deflection, entire edge; The upper surface is yellow-green or yellow-brown, there are black sunken spots, the undersurface is densely covered with short and broad star-shaped hairs. Sporangium groups are star-shaped and arranged in rows between lateral veins. The petiole is stout, 10~30 cm long, and 3~5 mm in diameter.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.diuretic effect; ②.Isomangiferin has antitussive and expectorant effects; ③.mangiferin has bacteriostasis and anti-herpes simplex virus effects; ④.chlorogenic acid has the effect of stimulating the central nervous system; ⑤.leukogenic effect and against leukocytopenia induced by radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

 Medicinal efficacy: Alleviate water retention and treat stranguria, clear the lung and eliminate heat, clearing away the lung-heat and reduce phlegm, cool blood to stanch bleeding. It is indicated for the treatment of pain from stranguria, gonorrhea, hematuria (blood in urine), lithangiuria (urinary calculus), edema, dysuria (difficulty in micturition), nephritis, metrorrhagia and metrostaxis, dysentery, lung heat and cough, phlegm heat cough and asthma, chronic tracheitis, hemoptysis, haematesis, epistaxis (nose bleeding or bleeding from five aperture or subcutaneous tissue), traumatic bleeding, incised (metal-inflicted) wound, ulcer, etc.

 Administration of Folium Pyrrosiae (Shí Wéi): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Folium Pyrrosiae (Shí Wéi)
TCM Books: ①.Internally:water decoction,1.5~3 qian (about 4.5~9 grams), or prepare to powder; ②.Internally:water decoction,9~15 grams, or prepare to finely ground herb powder. Externally:prepare to finely ground herb powder, apply stick.

(2).Pyrrosia lingua(Thunb.)Farwell.


 Pyrrosia lingua Thunb.Farwell.:growing plants Botanical description: It is commonly known as Pyrrosia lingua, or Shí Wéi. Plant height is 10~30 cm. Rhizome is slender, transverse, densely brown lanceolate scales with petiole, apex is acuminate, coat borne, center is dark brown, margin is light brown, eyelash. Leaf is distant, sub 2-type; Petiole is 3~10 cm long, dark brown, furrowed, stellate when young, articulately grow on rhizome; Leaf blade is leathery, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 6~20 cm long, 2~5 cm wide, apex is acuminate, base is acuminate not extending to the petiole, entire. The uppersurface is green, occasionally stellate hair and concave point, the undersurface is densely grayish-brown with stellate hair; Sterile and fertile leaves are homotypic or slightly short and broad; Midrib is slightly concave above, uplift below, side veins are visible, small veins are reticulate. The sporangium is full at leaf abaxial surface or upper part, when young is densely covered with star awn shape hair when mature; No capping.

 Pyrrosia lingua Thunb.Farwell.:growing plants Medium epiphytic ferns are usually 10~30 cm tall. Rhizome is long and transverse, densely scaly; scales are lanceolate, long acuminate, light brown, fringed with eyelashes. Leaf is distant, sub2-type; Petiole and leaf size and length vary greatly, fertile leaves are usually much longer and narrower than sterile leaves, the leaves of both sides are slightly longer than petiole, less equal length, rarely shorter than petiole. Sterile leaves are suboblong, or oblong-lanceolate, widest at lower 1/3, tapering upward, shortly acuminate, basally cuneate, generally 1.5~5 cm wide, 5~10~20 cm long, entire, leathery after drying, uppersurface is grayish-green, nearly smooth glabrous, backsurface is light brown or brick-red, stellate hairy; Fertile leaves are about 1/3 longer than sterile leaves and 1/3-2/3 narrower. Main veins are slightly raised on undersurface, not significantly concave on uppersurface, lateral veins are significantly raised, clearly visible, small veins are not visible.

 Pyrrosia lingua Thunb.Farwell.:growing plants Sporangium group is subelliptic, in the side vein is formed neatly many lines are arranged, be full of whole leaf below, or gather in the big upper half of leaf, is covered with stellate hair at the beginning and show light brown, sporangium dehiscence after maturity is exposed and show brick red.

 Ecological environment: The plant grows and is attached to tree trunks or streamside stones in the forest with an altitude of 100~1,800 meters. It prefers a cool and dry climate. The plant distributes in the east, central area, southern area, southwest area of China.

 Characters of herbs: Leaves rolled inward or spread flat, two types, leathery. The leaves are all lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 6~20 cm long and 2~5 cm wide. The upper surface is yellowish-brown; The main and lateral veins on the undersurface are obvious, and the dense light brown stellate hairs can be seen when observed with a magnifying glass. Besides stellate hairs, there are sporangia groups on the undersurface of fertile leaves. The petiole is 3~10 cm long. The herb has a slight odor, it tastes mild.

(3).Pyrrosia petiolosa(Christ)Ching.


 Pyrrosia petiolosa Christ Ching.:growing plants Botanical description: It is commonly known as Yǒu Bǐng Shí Wéi. Plant height is 5~20 cm. Rhizome is long and transverse, densely ovate-lanceolate brown scales, margin is serrate. Leaves are distant, type ii, thickly leathery, glabrous at upper part, neatly arranged with small concave points, densely lined with gray-brown stars at lower part; The spore petiole is much longer than the leaf, about 3~12 cm long, and the vegetative petiole is as long as the leaf. Leaf-blade is oblong or ovoid oblong, apex is pointed or obtuse, base is slightly descending, spore leaf is usually indented after drying, several tubular; The veins are not obvious. The sporangium is covered abaxially when mature; Sporangium is rounded and bilateral, uncovered, hidden in stellate hairs.

 Pyrrosia petiolosa Christ Ching.:growing plants Plants are 5~15 cm tall. Rhizome is slender transverse, when young densely lanceolate brown scales; Scales are long caudate acuminate, margin with eyelashes. Leaf type I; Stipitate, usually equal to 1/2~2 times the length of leaf blade, base is scaly, stellate is hairy upward, brown or grayish-brown; Leaf blade is elliptic, pointed shortly obtuse, base is cuneate, descending, thickly leathery after drying, entire, above is grayish beige, depressedly stellate hairy, below thickly stellate hairy, first light brown, later brick red. Main veins are slightly raised below, above depression, side veins and small veins are not visible. Sporangium covers the underside of the leaf, spreading and converging at maturity.

 Pyrrosia petiolosa Christ Ching.:growing plants Ecological environment: The plant grows on dry rocks in mountain areas with an elevation of 200~2,000 meters. Most of them grow on dry exposed rocks at an altitude of 250-2,200 meters. In China, it is distributed in the northeast, north, northwest, southwest, and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

 Characters of herbs: Leaves rolled inward into a tube shape, two types, leathery. The leaf blade is oblong or oblong-lanceolate, its base descends to a petiole, 3~6 cm long and 0.5~2 cm wide; The lower surface of fertile leaves is covered with brown sporangia. The petiole is 3.5~11 cm long, longer than the leaf blade and 1~2 mm in diameter.

(4).Pyrrosia gralla(Gies.)Ching.


 Pyrrosia gralla Gies.Ching.:growing plants Botanical description: It is commonly known as Xī Nán Shí Wéi. Plant grows up to 25 cm. Rhizome is long and transverse, densely brown scales, lanceolate, long acuminate, entire. Leaves are nearly; Petiole is 2~5 cm long, articulately grows on rhizome; Leaf blade is leathery, 3~10 cm long, 6~15 mm wide in the middle, narrowly lanceolate, tapering to both ends, stellate hairs are longer below, sometimes larger, lateral veins are inconspicuous. The sporangium is closely and neatly arranged between the lateral veins. No capping.

 Pyrrosia gralla Gies.Ching.:growing plants Plant height is 10~20 cm. Rhizome is slightly stout, recumbent, densely covered with narrowly lanceolate scales; Scales are long acuminate, brown when young, dark in the middle when old, margin serrate. Leaves proximate, type I; Petiole is 2.5~10 cm long, straw color, base of living place is scaly, up sparsely stellate hair; Leaf blade is narrowly lanceolate, middlemost wide, gradually narrow toward both ends, short obtuse tip, or long caudate acuminate, base with narrow wing along petiole long down spread, generally long 10~15 cm, middle width is 0.8~1.5 cm, entire, after dry nearly leathery, uppersurface is pale green, smooth or sparsely stellate hair, densely hollow, undersurface is brown, densely stellate hair. The main veins are not prominent in the lower part, slightly concave in the upper part, and the lateral veins and minor veins are not visible. The sporangium is uniformly dense beneath leaves, uncovered, brown with stellate hairs when young, and brick-red when mature.

 Pyrrosia gralla Gies.Ching.:growing plants Ecological environment: The plant grows on rocks in the forest, the plant grows and is attached to tree trunks at an altitude of 1,000~2,900 meters or on hillside rocks. It is distributed in the southwest and mainly produced in southwest area of China.

 Characters of herbs: Leaf one type, soft leathery. The leaf blade is lanceolate, 5~10 cm long; The undersurface is covered with thick and loose stellate hair, and the branches of the hair are long, needle-shaped, dark brown and slightly shiny. The sporangium group has many rows. The petiole is about 5 cm long.

(5).Pyrrosia davidii(Bak.)Ching.


 Pyrrosia davidii Bak.Ching.:growing plants Botanical description: It is commonly known as Huá Běi Shí Wéi. Plant grows up to 25 cm. The rhizome is long and transverse, densely lanceolate scaly, long acuminate, entire. Leaf grows on edges; Petiole is 2~5 cm long, articular; Leaf blade is leathery, linear to narrowly lanceolate, 3~8 cm long, 6~15 mm wide in the middle, above sparsely stellate when young, deciduous when old, with concave points, below densely with short thin orange-brown stellate hairs, sometimes curled upward and inwardly when dry. The lateral veins are not obvious. The sporangium is neatly arranged in rows on the back of the leaf. No capping.

 Plant height is 10~20 cm. Rhizome is slightly stout, recumbent, densely covered with narrowly lanceolate scales; Scales are long acuminate, brown when young, dark in the middle when old, margin is serrate. Leaves are proximate, type I; Petiole is 2.5~10 cm long, straw color, base of living place is scaly, up sparsely stellate hair; Leaf blade is narrowly lanceolate, middlemost wide, gradually narrow toward both ends, short obtuse tip, or long caudate acuminate, base with narrow wing along petiole long down spread, generally long 10~15 cm, middle width is 0.8~1.5 cm, entire, after dry nearly leathery, above pale green, smooth or sparsely stellate hair, densely hollow, brown below, densely stellate hair. The main veins are not prominent in the lower part, slightly concave in the upper part, and the lateral veins and minor veins are not visible. The sporangium is uniformly dense beneath leaves, uncovered, brown with stellate hairs when young, and brick-red when mature.

 Ecological environment: The plant grows on rocks at an altitude of 300~1,800 meters. It is attached to the rock, at an area with an altitude 200~2,500 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the north, northwest, the middle reaches area of the Yangtze River, China.

 Characters of herbs: The leaves are rolled into a tube or spread, one type, soft leathery. The leaf blade is lanceolate or linear lanceolate, tapering toward both ends, 3~8 cm long and 0.6~1.5 cm wide; The undersurface is densely covered with short and thin stellate hairs. The sporangium group has many rows. The petiole is 2~5 cm long and 1.5~3 mm in diameter.
 
Article Links.

 
  

 

 QR codeURL QR code:
 URL QR-code 

 
References:
  • 1.Introduction of Shi Wei:Shearer's Pyrrosia Leaf or Folium Pyrrosiae.

 Last edit and latest revision date:
   cool hit counter