Introduction of Dōnɡ Kuí Guǒ: Cluster Mallow Fruit
✵The article records the herb Cluster Mallow Fruit—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical source: the dried ripe fruit of Malva verticillata L.—with a detailed introduction to the plant’s botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, the herb’s macroscopic characteristics, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Fructus Malvae (Cluster Mallow Fruit)
Pinyin Name: Dōnɡ Kuí Guǒ
English Name: Cluster Mallow Fruit
Latin Name:Fructus Malvae Properties and Flavor: Cool, sweet, slightly astringent
Brief Introduction: The herb Fructus Malvae is the dried ripe fruit of Malva verticillata L. It is used to clear heat and promote diuresis in the treatment of dysuria, oliguria, and edema. The herb is commonly known as Fructus Malvae, Cluster Mallow Fruit, or Dōnɡ Kuí Guǒ.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define the herb Fructus Malvae (Cluster Mallow Fruit) as the dried ripe fruit of Malva verticillata L. It is a biennial herb belonging to the genus Malva L., family Malvaceae (mallow family), order Malvales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Malva verticillata L.
Botanical Description:Malva verticillata L. is also known as Malva pulchella Bernh. and is commonly called Dōnɡ Kuí. A biennial herb, it grows 60–90 cm tall; stems are unbranched and covered with stellate pubescence. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 2–8 cm long, pubescent only along the groove on the upper surface; stipules are ovate-lanceolate and covered with stellate pubescence; leaf blades are reniform to circular, 5–11 cm in diameter, usually palmately 5–7-lobed, with short triangular lobes bearing blunt tips; margins are crenate; both surfaces bear very sparse coarse hairs or are nearly glabrous.
Flowers grow 3 to several in axillary clusters, subsessile to short-stipitate; the epicalyx consists of 3 linear-lanceolate bracteoles bearing cilia; the calyx is cup-shaped (campanulate), 5-lobed, with broad triangular lobes covered sparsely with stellate, long hirsute hairs; the corolla is whitish to faintly pink (rosy), with 5 petals, 6–8 mm long, apices are concave and clawed; the androecium has filaments ~4 mm long, pilose; the style is branched into 10–11 slender, radiating branches.
Fruit is discoid (oblate), 5–7 mm in diameter, composed of 10–11 mericarps; the dorsal surface is smooth, lateral surfaces are reticulate. Seeds are reniform, ~1.5 mm in diameter, purplish-brown (puce), and nearly glabrous. Flowering occurs from March to November.
Ecological Environment:Malva verticillata grows in plains and hilly wildlands. It has been cultivated as a vegetable since before the Han dynasty and remains in cultivation for culinary use.
Characteristics of the Herb: The fruit of Malva verticillata consists of 7–9 small, discoid (oblate) mericarps, each bearing a persistent calyx at the base. Each schizocarp is segment-shaped (like an orange segment) or reniform, 1.5–2 mm in diameter, with a shallow central depression on the thinner side. The pericarp is brownish-yellow; the dorsal surface is smooth, and near the depressed area, there is a slightly emarginate, rounded spot on both sides, from which radiating striations extend outward. Seeds are segment-shaped and reniform; the seed coat is black to tan (chocolate brown). The herb is hard in texture; broken cotyledons are cordate and overlap with slight flexion. Odor is faint; taste is mildly astringent.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Inhibits tumor cell proliferation in vitro.
Medicinal Efficacy: Clears heat and promotes diuresis; reduces swelling. Indicated for dysuria (difficulty or pain in urination), edema, excessive thirst, and urinary tract infections.
Administration of Fructus Malvae (Dōnɡ Kuí Guǒ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Fructus Malvae (Dōnɡ Kuí Guǒ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams.
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References:
1.Introduction of Dōnɡ Kuí Guǒ: Cluster Mallow Fruit
✵The article records the herb Cluster Mallow Fruit—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and its botanical source: the dried ripe fruit of Malva verticillata L.—with a detailed introduction to the plant’s botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, the herb’s macroscopic characteristics, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Dōnɡ Kuí Guǒ
Botanical Description: Malva verticillata L. is also known as Malva pulchella Bernh. and is commonly called Dōnɡ Kuí. A biennial herb, it grows 60–90 cm tall; stems are unbranched and covered with stellate pubescence. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 2–8 cm long, pubescent only along the groove on the upper surface; stipules are ovate-lanceolate and covered with stellate pubescence; leaf blades are reniform to circular, 5–11 cm in diameter, usually palmately 5–7-lobed, with short triangular lobes bearing blunt tips; margins are crenate; both surfaces bear very sparse coarse hairs or are nearly glabrous.
Fruit is discoid (oblate), 5–7 mm in diameter, composed of 10–11 mericarps; the dorsal surface is smooth, lateral surfaces are reticulate. Seeds are reniform, ~1.5 mm in diameter, purplish-brown (puce), and nearly glabrous. Flowering occurs from March to November.
Characteristics of the Herb: The fruit of Malva verticillata consists of 7–9 small, discoid (oblate) mericarps, each bearing a persistent calyx at the base. Each schizocarp is segment-shaped (like an orange segment) or reniform, 1.5–2 mm in diameter, with a shallow central depression on the thinner side. The pericarp is brownish-yellow; the dorsal surface is smooth, and near the depressed area, there is a slightly emarginate, rounded spot on both sides, from which radiating striations extend outward. Seeds are segment-shaped and reniform; the seed coat is black to tan (chocolate brown). The herb is hard in texture; broken cotyledons are cordate and overlap with slight flexion. Odor is faint; taste is mildly astringent.
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