✵This article documents the herb Orientvine Stem, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder et Wilson, and (2) Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum Rehder et Wilson—along with detailed descriptions of their botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological habitats; as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Caulis Sinomenii (Orientvine Stem)
Pinyin Name: Qīng Fēng Téng
English Name: Orientvine Stem
Latin Name:Caulis Sinomenii Properties and Flavor: Warm; pungent and bitter
Brief Introduction:Caulis Sinomenii is the dried lianoid stem of Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder et Wilson or Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum Rehder et Wilson, used to dispel wind-dampness and alleviate pain in rheumatic arthritis, articular swelling, and pain. It is commonly known as Caulis Sinomenii, Orientvine Stem, or Qīng Fēng Téng.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Caulis Sinomenii (Orientvine Stem) as the dried lianoid stem of (1) Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder et Wilson or (2) Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum Rehder et Wilson—both members of the Menispermaceae family (moonseed family) and the order Ranunculales. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehd. et Wilson.
Botanical Description: Also known as Menispermum acutum Thunb., this species is commonly called Qīng Téng. It is a woody, large liana reaching up to 20 meters in length. The stem is taupe (grayish-brown) with irregular fissures; branchlets are terete, bearing linear veins, and are pubescent or glabrate. Leaves are chartaceous to coriaceous, cordate-ovate or broadly ovate, 7–15 cm long and 5–10 cm wide; the apex is acuminate or acute; the base is cordate or subtruncate; the margin is entire or shallowly 3–7-lobed; the upper surface is green; the lower surface is celadon (sage-green or grayish-green); young leaves are tomentose, while mature leaves are glabrous or pubescent only on the lower surface; palmate venation with typically five primary veins; petioles are 5–15 cm long.
Inflorescences are axillary panicles—large and pubescent. Flowers are small and light yellowish-green; the species is dioecious. Each flower has six sepals arranged in two whorls; the abaxial surface is pubescent; six petals, 0.7–1 mm long; male flowers bear 9–12 stamens; sterile stamens in female flowers are filamentous; gynoecium consists of three carpels.
Fruits are drupes—oblate and slightly asymmetrical, 5–8 mm in diameter, red to kermesine (dark red). Flowering occurs in summer; fruiting in autumn.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows in forests, forest margins, along ditches or streams, and in shrublands—often climbing on trees or rocky slopes.
Growth Characteristics:Sinomenium acutum prefers cool, humid climates. It thrives under conditions of abundant rainfall, frequent fog, and high soil and atmospheric humidity. For cultivation, sandy loam rich in fertile humus is recommended.
Characteristics of the Herb: The stem is cylindrical and slightly curved; thin stems are often bundled and twisted, 0.5–2 cm in diameter. The surface is brownish-green to taupe-brown (grayish-brown), bearing longitudinal wrinkles, fine transverse lenticellate fissures, and conspicuous lenticels; nodes are slightly enlarged and bear prominent branch scars or leaf traces. Thin stems are crisp and moderately hard—easily broken—with a splintery, taupe-brown (grayish-brown) xylem at the fracture surface. Thick stems are harder; the fracture surface is brown, with radially striated xylem—commonly termed "wheel patterns"—numerous small pores are visible, and a small, central, yellowish-white pith. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste. High-grade herb material exhibits uniform, intact segments.
Medicinal Efficacy: Dispels wind-dampness via diuresis, activates blood circulation, and detoxifies. Indicated for wind-damp bi syndrome (rheumatic arthralgia), knee joint swelling and pain, edema, beriberi, traumatic injury from falls, fractures, deep abscesses, osteomyelitis, suppurative arthritis, spondylitis, carbuncles and furuncles, toxic swellings, and pruritic skin disorders.
Administration of Caulis Sinomenii (Qīnɡ Fēnɡ Ténɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Caulis Sinomenii (Qīnɡ Fēnɡ Ténɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally:water decoction, 9–15 grams; higher doses (up to 30–60 g) may be used under professional guidance; or prepared as wine infusions. Externally: appropriate amount—fresh herb mashed and applied topically, or fumigation and wash with water decoction.
(2) Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum Rehder et Wilson
Botanical Description:Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum Rehder et Wilson—also known as Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder et Wilson var. cinereum (Diels) Rehder et Wilson—is commonly called Máo Qīng Téng. This variety is morphologically very similar to Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder et Wilson. The principal distinguishing features are: the upper leaf surface bears short pubescence; the lower surface is ash-gray (grayish-white), with denser pubescence; and both inflorescences and young stems are pubescent.
✵This article documents the herb Orientvine Stem, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder et Wilson, and (2) Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum Rehder et Wilson—along with detailed descriptions of their botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological habitats; as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Qīng Fēng Téng
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Caulis Sinomenii (Orientvine Stem) as the dried lianoid stem of (1) Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehder et Wilson or (2) Sinomenium acutum var. cinereum Rehder et Wilson—both members of the Menispermaceae family (moonseed family) and the order Ranunculales. These two commonly used species are described below:
Botanical Description: Also known as Menispermum acutum Thunb., this species is commonly called Qīng Téng. It is a woody, large liana reaching up to 20 meters in length. The stem is taupe (grayish-brown) with irregular fissures; branchlets are terete, bearing linear veins, and are pubescent or glabrate. Leaves are chartaceous to coriaceous, cordate-ovate or broadly ovate, 7–15 cm long and 5–10 cm wide; the apex is acuminate or acute; the base is cordate or subtruncate; the margin is entire or shallowly 3–7-lobed; the upper surface is green; the lower surface is celadon (sage-green or grayish-green); young leaves are tomentose, while mature leaves are glabrous or pubescent only on the lower surface; palmate venation with typically five primary veins; petioles are 5–15 cm long.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows in forests, forest margins, along ditches or streams, and in shrublands—often climbing on trees or rocky slopes.
Characteristics of the Herb: The stem is cylindrical and slightly curved; thin stems are often bundled and twisted, 0.5–2 cm in diameter. The surface is brownish-green to taupe-brown (grayish-brown), bearing longitudinal wrinkles, fine transverse lenticellate fissures, and conspicuous lenticels; nodes are slightly enlarged and bear prominent branch scars or leaf traces. Thin stems are crisp and moderately hard—easily broken—with a splintery, taupe-brown (grayish-brown) xylem at the fracture surface. Thick stems are harder; the fracture surface is brown, with radially striated xylem—commonly termed "wheel patterns"—numerous small pores are visible, and a small, central, yellowish-white pith. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste. High-grade herb material exhibits uniform, intact segments.
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