✵The article records the herb Glory Bower Leaf, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and botanical source—namely, the dried leaf of (1) Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Folium Liriodendra Tracheotomy (Glory Bower Leaf)
Pinyin Name: Chòu Wú Tónɡ Yè
English Name: Glory Bower Leaf
Latin Name:Folium Liriodendra Tracheotomy Property and Flavor: Neutral; bitter, slightly pungent
Brief Introduction:Folium Clerodendri Trichotomi is the dried leaf of Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb., used to dispel wind-dampness and lower blood pressure in cases of rheumatism and hypertension. It is commonly known as Glory Bower Leaf, Chòu Wú Tónɡ Yè, or—historically misnamed—Folium Liriodendra Tracheotomy.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define the herb as the dried leaf of (1) Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb., a shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Clerodendrum, family Verbenaceae (the verbena or vervain family), order Lamiales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb.
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Hǎi Zhōu Cháng Shān or Pāo Huā Tóng. Shrubs or small trees, reaching 1.5–10 m in height. Young branches, petioles, and inflorescences are sparsely to moderately covered with tawny (yellowish-brown) pilose hairs or become nearly glabrous with age; older branches are ash-gray (grayish-white), lenticellate, with white pith containing thin, primrose-yellow (canary-yellow) transverse septa. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 2–8 cm long; leaf blades are papery (chartaceous), broadly ovate, oval, ovate-elliptic, or triangular-ovate, 5–17 cm long and 5–14 cm wide; apex is apiculate or acuminate; base is broadly cuneate to cuneate, occasionally cordate; margin is entire or undulate; both surfaces are sparsely pubescent or nearly glabrous; lateral veins are 3–5 pairs.
Corymbose cymes are terminal or axillary, sparse and loosely branched, usually dichotomously divided; inflorescences are 8–18 cm long; peduncles are 3–6 cm long; bracts are elliptic, foliaceous, caducous; calyx is greenish-white when young, turning purplish-red (prunus-colored) at maturity; base is connate, middle portion slightly swollen, bearing five longitudinal ridges; apex is 5-lobed, lobes are triangular-lanceolate or oval; corolla is white or pinkish, corolla tube is slender, apex is 5-lobed, lobes are oblong-oval; stamens 4, exserted beyond the corolla; style is exserted.
Drupes are subglobose, 6–8 mm in diameter, enclosed within an enlarged, persistent calyx, turning royal purple (bluish-violet) at maturity. Flowering and fruiting occur from June to November.
Ecological Environment: Grows in thickets on hillsides and mountain slopes.
Growth Characteristics:Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb. prefers warm, humid climates but exhibits cold tolerance. Soil requirements are not stringent; it thrives in ordinary soils except strongly alkaline or sandy loam soils.
Characteristics of the Herb: Branchlets are nearly circular or slightly quadrangular, ~3 mm in diameter, yellow-green, with fine longitudinal wrinkles and scattered yellow punctiform lenticels; densely covered with short, soft pubescence that diminishes on older branches. The herb is brittle and fractures easily; the xylem at the fracture surface is primrose-yellow (pale yellow), and the pith is white. Leaves are opposite, often wrinkled, curled, or fragmented. When flattened, intact leaves are broadly ovate or elliptical, 7–15 cm long and 5–9 cm wide; apex is acuminate; base is broadly cuneate or truncate; margin is entire or undulate; upper surface is celadon (sage-green), lower surface is yellowish-green; both surfaces are pubescent; petioles are 2–8 cm long, densely pubescent. Flowers are mostly withered, yellowish-brown, with long pedicels and exserted stamens; fruits (when present) are enclosed in a persistent, dull-yellow, prismatic-oval calyx, taupe-colored, with withered venation. The herb has a distinctive odor and tastes bitter and astringent.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Antihypertensive effect; (2) Other effects: mild sedative activity and moderate analgesic effect.
Medicinal Efficacy: Dispel wind-dampness, lower blood pressure, calm the liver and subdue yang, detoxify, and expel parasites. It is indicated for rheumatic arthralgia, hemiplegia, hypertension, migraine, malaria, dysentery, hemorrhoids, ulcers, eczema, and scabies.
Administration of Folium Liriodendra Tracheotomy (Chòu Wú Tónɡ Yè):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Folium Liriodendra Tracheotomy (Chòu Wú Tónɡ Yè)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams; (2) Internally:water decoction, 3–5 qian (approximately 9–15 grams); fresh herb 1–2 liang (approximately 30–60 grams); may also be prepared as wine extract, pills, or powder. External use: wash affected area with decoction; apply finely powdered herb as a poultice; or mash fresh herb and apply topically. (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams; fresh herb, 30–60 grams; or prepare as wine extract, pills, or powder. External use: apply appropriate amount—wash with decoction, apply mashed herb, or apply powdered herb as a poultice.
Precautions and Adverse Reactions: The antihypertensive activity of Folium Clerodendri Trichotomi is diminished upon prolonged decoction.
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References:
1.Introduction of Chou Wu Tong Ye:Glory bower Leaf
✵The article records the herb Glory Bower Leaf, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and botanical source—namely, the dried leaf of (1) Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Chòu Wú Tónɡ Yè
Botanical Description: Commonly known as Hǎi Zhōu Cháng Shān or Pāo Huā Tóng. Shrubs or small trees, reaching 1.5–10 m in height. Young branches, petioles, and inflorescences are sparsely to moderately covered with tawny (yellowish-brown) pilose hairs or become nearly glabrous with age; older branches are ash-gray (grayish-white), lenticellate, with white pith containing thin, primrose-yellow (canary-yellow) transverse septa. Leaves are opposite; petioles are 2–8 cm long; leaf blades are papery (chartaceous), broadly ovate, oval, ovate-elliptic, or triangular-ovate, 5–17 cm long and 5–14 cm wide; apex is apiculate or acuminate; base is broadly cuneate to cuneate, occasionally cordate; margin is entire or undulate; both surfaces are sparsely pubescent or nearly glabrous; lateral veins are 3–5 pairs.
Ecological Environment: Grows in thickets on hillsides and mountain slopes.
Characteristics of the Herb: Branchlets are nearly circular or slightly quadrangular, ~3 mm in diameter, yellow-green, with fine longitudinal wrinkles and scattered yellow punctiform lenticels; densely covered with short, soft pubescence that diminishes on older branches. The herb is brittle and fractures easily; the xylem at the fracture surface is primrose-yellow (pale yellow), and the pith is white. Leaves are opposite, often wrinkled, curled, or fragmented. When flattened, intact leaves are broadly ovate or elliptical, 7–15 cm long and 5–9 cm wide; apex is acuminate; base is broadly cuneate or truncate; margin is entire or undulate; upper surface is celadon (sage-green), lower surface is yellowish-green; both surfaces are pubescent; petioles are 2–8 cm long, densely pubescent. Flowers are mostly withered, yellowish-brown, with long pedicels and exserted stamens; fruits (when present) are enclosed in a persistent, dull-yellow, prismatic-oval calyx, taupe-colored, with withered venation. The herb has a distinctive odor and tastes bitter and astringent.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Antihypertensive effect; (2) Other effects: mild sedative activity and moderate analgesic effect.
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