Introduction of Lao Guan Cao: Wilford Geranium Herb
✵The article records the herb Heron’s Bill—or Wilford Geranium Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and its botanical sources as defined in classical herbal works: (1) Erodium stephanianum Willd., (2) Geranium wilfordii Maxim., and (3) Geranium carolinianum L., along with three additional species used medicinally: (4) Geranium sibiricum L., (5) Geranium nepalense Sweet, and (6) Geranium dahuricum DC. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these six plant species, as well as the morphological features, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines for Heron’s Bill—or Wilford Geranium Herb.
Herba Erodii seu Geranii (Heron’s Bill or Wilford Geranium Herb)
Pinyin Name: Lǎo Guàn Cǎo
English Name: Heron’s Bill or Wilford Geranium Herb; Common Heron
Latin Name:Herba Erodii seu Geranii Properties and Flavor: Neutral; slightly pungent and bitter
Brief Introduction:Herba Erodii seu Geranii is the dried aerial part of Erodium stephanianum Willd. or Geranium wilfordii Maxim., used to dispel wind-dampness, unblock the collaterals, and arrest dysenteric diarrhea in cases of rheumatoid arthralgia with muscular contracture, as well as for treating enteritis and dysentery. It is commonly known as Herba Erodii seu Geranii, Heron’s Bill or Wilford Geranium Herb, and Lǎo Guàn Cǎo.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Herba Erodii seu Geranii (Heron’s Bill or Wilford Geranium Herb) as the dried aerial part of (1) Erodium stephanianum Willd., (2) Geranium wilfordii Maxim., and (3) Geranium carolinianum L. Other authoritative herbal classics define it as the dried aerial part of (1) Erodium stephanianum Willd., (2) Geranium wilfordii Maxim., (3) Geranium sibiricum L., (4) Geranium nepalense Sweet, and (5) Geranium dahuricum DC. These plants belong to the genera Erodium L’Hérit. or Geranium L., family Geraniaceae (geranium family), order Geraniales. The five commonly used species are introduced below:
(1) Erodium stephanianum Willd.
Botanical Description:Erodium stephanianum Willd. is commonly known as Máng Niú Ér Miáo or Cháng Zuǐ Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Long-beaked Geranium"), Mián Mián Niú, Chē Chē Lù—a species of the genus Erodium L’Hérit., family Geraniaceae. It is an annual or biennial herb, growing 10–50 cm tall, with cylindrical, stout, sparsely branched roots. Stems are prostrate or ascending, much-branched, and pilose. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 4–6 cm; stipules (perphylls) are lanceolate, 5–10 mm long, with membranous margins; leaf blades are ovate-oblong or oblong-triangular, 4–6 cm long and 3–4 cm wide, bipinnately divided, with 5–9 pairs of pinnae; the base is decurrent; pinnules are linear, entire or bearing 1–3 coarse teeth; both surfaces are pubescent.
Umbels are axillary; peduncles are 5–15 cm long and usually bear 2–5 flowers; pedicels are 1–3 cm long; sepals (calyx lobes) are oblong with aristiform (awn-shaped) apices; awns measure 2–3 cm; flowers have five obovate petals—mauve (lilac) to royal purple (bluish violet)—nearly equal in length to the sepals, with blunt apices and white-hairy bases; stamens number ten, arranged in two whorls: the outer whorl comprises five sterile stamens lacking anthers, while the inner whorl comprises five fertile stamens bearing anthers; nectaries number five; the ovary is densely white-pilose.
The capsule fruit is 3–4 cm long, with a long rostrum (beak) at the apex; five fruit valves separate from the central axis, and the rostrum is twisted, bearing brown hairs on its inner surface. Flowering occurs from April to August; fruiting occurs from June to September.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows on hillsides and mountain slopes, in grasslands, on field ridges, along roadsides, and near village dwellings.
Growth Characteristics:Erodium stephanianum prefers a warm, humid climate; it is cold- and moisture-tolerant and thrives in full sunlight. Fertile, loose, moist loam soil is ideal for cultivation.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is covered with white pubescence. The stem is sub-circular, 30–50 cm long (or longer), 1–7 mm in diameter; its surface is celadon (sage green) or purplish, branched, with conspicuous and slightly enlarged nodes, longitudinal grooves, and sparse pubescence. The herb has a crisp texture and is fibrous when broken. Leaf blades are curled and shriveled; the leaf texture is crisp and brittle. Intact leaves are bipinnately divided, with narrowly linear lobes that are entire or bear 1–3 coarse teeth. The capsule is oblong-ovoid, approximately 4 cm long; the persistent styles measure 2.5–3 cm and resemble a stork’s beak; at maturity, the capsule is 5-lobed and curls upward spirally. The herb has a faint odor and a mild taste.
Medicinal efficacy: Expels wind-dampness, unblocks meridians and collaterals, arrests diarrhea, promotes blood circulation, clears heat and drains dampness via diuresis, and detoxifies. It is indicated for rheumatic arthralgia, numbness and rigidity, cutaneous hypoesthesia, aching muscles and bones, diarrhea and dysentery, carbuncles and abscesses, ulcers, traumatic injuries (e.g., falls), and enteritis.
Administration of Herba Erodii seu Geranii (Lǎo Guàn Cǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Erodii seu Geranii (Lǎo Guàn Cǎo)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 9–15 grams; (2) Internally:decoction in water, 2–5 qian (approximately 6–15 grams), wine infusion, or paste preparation. (3) Internally: water decoction, 9–15 grams, or wine infusion or paste preparation. Externally:appropriate amount; apply as a warm poultice (mashed herb fried with wine) or prepare as an ointment for topical application.
(2) Geranium wilfordii Maxim.
Botanical Description:Geranium wilfordii Maxim. is commonly known as Lǎo Guàn Cǎo or Yā Jiǎo Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Duck-foot-shaped Geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae. It is a perennial herb, growing 30–80 cm tall. Its rhizome is short and erect, bearing a slightly thickened, elongated taproot. Stems are erect or somewhat decumbent at the base, and covered with antrorse (forward-directed) pubescence. Leaves are opposite; basal and lower cauline leaves have long petioles, gradually shortening upward; stipules (perphylls) are narrow-lanceolate with acuminate apices and pubescent surfaces; leaf blades are reniform-triangular with cordate bases, 3–5 cm long and 4–6 cm wide, deeply trisected; the central lobe is slightly larger, ovate-rhombic with an acute apex; the upper margin is incised or coarsely serrate, with short, concave tips at tooth apices; lower leaves are sometimes nearly quinquepartite. Both adaxial and abaxial surfaces bear appressed hairs.
Flowers are solitary in leaf axils or arranged in cymes of 2–3; pedicels elongate and curve during flowering, then decline during fruiting; sepals (calyx lobes) number five, ovate or lanceolate, with awned apices (5–6 mm long) and pubescent surfaces; petals number five, pale red (rose-colored) or pink, nearly equal in length to the sepals, each bearing five violet-red longitudinal veins; stamens number ten, their filaments are basally connate, with abruptly enlarged bases bearing marginal setae (trichomes); the ovary is superior, 5-locular, with five short, inconspicuous styles.
The capsule is mucilaginous; the rostrum (beak) is short. At maturity, five fruit valves separate from the central axis, and the rostrum involutes from base to apex, measuring ~2 cm in length. Flowering occurs from July to August; fruiting occurs from August to October.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows in grasslands on hillsides and mountain slopes, along roadsides in plains, and in woodland margins.
Characteristics of the Herb: The stem is slender, 1–3 mm in diameter, with longitudinal grooves; its surface is purplish or taupe (grayish-brown), bearing antrorse appressed hairs. Leaves are reniform-triangular, deeply 3–5-lobed; lobes are nearly rhombic with serrate margins; both surfaces are covered with appressed hairs. Capsules measure ~2 cm in length; persistent styles are 1–2 cm long, 5-lobed at maturity, and curl upward in an umbrella-like arrangement.
(3) Geranium carolinianum L.
Botanical Description:Geranium carolinianum L. is commonly known as Yě Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Wild Geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae. It is an annual herb, growing 20–60 cm tall. Roots are slender, simple or sparsely branched. Stems are erect or decumbent, simple or multiple, angled (with distinct ridges), and densely covered with antrorse pubescence. Basal leaves wither early; cauline leaves are alternate, though the uppermost pair may be opposite. Stipules (perphylls) are lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, 5–7 mm long and 1.5–2.5 mm wide, pubescent abaxially. Lower cauline leaves have long petioles—2–3 times the length of the leaf blade—and these petioles are covered with antrorse pubescence; upper petioles gradually shorten. Leaf blades are reniform-rounded, 2–3 cm long and 4–6 cm wide, with cordate bases, palmately 5–7-lobed nearly to the base; lobes are cuneate-ovoid or rhombic, narrowed at the base (cuneate), entire in the lower portion, and pinnately lobed in the upper portion; ultimate lobules are linear-oblong, acute at the apex; both surfaces bear short appressed hairs, with denser appressed hairs along the veins on the abaxial surface.
Inflorescences are axillary and terminal, longer than the subtending leaves, covered with antrorse pubescence and bearing elongated glandular hairs; each peduncle bears two flowers, and several terminal peduncles are often aggregated into an umbelliform (umbellate) inflorescence. Pedicels resemble peduncles in indumentum and are equal to or slightly shorter than the flowers. Bracts are subulate, 3–4 mm long, and pubescent. Sepals are ovate-oblong or nearly elliptic, 5–7 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, with acute apices and a mucro ~1 mm long; the abaxial surface is pubescent or bears scattered coarse, spreading hairs and glandular hairs along the veins. Petals are lilac-red (lavender), obovate, slightly longer than the calyx, with rounded apices and broadly cuneate bases. Stamens are slightly shorter than the sepals; their lower portions bear long, coarse, spreading hairs. The pistil is slightly longer than the stamens and densely covered with rough, appressed pubescence.
The capsule is ~2 cm long and covered with short, rough, appressed pubescence; fruit valves dehisce near the apex of the rostrum (beak) and reflex downward. Flowering occurs from April to July; fruiting occurs from May to September.
Ecological Environment:Geranium carolinianum L. grows in weedy habitats on waste slopes, roadsides, and ditch banks.
(4) Geranium sibiricum L.
Botanical Description:Geranium sibiricum L. is commonly known as Xī Bó Lì Yà Lǎo Guàn Cǎo, Siberian Geranium, or Shǔ Zhǎng Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Mouse-palm-shaped Geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae. It is a perennial herb, growing 20–100 cm tall. Roots are erect, simple or sparingly branched—usually unbranched, rarely 2–3 in number. The stem is slender and elongated, procumbent or with the upper part obliquely ascending, much-branched, and sparsely covered with antrorse hairs. Leaves are opposite; basal and lower cauline leaves have long petioles, while apical petioles are short; all petioles bear antrorse pubescence or appressed hairs. Stipules are lanceolate, elongated, and acuminate. Basal leaves wither early and are isomorphic with cauline leaves: reniform-pentagonal, with broadly cordate bases, 3–6 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, palmately 5-lobed; lobes are obovate or narrowly obovate, cuneate at the base, and pinnately lobed or deeply dentate-serrate in the upper portion. Upper leaves are 3-lobed. Both adaxial and abaxial surfaces bear sparse appressed hairs; the abaxial surface is densely pilose along the veins.
Flowers are usually solitary and axillary; pedicels are 4–5 cm long, filiform, and bear antrorse pubescence or appressed hairs; two lanceolate bracts occur near the middle of the pedicel, covered with antrorse appressed hairs, and curve laterally during fruiting. Sepals are oblong-lanceolate, ~4 mm long, with membranous margins. Petals are pale red (rose-colored) or white with purplish veins; their length is approximately equal to that of the sepals.
Capsules are 1.5–2 cm long and puberulent. Flowering occurs from June to July; fruiting occurs from July to September.
Ecological Environment: This species grows on riverbanks, in wetlands, mountain forests, along roadsides, and in montane regions.
Characteristics of the Herb: Stems are much-branched and sparsely covered with antrorse hairs. Leaves are reniform-pentagonal, palmately 5-lobed, with ovate-lanceolate lobes that are pinnately lobed or deeply dentate-serrate; both surfaces are pilose. Capsules are 1.5–2 cm long; the persistent style is 5-lobed at maturity and curls upward in an umbrella-like arrangement.
(5) Geranium nepalense Sweet.
Botanical Description: The plant Geranium nepalense Sweet is commonly known as Duǎn Zuǐ Lǎo Guàn Cǎo (meaning "short-beak geranium") or Ní Bó ěr Lǎo Guàn Cǎo (meaning "Nepal geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae (the geranium family). It is a perennial herb growing up to 30–50 cm tall, sometimes taller or much shorter. The roots are slender and slanting laterally. Stems are slender, prostrate or obliquely ascending, nearly square in cross-section, and often sparsely covered with anatropous (reversed) pilose hairs. Leaves are opposite; petioles of lower cauline leaves are longer than the leaf blade; stipules are narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, 0.4–1 cm long, with acuminate apices; leaf blades are reniform-pentagonal, 2–5 cm long and 3–5.5 cm wide; deeply 3- to 5-lobed (not to the base), with broadly ovate lobules; margins are dentate-incised or lobed; upper surface is sparsely covered with appressed hairs; lower surface is sparsely pilose.
Several axillary cymes, each bearing 2 flowers (sometimes 1); peduncles are 2–8 cm long. Ebracteate; peduncles are anatropous and pilose, curving laterally in fruiting phase; sepals (calyx lobes) are lanceolate, ~0.6 cm long, awned at the apex, with membranous margins and 3 prominent veins on the abaxial surface; white long hairs along the veins; petals are small, prunus (violet-red), slightly longer than the sepals; filaments are broadened basally (ovoid), anthers are orbicular, prunus (violet-red); ovary is green, stigma is prunus (violet-red), both densely covered with white hairs.
Capsular fruits are ~1.7 cm long, pilose. Flowering occurs from June to July; fruiting from July to August.
Ecological Environment: Grows on moist hillsides, roadsides, fields, and weedy areas.
Characteristics of the Herb: Stems are 1–3 mm in diameter, surface is celadon (sage green) or prunus (violet-red), with longitudinal grooves and sparse hairs. Leaves are reniform-pentagonal, palmately 3- to 5-lobed, margins are incised, and piliferous. Capsular fruits are ~1.7 cm long; persistent styles are 5-lobed and reflexed upward at maturity.
(6) Geranium dahuricum DC.
Botanical Description:Geranium dahuricum DC is commonly known as Kuài Gēn Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("tuberous-root geranium") or Cū Gēn Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("thick-root geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae (the geranium family). A perennial herb growing up to 20–60 cm tall. Rhizome are short and erect, bearing a tuft of long, fusiform, succulent tuberous roots. Stem is erect, glabrate, often dichotomously branched. Leaves are opposite; lower cauline leaves with long petioles (up to 10–15 cm), gradually shorter upward; uppermost leaves are sessile; stipules are lanceolate or ovoid, acuminate, 5–10 mm long; leaf blades are reniform-circular, 3–4 cm long and 5–7 cm wide, palmately 7-lobed to the base; lobes are rhomboid-ovate or lanceolate, irregularly pinnately divided; lobules are lanceolate or linear-elliptic, 2–3 mm wide, acute; upper surface and margins are densely covered with slightly appressed white hairs; lower surface is sparsely covered with long appressed hairs.
Inflorescences are axillary or terminal; pedicels are 3–6 cm long, slender, usually bearing 2 flowers; pedicels are filamentous, 2–3 cm long, sparsely pubescent with anatropous hairs, apex is curving upward in fruiting phase; bracts are lanceolate, long-acuminate; sepals are ovoid, glabrate; petals are mauve (lilac), 7–12 mm long; filament bases are enlarged, with marginal setae.
Capsular fruits are pilose, 1.2–2 cm long. Flowering occurs from June to July; fruiting from August to September.
Ecological Environment: Grows in meadows, forest edges, and shrublands.
Characteristics of the Herb: Rhizome is short, with thick, nearly fusiform roots clustered at the base. Stems are often dichotomously branched and glabrate. Leaves are reniform-circular, palmately 7-lobed to the base, lobules are irregularly pinnately divided. Capsular fruits are 1.2–2 cm long.
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1.Introduction of Lao Guan Cao: Wilford Ganesbill Herb
✵The article records the herb Heron’s Bill—or Wilford Geranium Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and its botanical sources as defined in classical herbal works: (1) Erodium stephanianum Willd., (2) Geranium wilfordii Maxim., and (3) Geranium carolinianum L., along with three additional species used medicinally: (4) Geranium sibiricum L., (5) Geranium nepalense Sweet, and (6) Geranium dahuricum DC. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these six plant species, as well as the morphological features, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines for Heron’s Bill—or Wilford Geranium Herb.
Pinyin Name: Lǎo Guàn Cǎo
Botanical Description: Erodium stephanianum Willd. is commonly known as Máng Niú Ér Miáo or Cháng Zuǐ Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Long-beaked Geranium"), Mián Mián Niú, Chē Chē Lù—a species of the genus Erodium L’Hérit., family Geraniaceae. It is an annual or biennial herb, growing 10–50 cm tall, with cylindrical, stout, sparsely branched roots. Stems are prostrate or ascending, much-branched, and pilose. Leaves are opposite; petioles measure 4–6 cm; stipules (perphylls) are lanceolate, 5–10 mm long, with membranous margins; leaf blades are ovate-oblong or oblong-triangular, 4–6 cm long and 3–4 cm wide, bipinnately divided, with 5–9 pairs of pinnae; the base is decurrent; pinnules are linear, entire or bearing 1–3 coarse teeth; both surfaces are pubescent.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows on hillsides and mountain slopes, in grasslands, on field ridges, along roadsides, and near village dwellings.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole plant is covered with white pubescence. The stem is sub-circular, 30–50 cm long (or longer), 1–7 mm in diameter; its surface is celadon (sage green) or purplish, branched, with conspicuous and slightly enlarged nodes, longitudinal grooves, and sparse pubescence. The herb has a crisp texture and is fibrous when broken. Leaf blades are curled and shriveled; the leaf texture is crisp and brittle. Intact leaves are bipinnately divided, with narrowly linear lobes that are entire or bear 1–3 coarse teeth. The capsule is oblong-ovoid, approximately 4 cm long; the persistent styles measure 2.5–3 cm and resemble a stork’s beak; at maturity, the capsule is 5-lobed and curls upward spirally. The herb has a faint odor and a mild taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Strong inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus, beta-hemolytic streptococcus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Shigella flexneri, and influenza virus; (2) inhibition of intestinal peristalsis, conferring antidiarrheal effects; (3) stimulation of intestinal peristalsis, potentially causing diarrhea; (4) antitussive effect; (5) antioxidant properties.
Botanical Description: Geranium wilfordii Maxim. is commonly known as Lǎo Guàn Cǎo or Yā Jiǎo Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Duck-foot-shaped Geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae. It is a perennial herb, growing 30–80 cm tall. Its rhizome is short and erect, bearing a slightly thickened, elongated taproot. Stems are erect or somewhat decumbent at the base, and covered with antrorse (forward-directed) pubescence. Leaves are opposite; basal and lower cauline leaves have long petioles, gradually shortening upward; stipules (perphylls) are narrow-lanceolate with acuminate apices and pubescent surfaces; leaf blades are reniform-triangular with cordate bases, 3–5 cm long and 4–6 cm wide, deeply trisected; the central lobe is slightly larger, ovate-rhombic with an acute apex; the upper margin is incised or coarsely serrate, with short, concave tips at tooth apices; lower leaves are sometimes nearly quinquepartite. Both adaxial and abaxial surfaces bear appressed hairs.
Flowers are solitary in leaf axils or arranged in cymes of 2–3; pedicels elongate and curve during flowering, then decline during fruiting; sepals (calyx lobes) number five, ovate or lanceolate, with awned apices (5–6 mm long) and pubescent surfaces; petals number five, pale red (rose-colored) or pink, nearly equal in length to the sepals, each bearing five violet-red longitudinal veins; stamens number ten, their filaments are basally connate, with abruptly enlarged bases bearing marginal setae (trichomes); the ovary is superior, 5-locular, with five short, inconspicuous styles.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows in grasslands on hillsides and mountain slopes, along roadsides in plains, and in woodland margins.
Botanical Description: Geranium carolinianum L. is commonly known as Yě Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Wild Geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae. It is an annual herb, growing 20–60 cm tall. Roots are slender, simple or sparsely branched. Stems are erect or decumbent, simple or multiple, angled (with distinct ridges), and densely covered with antrorse pubescence. Basal leaves wither early; cauline leaves are alternate, though the uppermost pair may be opposite. Stipules (perphylls) are lanceolate or triangular-lanceolate, 5–7 mm long and 1.5–2.5 mm wide, pubescent abaxially. Lower cauline leaves have long petioles—2–3 times the length of the leaf blade—and these petioles are covered with antrorse pubescence; upper petioles gradually shorten. Leaf blades are reniform-rounded, 2–3 cm long and 4–6 cm wide, with cordate bases, palmately 5–7-lobed nearly to the base; lobes are cuneate-ovoid or rhombic, narrowed at the base (cuneate), entire in the lower portion, and pinnately lobed in the upper portion; ultimate lobules are linear-oblong, acute at the apex; both surfaces bear short appressed hairs, with denser appressed hairs along the veins on the abaxial surface.
Inflorescences are axillary and terminal, longer than the subtending leaves, covered with antrorse pubescence and bearing elongated glandular hairs; each peduncle bears two flowers, and several terminal peduncles are often aggregated into an umbelliform (umbellate) inflorescence. Pedicels resemble peduncles in indumentum and are equal to or slightly shorter than the flowers. Bracts are subulate, 3–4 mm long, and pubescent. Sepals are ovate-oblong or nearly elliptic, 5–7 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, with acute apices and a mucro ~1 mm long; the abaxial surface is pubescent or bears scattered coarse, spreading hairs and glandular hairs along the veins. Petals are lilac-red (lavender), obovate, slightly longer than the calyx, with rounded apices and broadly cuneate bases. Stamens are slightly shorter than the sepals; their lower portions bear long, coarse, spreading hairs. The pistil is slightly longer than the stamens and densely covered with rough, appressed pubescence.
Ecological Environment: Geranium carolinianum L. grows in weedy habitats on waste slopes, roadsides, and ditch banks.
Botanical Description: Geranium sibiricum L. is commonly known as Xī Bó Lì Yà Lǎo Guàn Cǎo, Siberian Geranium, or Shǔ Zhǎng Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("Mouse-palm-shaped Geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae. It is a perennial herb, growing 20–100 cm tall. Roots are erect, simple or sparingly branched—usually unbranched, rarely 2–3 in number. The stem is slender and elongated, procumbent or with the upper part obliquely ascending, much-branched, and sparsely covered with antrorse hairs. Leaves are opposite; basal and lower cauline leaves have long petioles, while apical petioles are short; all petioles bear antrorse pubescence or appressed hairs. Stipules are lanceolate, elongated, and acuminate. Basal leaves wither early and are isomorphic with cauline leaves: reniform-pentagonal, with broadly cordate bases, 3–6 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, palmately 5-lobed; lobes are obovate or narrowly obovate, cuneate at the base, and pinnately lobed or deeply dentate-serrate in the upper portion. Upper leaves are 3-lobed. Both adaxial and abaxial surfaces bear sparse appressed hairs; the abaxial surface is densely pilose along the veins.
Ecological Environment: This species grows on riverbanks, in wetlands, mountain forests, along roadsides, and in montane regions.
Botanical Description: The plant Geranium nepalense Sweet is commonly known as Duǎn Zuǐ Lǎo Guàn Cǎo (meaning "short-beak geranium") or Ní Bó ěr Lǎo Guàn Cǎo (meaning "Nepal geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae (the geranium family). It is a perennial herb growing up to 30–50 cm tall, sometimes taller or much shorter. The roots are slender and slanting laterally. Stems are slender, prostrate or obliquely ascending, nearly square in cross-section, and often sparsely covered with anatropous (reversed) pilose hairs. Leaves are opposite; petioles of lower cauline leaves are longer than the leaf blade; stipules are narrowly lanceolate to lanceolate, 0.4–1 cm long, with acuminate apices; leaf blades are reniform-pentagonal, 2–5 cm long and 3–5.5 cm wide; deeply 3- to 5-lobed (not to the base), with broadly ovate lobules; margins are dentate-incised or lobed; upper surface is sparsely covered with appressed hairs; lower surface is sparsely pilose.
Ecological Environment: Grows on moist hillsides, roadsides, fields, and weedy areas.
Botanical Description: Geranium dahuricum DC is commonly known as Kuài Gēn Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("tuberous-root geranium") or Cū Gēn Lǎo Guàn Cǎo ("thick-root geranium"), a species of the genus Geranium L., family Geraniaceae (the geranium family). A perennial herb growing up to 20–60 cm tall. Rhizome are short and erect, bearing a tuft of long, fusiform, succulent tuberous roots. Stem is erect, glabrate, often dichotomously branched. Leaves are opposite; lower cauline leaves with long petioles (up to 10–15 cm), gradually shorter upward; uppermost leaves are sessile; stipules are lanceolate or ovoid, acuminate, 5–10 mm long; leaf blades are reniform-circular, 3–4 cm long and 5–7 cm wide, palmately 7-lobed to the base; lobes are rhomboid-ovate or lanceolate, irregularly pinnately divided; lobules are lanceolate or linear-elliptic, 2–3 mm wide, acute; upper surface and margins are densely covered with slightly appressed white hairs; lower surface is sparsely covered with long appressed hairs.
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