Introduction of Lu Xian Cao:Pyrola Herb or Herba Pyrolae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Pyrola Herb, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its herbal classic book defined botanical source two plant species, ①.Pyrola calliantha H. Andres., ②.Pyrola decorata H. Andres., and other two commonly used plant species, ③.Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef., ④.Pyrola incarnata Fisch.ex Dc. with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these four plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these four plant species, the features of the herb Pyrola Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Herba Pyrolae(Pyrola Herb).
Pin Yin Name: Lù Xián Cǎo.
English Name: Pyrola Herb.
Latin Name: Herba Pyrolae.
Property and flavor: warm nature, tastes sweet, bitter.
Brief introduction: The herb Herba Pyrolae is the dried entire plant of Pyrola calliantha H.Andres, or Pyrola decorata H. Andres, used to replenish kidney yin, strengthen the sinews and bones, dispel wind-damp and stanch bleeding for the treatment of lumbago, rheumatism, menorrhagia, bloody sputum and epistaxis. The herb is commonly known as Herba Pyrolae, Pyrola Herb, Lù Xián Cǎo.
Botanical source: Common official herbal classics defined the herb Herba Pyrolae(Pyrola Herb) as the dried entire plant of the species (1).Pyrola calliantha H. Andres., (2).Pyrola decorata H. Andres. Other famous herbal classics defined the herb Herba Pyrolae(Pyrola Herb) as the dried entire plant of the species (1).Pyrola calliantha H. Andres., (2).Pyrola decorata H. Andres., (3).Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef., (4).Pyrola incarnata Fisch.ex Dc. They are plants of the Pyrola Linn. genus, the Pyrolaceae family of the Ericales order. These 2 herbal classic book defined species and the other 2 commonly used species are introduced:
(1).Pyrola calliantha H. Andres.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola calliantha H. Andres is commonly known as Lù Tí Cǎo (means deer hoof grass). Evergreen small herbaceous shrub, grows up to 10~30 cm tall; the rhizome is thin and long, amphitropous, obliquely ascending, and branched. 4~7 leaves, basal, coriaceous; elliptic or ovoid, rarely orbicular (suborbicular), 2.5~5.2 cm long, 1.7~3.5 cm wide, apex is blunt or obtuse, base is broadly cuneate or orbicular (suborbicular), the margin is subentire or sparsely toothed, the upper surface is green, the under surface is often glaucous, sometimes purplish; petioles are 2~5.5 cm long, sometimes purplish. Scapes (flower stalks) have 1~4 scaly leaves, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, 7.5~8 mm long, 4~4.5 mm wide, apex is acuminate or shortly acuminate, base is slightly appressed or slightly holding the scape.
Racemes are 12~16 cm long, have 9~13 flowers, dense, flowers are inclined, slightly pendulous, corolla widely opens, larger, 1.5~2 cm in diameter, white, sometimes slightly faint reddish; Pedicels are 5~10 mm long, long ligulate bracts are in axils, 6~7.5 mm long, 1.6~2 mm wide, apex is sharp-pointed; Sepals are lingual(liguliform), 3~7.5 mm long, 1.5~3 mm wide, apex is sharp-pointed or obtuse, edge is subentire; flower petals are obovate-elliptic or obovate, 6~10 mm long, 5~8 mm wide; 10 stamens, filaments are glabrous, anthers are long cylindrical, 2.1~4 mm long, 1~1.4 mm wide, has corniculum, yellow; Style is 6~10 mm long, often faint reddish, oblique, suberect (nearly upright) or slightly curved upward, stretch beyond corolla or slightly stretch out, the apex is thickened, has inconspicuous annular protrusions, stigma is 5-lobed.
Capsularfruits are oblate, 5~5.5 mm tall, 7.5~9 mm in diameter. Its flowering period is from June to August, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in coniferous forests, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, or broad-leaved forests, in mountain areas at altitudes of 700–4,100 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northwest, southwest, northern, and western areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant, Pyrola calliantha H. Andres. prefers coolness and dankness. It is better to choose humus with good drainage and many decayed leaves, it can be cultivated in forests.
Characters of herbs: The whole herb is 10–15–30 cm long. The rhizome is thin and long, and has branches. There are 4~7 basal leaves, leaf blades are elliptic or oval (egg-shaped), rarely orbicular, length is up to 5.2 cm, and width is up to 3.5 cm, and the undersurface of the leaf is often glaucous, sometimes purplish.
(2).Pyrola decorata H. Andres.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola decorata H. Andres is commonly known as Pǔ Tōng Lù Tí Cǎo (means common pyrola), or Luǎn Yè Lù Tí Cǎo (means oval-leaf pyrola), Yǎ Měi Lù Tí Cǎo (means elegant and beautiful pyrola), Shān Měi Rén Lù Tí Cǎo (means mountain beauty pyrola). Evergreen suffruticose herblet, 15–35 cm high; rhizomes are thin and long, amphitropous or obliquely ascending, branched. 3~6 leaves, grow near the base, petioles are 1.5–4 cm long; leaf blades are thinly coriaceous, oblong to obovate-oblong or spatulate, rarely are ovate-oblong, 3~7 cm long, 2.5~4 cm wide, apex is bluntly pointed, base is cuneate or broadly cuneate, decurrent and extend to the petiole, the upper surface is green, greenish-white or slightly whitish along the leaf veins, the under surface is slightly pale, often purplish, with sparse teeth on edge; Petioles are 1.5~4 cm long, shorter or subequal to the leaf blades.
Scape (flower stalk) is often purplish, has 1-2 or 3 brown scaly leaves, the apex is acuminate, base slightly holding the scapes. Racemes are 2.5~4 cm long, have 4~10 flowers, semi-pendulous; the corolla is calathiform (bowl-shaped), pea green (pale green), yellowish-green or nearly white; axils of pedicels have membraneous bracts, nearly equal length as pedicels; apex of sepals is sharp-pointed, the color of edges is paler; flower petals are obovate-elliptic, length is up to 1 cm, width is up to 7 mm, apex is round; 10 stamens, filaments are glabrous, anthers are yellow, has corniculum; style is inclined, the upper part is curved, apex has annular protrusions and rarely inconspicuous, stretches beyond the corolla, stigma is 5-lobed.
The capsularfruits are oblate, 7–10 mm in diameter. Its flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from July to August.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in broad-leaved forests, or bushwood, in areas at altitudes of 600–3,000 meters above sea level. The plant is distributed in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the Zhujiang River area, and the southwest, northwest, and west areas of China.
Characters of herbs: The whole herb is 14–30 cm long, the whole plant is glabrous, brownish-green, or near light reddish brown. The rhizome is thin and long, with radicels (fine roots) and scale leaves; it slightly has vertical edges and fine vertical wrinkles between ridges. Leaves are alternate; 3~6 basal leaves, the petioles are 2~4 cm long, with ridges; the leaf blades are coriaceous, thicker, ovate-oblong, elliptic or oblong oval, 3.5~7 cm long, and 2.3~4 cm wide, the tip is bluntly pointed, has small protruding tips, leaf base is broad cuneate, decurrent and extends to the petiole, and sparse denticular at the leaf edge; the surface is withered-green, and the undersurface is prunus (violet red). The scapes are 15–30 cm high; racemes have 5–8 flowers; bracts are linear-lanceolate, flowers are broadly campanulate (broadly bell-shaped); the calyx is deeply 5-parted. The capsularfruit is dark brown, and oblate.
Medicinal efficacy: Expelling wind-damp, strengthen tendons and bones, replenish deficiency, invigorate kidney, hemostasis (stanch bleeding), relieve a cough, promoting blood circulation for regulating menstruation. It is indicated for rheumatic arthralgia pain, rheumatism and arthralgia, kidney deficiency and lumbago (kidney deficiency, low back pain), the feebleness of waist and knees, weakness and softness of muscle tendons and bones, weakness and cough, new and chronic cough, chronic cough due to asthenia of viscera, over-strained hemoptysis (spitting blood due to over-strain), hemoptysis (spitting blood), epistaxis (nose bleeding and bleeding from five aperture or subcutaneous tissue), hypermenorrhea (abnormally heavy or prolonged menstruation), metrorrhagia and metrostaxis (uterine bleeding), leukorrhoea, bleeding wound, etc.
Administration of Herba Pyrolae (Lù Xián Cǎo):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Herba Pyrolae (Lù Xián Cǎo)
TCM Books:
①.Internally:9~15 grams; ②.Internally:water decoction, 0.5~1 liang (about 15~30 grams), prepare to finely ground herb powder, or stew with meat. Externally:mashed and apply stick, or prepare to finely ground herb powder, sprinkle apply; ③.Internally:water decoction,15~30 grams; prepare to finely ground herb powder,6~9 grams. Externally:proper amount, mashed and apply stick, or prepare to finely ground herb powder, sprinkle apply;or wash with water decoction.
(3).Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef is commonly known as Xiǎo Rì Běn Lù Tí Cǎo. Evergreen herbaceous small subshrub, grows up to 15–30 cm tall; the rhizome is thin and long, amphitropous, obliquely ascending, and branched. 3~8 leaves, basal, subcoriaceous (more or less coriaceous), elliptic or ovate-elliptic, rarely broad-elliptic, 2.5~6 cm long, 2.5~4.5 cm wide, the apex is obtuse, the base is orbicular (subrounded) or rounded cuneate (rounded wedge-shaped), the edge is subentire or inconspicuous sparse serrate, the upper surface is dark green, leaf veins are pale in color, the under surface is green; Petioles have narrow wings, 3-6 cm long.
Scapes have 1~2 membranous scaly leaves or absent, lanceolate, 7~15 mm long, 2~4 mm wide, apex is mucronate, base slightly holding flowers.
Racemes are 6~10 cm long, have 3~12 flowers, inclined, semi-pendent, the corolla is calathiform (bowl-shaped), 10~12 mm in diameter, white; pedicels are 4~6 mm long, bracts grow in axils, linear-lanceolate, 5~8 mm long, slightly longer than pedicels or subequal (nearly equal), apex is acuminate; sepals are lanceolate triangular, 3.5~4 mm long, base is up to 1.6~2 mm wide, apex is acuminate or shortly acuminate; flower petals are obovate-elliptic or obovate-elliptic, 5~6.5 mm long, 3.5~4.5 mm wide, apex is rounded and blunt; 10 stamens, filaments are glabrous, anthers are 2.2~2.5 mm long, 1~1.1 mm wide, upper tip has corniculum, end has short tail-tip; style is 11~13 mm long, oblique, upper part is curved upward, apex is thickened, has no annular protrusions, stretch beyond the corolla.
The capsularfruits are oblate, 6–8 mm in diameter. Its flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in mixed coniferous broad-leaved forest or broad-leaved forest, in areas at altitudes of 800-2,000 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the northern area of China, other areas of northeast Asia, Far East.
Characters of herbs: Racemes have 3~12 flowers; sepals are broadly lanceolate; leaves are broadly ovate to broadly oval; Scape has no bracts or has 1 bract.
(4).Pyrola incarnata Fisch.ex Dc.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola incarnata Fisch.ex Dc is commonly known as Hóng Huā Lù Tí Cǎo (means red-flower pyrola). Evergreen herbaceous small subshrub, it grows 15–30 cm tall; the rhizome is thin and long, amphitropous, obliquely ascending, and branched. 3~7 leaves, basal, thinly coriaceous, slightly glossy, orbicular (suborbicular), ovoid or ovate-elliptic, 3.5~6 cm long, 2.5~5.5 cm wide, apex is blunt, the base is orbicular (suborbicular) or rounded cuneate (rounded wedge-shaped), the edge is subentire or has inconspicuous shallow teeth, both surfaces are sometimes purplish, veins are slightly protuberant; Petioles are 5.5~7 cm long, 1 time the length of the leaf blade, rarely nearly equal length, sometimes purplish. Scape is often purplish, has 2~3 brown scaly leaves, is larger, narrowly oblong or oblong-ovate, 12–15 mm long, 3~5 mm wide, and the apex is sharp-pointed or mucronate.
Racemes are 5~16 cm long, have 7~15 flowers, flowers are inclined, slightly pendulous; corollas are widely opening, calathiform (bowl-shaped), 13~20 mm in diameter, purplish-reddish; pedicels are 6~7.5 mm long, up to 7~12 mm long in flowering period, membranous bracts grow in axils, lanceolate, about 7~8 mm long, longer than pedicels, rarely subequal, apex is acuminate. Sepals are triangular-wide lanceolate, 3.5~5 mm long, apex is acuminate, the base is 1.5~2 mm wide; flower petals are obovate; 10 stamens, filaments are glabrous, anthers are 2.5~2 mm long, 1~1.2 mm wide, has corniculum, turns purple at maturity; style is 6~10 mm long, inclined, upper part is curved upward, apex has annular protrusions, stretch beyond the corolla; stigma is 5 lobed.
The capsularfruits are oblate, 4.5~5 mm tall, 7~8 mm in diameter, and violet-reddish. Its flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in coniferous forests, mixed coniferous broad-leaved forests, or broad-leaved forests, in areas at altitudes of 1,000–2,500 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the northern areas, the middle reaches of the Yellow River, and the northwest areas of China. It is also distributed in other areas of Asia and the Far East.
Characters of herbs: The flowers are claret (dark purplish-red); the sepals are triangular-lanceolate and the tip is acuminate.
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1.Introduction of Lu Xian Cao:Pyrola Herb or Herba Pyrolae.
✵The article gives records of the herb Pyrola Herb, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its herbal classic book defined botanical source two plant species, ①.Pyrola calliantha H. Andres., ②.Pyrola decorata H. Andres., and other two commonly used plant species, ③.Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef., ④.Pyrola incarnata Fisch.ex Dc. with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these four plant species, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these four plant species, the features of the herb Pyrola Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.
Pin Yin Name: Lù Xián Cǎo.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola calliantha H. Andres is commonly known as Lù Tí Cǎo (means deer hoof grass). Evergreen small herbaceous shrub, grows up to 10~30 cm tall; the rhizome is thin and long, amphitropous, obliquely ascending, and branched. 4~7 leaves, basal, coriaceous; elliptic or ovoid, rarely orbicular (suborbicular), 2.5~5.2 cm long, 1.7~3.5 cm wide, apex is blunt or obtuse, base is broadly cuneate or orbicular (suborbicular), the margin is subentire or sparsely toothed, the upper surface is green, the under surface is often glaucous, sometimes purplish; petioles are 2~5.5 cm long, sometimes purplish. Scapes (flower stalks) have 1~4 scaly leaves, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, 7.5~8 mm long, 4~4.5 mm wide, apex is acuminate or shortly acuminate, base is slightly appressed or slightly holding the scape.
Racemes are 12~16 cm long, have 9~13 flowers, dense, flowers are inclined, slightly pendulous, corolla widely opens, larger, 1.5~2 cm in diameter, white, sometimes slightly faint reddish; Pedicels are 5~10 mm long, long ligulate bracts are in axils, 6~7.5 mm long, 1.6~2 mm wide, apex is sharp-pointed; Sepals are lingual(liguliform), 3~7.5 mm long, 1.5~3 mm wide, apex is sharp-pointed or obtuse, edge is subentire; flower petals are obovate-elliptic or obovate, 6~10 mm long, 5~8 mm wide; 10 stamens, filaments are glabrous, anthers are long cylindrical, 2.1~4 mm long, 1~1.4 mm wide, has corniculum, yellow; Style is 6~10 mm long, often faint reddish, oblique, suberect (nearly upright) or slightly curved upward, stretch beyond corolla or slightly stretch out, the apex is thickened, has inconspicuous annular protrusions, stigma is 5-lobed.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in coniferous forests, mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, or broad-leaved forests, in mountain areas at altitudes of 700–4,100 meters above sea level. It is distributed in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, northwest, southwest, northern, and western areas of China.
Growth characteristics: The plant, Pyrola calliantha H. Andres. prefers coolness and dankness. It is better to choose humus with good drainage and many decayed leaves, it can be cultivated in forests.
Characters of herbs: The whole herb is 10–15–30 cm long. The rhizome is thin and long, and has branches. There are 4~7 basal leaves, leaf blades are elliptic or oval (egg-shaped), rarely orbicular, length is up to 5.2 cm, and width is up to 3.5 cm, and the undersurface of the leaf is often glaucous, sometimes purplish.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola decorata H. Andres is commonly known as Pǔ Tōng Lù Tí Cǎo (means common pyrola), or Luǎn Yè Lù Tí Cǎo (means oval-leaf pyrola), Yǎ Měi Lù Tí Cǎo (means elegant and beautiful pyrola), Shān Měi Rén Lù Tí Cǎo (means mountain beauty pyrola). Evergreen suffruticose herblet, 15–35 cm high; rhizomes are thin and long, amphitropous or obliquely ascending, branched. 3~6 leaves, grow near the base, petioles are 1.5–4 cm long; leaf blades are thinly coriaceous, oblong to obovate-oblong or spatulate, rarely are ovate-oblong, 3~7 cm long, 2.5~4 cm wide, apex is bluntly pointed, base is cuneate or broadly cuneate, decurrent and extend to the petiole, the upper surface is green, greenish-white or slightly whitish along the leaf veins, the under surface is slightly pale, often purplish, with sparse teeth on edge; Petioles are 1.5~4 cm long, shorter or subequal to the leaf blades.
Scape (flower stalk) is often purplish, has 1-2 or 3 brown scaly leaves, the apex is acuminate, base slightly holding the scapes. Racemes are 2.5~4 cm long, have 4~10 flowers, semi-pendulous; the corolla is calathiform (bowl-shaped), pea green (pale green), yellowish-green or nearly white; axils of pedicels have membraneous bracts, nearly equal length as pedicels; apex of sepals is sharp-pointed, the color of edges is paler; flower petals are obovate-elliptic, length is up to 1 cm, width is up to 7 mm, apex is round; 10 stamens, filaments are glabrous, anthers are yellow, has corniculum; style is inclined, the upper part is curved, apex has annular protrusions and rarely inconspicuous, stretches beyond the corolla, stigma is 5-lobed.
The capsularfruits are oblate, 7–10 mm in diameter. Its flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from July to August.
Characters of herbs: The whole herb is 14–30 cm long, the whole plant is glabrous, brownish-green, or near light reddish brown. The rhizome is thin and long, with radicels (fine roots) and scale leaves; it slightly has vertical edges and fine vertical wrinkles between ridges. Leaves are alternate; 3~6 basal leaves, the petioles are 2~4 cm long, with ridges; the leaf blades are coriaceous, thicker, ovate-oblong, elliptic or oblong oval, 3.5~7 cm long, and 2.3~4 cm wide, the tip is bluntly pointed, has small protruding tips, leaf base is broad cuneate, decurrent and extends to the petiole, and sparse denticular at the leaf edge; the surface is withered-green, and the undersurface is prunus (violet red). The scapes are 15–30 cm high; racemes have 5–8 flowers; bracts are linear-lanceolate, flowers are broadly campanulate (broadly bell-shaped); the calyx is deeply 5-parted. The capsularfruit is dark brown, and oblate.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef is commonly known as Xiǎo Rì Běn Lù Tí Cǎo. Evergreen herbaceous small subshrub, grows up to 15–30 cm tall; the rhizome is thin and long, amphitropous, obliquely ascending, and branched. 3~8 leaves, basal, subcoriaceous (more or less coriaceous), elliptic or ovate-elliptic, rarely broad-elliptic, 2.5~6 cm long, 2.5~4.5 cm wide, the apex is obtuse, the base is orbicular (subrounded) or rounded cuneate (rounded wedge-shaped), the edge is subentire or inconspicuous sparse serrate, the upper surface is dark green, leaf veins are pale in color, the under surface is green; Petioles have narrow wings, 3-6 cm long.
Botanical description: The plant, Pyrola incarnata Fisch.ex Dc is commonly known as Hóng Huā Lù Tí Cǎo (means red-flower pyrola). Evergreen herbaceous small subshrub, it grows 15–30 cm tall; the rhizome is thin and long, amphitropous, obliquely ascending, and branched. 3~7 leaves, basal, thinly coriaceous, slightly glossy, orbicular (suborbicular), ovoid or ovate-elliptic, 3.5~6 cm long, 2.5~5.5 cm wide, apex is blunt, the base is orbicular (suborbicular) or rounded cuneate (rounded wedge-shaped), the edge is subentire or has inconspicuous shallow teeth, both surfaces are sometimes purplish, veins are slightly protuberant; Petioles are 5.5~7 cm long, 1 time the length of the leaf blade, rarely nearly equal length, sometimes purplish. Scape is often purplish, has 2~3 brown scaly leaves, is larger, narrowly oblong or oblong-ovate, 12–15 mm long, 3~5 mm wide, and the apex is sharp-pointed or mucronate.
Racemes are 5~16 cm long, have 7~15 flowers, flowers are inclined, slightly pendulous; corollas are widely opening, calathiform (bowl-shaped), 13~20 mm in diameter, purplish-reddish; pedicels are 6~7.5 mm long, up to 7~12 mm long in flowering period, membranous bracts grow in axils, lanceolate, about 7~8 mm long, longer than pedicels, rarely subequal, apex is acuminate. Sepals are triangular-wide lanceolate, 3.5~5 mm long, apex is acuminate, the base is 1.5~2 mm wide; flower petals are obovate; 10 stamens, filaments are glabrous, anthers are 2.5~2 mm long, 1~1.2 mm wide, has corniculum, turns purple at maturity; style is 6~10 mm long, inclined, upper part is curved upward, apex has annular protrusions, stretch beyond the corolla; stigma is 5 lobed.
The capsularfruits are oblate, 4.5~5 mm tall, 7~8 mm in diameter, and violet-reddish. Its flowering period is from June to July, and the fruiting period is from August to September.
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