✵The article records the herb Edible Tulip, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino, (2) Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, and (3) Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe—along with detailed descriptions of their botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments; as well as the herb’s morphological characteristics, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones.
Pinyin Name: Shān Cí Gǔ
English Name: Edible Tulip; Rhizoma Pleionis
Latin Name:Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones Properties and Flavor: Cold, slightly pungent, sweet
Brief Introduction:Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones is the dried, ripe pseudobulb of Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino, Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, or Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe, used to clear heat and treat boils, sores, scrofula, and snakebites. Also known as Appendiculate Cremastra Pseudobulb or Common Pleione Pseudobulb.
Botanical Source:Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones is the dried, ripe pseudobulb of Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino, Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, or Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe—plants belonging to the genus Cremastra Lindl., family Orchidaceae (orchid family), order Microspermae. It is also known as Pseudobulb of Appendiculate Cremastra or Shān Cí Gǔ.
Herbal classic works define Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones as the dried, ripe pseudobulb of: (1) Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino, (2) Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, and (3) Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe. These three commonly used species are introduced below:
(1) Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino
Botanical Description:Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino is also known as Cymbidium appendiculatum D. Don or Cremastra wallichiana Lindl. ex Wall., and is commonly called Dù Juān Lán. It is a terrestrial orchid. Pseudobulbs are aggregated and subspherical, 1–3 cm thick. One leaf is terminal (rarely two); leaf blades are elliptic, 4–5 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, with an acute apex and a petiole-like base.
The scape arises laterally from the top of the pseudobulb, erect and stout—usually taller than the leaves—and bears two sparse, tubular sheaths. The raceme bears numerous, sparsely arranged flowers that lean to one side and are purplish-red (violet-red). Flower bracts are narrow-lanceolate and equal to or shorter than the pedicels (including the ovary). Tepals are tubular, with slightly expanded apices. Sepals and petals are nearly equal in size, oblanceolate, ~3.5 cm long and ~4 mm wide in the middle-to-upper portion, with acute apices. The labellum is nearly spatulate (spoon-shaped), subequal to the sepals; its base is shallowly saccate, margins are slightly reflexed upward on both sides, and the anterior portion is enlarged and three-lobed: lateral lobes are narrow, median lobe is oblong; the base bears an appressed or slightly detached appendage. The gynostemium is slender and slightly shorter than the sepals. Flowering occurs from June to August.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows in damp habitats on hillsides and in forests.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried pseudobulb of Cremastra appendiculata is irregularly oblate or conical, 1.8–3 cm long; the enlarged portion measures 1–2 cm in diameter. The apex tapers gradually and bears leaf-scar marks; occasionally scape scars occur nearby. The base is umbilicate and bears fibrous roots or root-scar marks. The surface is yellowish-brown or tan (chocolate brown), with undulating ridges and furrows, wrinkles or vertical grooves; the enlarged portion displays 2–3 slightly raised segments, some bearing filamentous vascular bundles where scale leaves have withered and decayed. The texture is solid and firm, difficult to break; the fracture surface is ash-gray (grayish-white) and slightly powdery. In processed material, both surface and fracture are yellow-white and keratinous. The herb has a mild taste and faint odor, and becomes sticky upon contact with water.
Medicinal Efficacy: Reduces swelling, resolves stasis, transforms phlegm, and detoxifies. Indicated for ulcers and swellings, scrofula, pharyngitis (throat obstruction), swelling and pain, and bites from snakes, insects, or rabid dogs.
Administration of Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones (Shān Cí Gu):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Pseudobulbus Cremastrae seu Pleiones (Shān Cí Gu)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally:water decoction, 1–2 qián (~3–6 grams); juice extraction; or preparation into pills or powders. Externally: apply fresh juice topically, or apply finely powdered herb as a paste.
(2) Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe
Botanical Description:Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe is also known as Coelogyne bulbocodioides Franch. and commonly called Dù Suān Lán. It is a terrestrial orchid, growing up to 15–25 cm tall. The pseudobulb is narrowly ovate or flask-shaped, 1–2 cm long. One terminal leaf is present; after leaf abscission, a circular, toothed scar remains. Leaves and flowers emerge simultaneously; the leaf blade is elliptic-lanceolate, 10–25 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with a slightly obtuse or acuminate apex and a petiole-like, amplexicaul base (stem-clasping).
A single flower arises terminally on the scape. Flower bracts are oblong and nearly acute, equal to or longer than the ovary. Flowers are mauve (lilac) or pink. The sepals (calyx lobes) are erect and narrow-lanceolate, up to 4 cm long and 5–7 mm wide, with acute apices. The labellum base is cuneate (wedge-shaped); it is inconspicuously three-lobed: lateral lobes are semiovate with blunt apices; the median lobe is semicircular or nearly cuneate, with a shallowly concave or nearly flat apex; the margin bears irregular serrations, and the inner surface has 3–5 undulate or straight lamellae (pleats). Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting takes place in July.
Ecological Environment: This species grows in hillside forests and on rocky substrates at elevations of 630–3,000 m above sea level.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried pseudobulb of Pleione bulbocodioides resembles that of Cremastra appendiculata but is less plump—conical or irregularly bottle-shaped, 1.5–2.5 cm long and 1–2 cm in diameter. The upper portion tapers gradually; the apical broken surface is discoid (plate-like). The lower portion is enlarged and broadly flattened; the region near the base is concave. The surface is yellowish-white or light brown (the cortex has been removed, exposing the xylem), smooth, with fine wrinkles; the enlarged portion lacks segmented ridges, whereas 1–2 segments occur on the concave basal region. The fracture surface is pale yellow, keratinous (corneous), and translucent. The herb has a faint odor and a mild, slightly bitter, and slightly mucilaginous taste.
In addition to the above species, pseudobulbs of Pleione yunnanensis (Rolfe) Rolfe and Oreorchis patens (Lindl.) Lindl. are also used.
(3) Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe.
Botanical Description: This species is also known as Yúnnán Dù Suān Lán. Key distinguishing features from P. bulbocodioides include floral and foliar morphology—specifically, leaves appear before flowering (i.e., foliage emerges prior to anthesis). Only one leaf is produced; mature leaves are less than 3 cm wide. The sepals are triangular-obovate; the midlobe bears 4–5 undulate or flat lamellae (pleats), and the ovary is equal to or longer than the perianth.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows along forest margins or on earthen-rocky walls beside ravines.
✵The article records the herb Edible Tulip, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical sources—three plant species: (1) Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino, (2) Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe, and (3) Pleione yunnanensis Rolfe—along with detailed descriptions of their botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments; as well as the herb’s morphological characteristics, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Shān Cí Gǔ
Botanical Description: Cremastra appendiculata (D. Don) Makino is also known as Cymbidium appendiculatum D. Don or Cremastra wallichiana Lindl. ex Wall., and is commonly called Dù Juān Lán. It is a terrestrial orchid. Pseudobulbs are aggregated and subspherical, 1–3 cm thick. One leaf is terminal (rarely two); leaf blades are elliptic, 4–5 cm long and 4–8 cm wide, with an acute apex and a petiole-like base.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows in damp habitats on hillsides and in forests.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried pseudobulb of Cremastra appendiculata is irregularly oblate or conical, 1.8–3 cm long; the enlarged portion measures 1–2 cm in diameter. The apex tapers gradually and bears leaf-scar marks; occasionally scape scars occur nearby. The base is umbilicate and bears fibrous roots or root-scar marks. The surface is yellowish-brown or tan (chocolate brown), with undulating ridges and furrows, wrinkles or vertical grooves; the enlarged portion displays 2–3 slightly raised segments, some bearing filamentous vascular bundles where scale leaves have withered and decayed. The texture is solid and firm, difficult to break; the fracture surface is ash-gray (grayish-white) and slightly powdery. In processed material, both surface and fracture are yellow-white and keratinous. The herb has a mild taste and faint odor, and becomes sticky upon contact with water.
Botanical Description: Pleione bulbocodioides (Franch.) Rolfe is also known as Coelogyne bulbocodioides Franch. and commonly called Dù Suān Lán. It is a terrestrial orchid, growing up to 15–25 cm tall. The pseudobulb is narrowly ovate or flask-shaped, 1–2 cm long. One terminal leaf is present; after leaf abscission, a circular, toothed scar remains. Leaves and flowers emerge simultaneously; the leaf blade is elliptic-lanceolate, 10–25 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with a slightly obtuse or acuminate apex and a petiole-like, amplexicaul base (stem-clasping).
Ecological Environment: This species grows in hillside forests and on rocky substrates at elevations of 630–3,000 m above sea level.
Botanical Description: This species is also known as Yúnnán Dù Suān Lán. Key distinguishing features from P. bulbocodioides include floral and foliar morphology—specifically, leaves appear before flowering (i.e., foliage emerges prior to anthesis). Only one leaf is produced; mature leaves are less than 3 cm wide. The sepals are triangular-obovate; the midlobe bears 4–5 undulate or flat lamellae (pleats), and the ovary is equal to or longer than the perianth.
Ecological Environment: This plant grows along forest margins or on earthen-rocky walls beside ravines.
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