✵The article records the herb Hogfennel Root—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn and (2) Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim.—, along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the morphological features of the herb Hogfennel Root; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Radix Peucedani (Hogfennel Root)
Pinyin Name: Qián Hú
English Name: Hogfennel Root
Latin Name:Radix Peucedani Properties and Flavor: slightly cold, bitter, pungent
Brief Introduction:Radix Peucedani is the dried root of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn or Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim., used to subdue rebellious Qi and resolve phlegm to relieve cough and dyspnea accompanied by copious or yellow, sticky sputum.
Botanical Source:Radix Peucedani (Hogfennel Root) is the dried root of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn or Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim.—plants belonging to the genus Peucedanum L., family Apiaceae (Umbelliferae, parsley family), order Apiales. It is also known as White-flowered Hogfennel Root, Common Hogfennel Root, or Qián Hú.
Herbal classical works define Radix Peucedani (Hogfennel Root) as the dried root of: (1) Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn and (2) Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim. These two commonly used species are described below:
(1) Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn.
Botanical Description:Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn is also known as White-flowered Hogfennel, Bái Huā Qián Hú (meaning "white-flowered hogfennel"), Shuǐ Qián Hú ("water hogfennel"), and Zōng Bāo Qián Hú ("brown-sheath hogfennel"). It is a perennial herb growing 60–100 cm tall. The roots are conical, bearing a few lateral roots; the root surface is yellowish-brown to brownish-black, with numerous tan (chocolate-brown) leaf sheath fibers remaining at the root tip. The stem is erect and cylindrical; the upper part is branched and pubescent, while the lower part is glabrous. Basal leaves have long petioles with enlarged, amplexicaul (stem-clasping) sheath-like bases; leaf blades are broadly triangular-ovate, trifoliolate, bipinnatifid or tripinnatifid, 15–20 cm long and about 12 cm wide. Primary leaflets occur in 2–3 pairs; the lowest pair has long stalks (3.5–6 cm), whereas the others have short stalks or are sessile. Terminal lobes are rhomboid- obovate with acuminate apices and cuneate to truncate bases; margins bear irregular 3–4 coarse teeth or crenations; sometimes lower serrations are lobed or deeply parted (1.5–6 cm long, 1.2–4 cm wide). Leaf veins on the abaxial surface are conspicuously protuberant; both surfaces are glabrous, though sparse pubescence may occur along or on the abaxial veins. Cauline leaves resemble basal leaves but are smaller; upper stem leaves are sessile, with ternate leaf blades bearing narrow lobes, cuneate bases, and decurrent midribs.
Compound umbels are terminal or lateral, with 6–18 unequal umbel rays (1.5–4.5 cm long), pilose; 1 to several linear-lanceolate involucral bracts (0.7–1 cm long), membranous-margined and pilose, falling after flowering; umbellules contain 15–20 flowers with unequal, pilose pedicels; 7–12 ovate-lanceolate bractlets with long-acuminate apices (3–5 mm long, 0.6–1 mm wide), equal to or longer than the pedicels and pilose; calyx teeth are inconspicuous; 5 white, broad-ovate to orbicular petals; 5 stamens; style is short and curved; stylopodium is conical.
Fruits are ovoid, dorsally compressed, ~4 mm long and ~3 mm wide, brown and sparsely pubescent; dorsal edges slightly protruding; lateral edges are aliform (wing-like), narrower than the fruit body and slightly thickened; 3–5 vittae (oil ducts) in each ridge groove, 6–10 vittae in the commissure; endosperm ventral surface is straight. Flowering occurs from July to September; fruiting from October to November.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides, forest margins, roadsides, or grassy areas on semi-shaded hillsides, at altitudes of 250–2,000 meters above sea level.
Growth Characteristics: The plant prefers a cool, moist climate and exhibits drought and cold tolerance. It possesses strong adaptability and thrives in both mountainous regions and plains. Optimal growth occurs in deep, humus-rich, fertile loam soils; heavy clay soils or low-lying wetlands are unsuitable for cultivation.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root of White-flowered Hogfennel — subcylindrical, conical, or fusiform (spindle-shaped), slightly twisted, with ramified lower portion; 3–15 cm long and 1–2 cm in diameter. The root head often bears stem scars and fibrous leaf sheath residues; the surface is gray-brown to dark brown, bearing irregular vertical grooves and wrinkles, transverse lenticels, and dense annular ridges on the upper part. The herb is soft when fresh but becomes hard and brittle upon drying; the fracture surface is irregular and porous, revealing numerous small yellowish-brown oil spots visible under magnification. The cortex is thick and light yellowish-white; the cambium ring is conspicuous; the xylem is yellowish (light yellow). The herb has a fragrant aroma and tastes slightly bitter and pungent.
Administration Guide for Radix Peucedani (Qián Hú)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 1.5–3 qian (≈ 4.5–9 grams), or prepared as pills or powders; (3) Internally: water decoction, 5–10 grams, or finely powdered herb formulated into pills or powders
(2) Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim.
Botanical Description:Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim. is also known as Porphyroscias decursiva Miq. or Angelica decursiva (Miq.) Franch. et Sav. Common names include Zǐ Huā Qián Hú ("purple-flowered hogfennel"), Tǔ Dāng Guī, and Yā Jiǎo Qián Hú (“duck-foot hogfennel”). It is a perennial herb growing 1–2 m tall. The root is conical, often bearing several lateral rootlets; the surface is yellowish-brown to tan (chocolate brown). The stem is erect and cylindrical, with shallow longitudinal grooves, smooth and purple; the upper part is branched and pubescent. Both radical and cauline leaves possess long petioles (13–36 cm), the base swollen into a rounded, purple, amplexicaul (stem-clasping) sheath; the outer surface is glabrous. Leaf blades are triangular to ovate, coriaceous (leathery), 10–25 cm long, and either trisected or 1–2-pinnatifid. Petiolules of primary leaflets extend aliformly (wing-like) along the rachis; lateral lobes join the terminal lobe at the base and extend wing-like along the axis, with serrated margins. Terminal lobes are ovate or oblong-lanceolate (5–15 cm × 2–5 cm), acuminate at the apex; margins bear white cartilaginous serrations with pointed tips. The adaxial surface is dark green and pubescent along the veins; the abaxial surface is greenish-white, with the midvein often purplish and glabrous. Upper stem leaves are reduced to saccate, swollen, purple sheaths.
Compound umbels are terminal and lateral; peduncles are 3–8 cm long, pilose; 10–22 unequal umbel rays, 2–4 cm long; 1–3 persistent, reflexed, ovoid, broadly sheathing, purple involucral bracts; 3–8 linear to lanceolate, glabrous bractlets; umbel rays and pedicels are pilose; flowers are deep purple; calyx teeth are conspicuous, linear-conical or triangular-conical; petals are obovate or elliptic-lanceolate, apices are typically not infolded into concave heads; anthers are dark purple.
Fruits are oblong to ovoid, 4–7 mm long and 3–5 mm wide, glabrous; dorsal ridges are elevated and acute; lateral wings are narrow, thicker than the fruit body, nearly equal in width to the fruit; 1–3 vittae (oil ducts) per marginal groove, 4–6 vittae in the commissure; endosperm ventral surface are concave. Flowering occurs from August to September; fruiting from September to November.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on forest margins of hillsides, ditches, gully sides, or in scrubland and mixed woodland.
Characteristics of the Herb: The root of Purple-flowered Hogfennel — root head thicker and shorter, with few fibrous leaf sheath residues; cortex readily separates from the xylem upon fracture. The herb has a fragrant aroma and tastes slightly bitter and pungent.
✵The article records the herb Hogfennel Root—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical sources—two plant species: (1) Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn and (2) Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim.—, along with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environments of these two species; the morphological features of the herb Hogfennel Root; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Qián Hú
Botanical Description: Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn is also known as White-flowered Hogfennel, Bái Huā Qián Hú (meaning "white-flowered hogfennel"), Shuǐ Qián Hú ("water hogfennel"), and Zōng Bāo Qián Hú ("brown-sheath hogfennel"). It is a perennial herb growing 60–100 cm tall. The roots are conical, bearing a few lateral roots; the root surface is yellowish-brown to brownish-black, with numerous tan (chocolate-brown) leaf sheath fibers remaining at the root tip. The stem is erect and cylindrical; the upper part is branched and pubescent, while the lower part is glabrous. Basal leaves have long petioles with enlarged, amplexicaul (stem-clasping) sheath-like bases; leaf blades are broadly triangular-ovate, trifoliolate, bipinnatifid or tripinnatifid, 15–20 cm long and about 12 cm wide. Primary leaflets occur in 2–3 pairs; the lowest pair has long stalks (3.5–6 cm), whereas the others have short stalks or are sessile. Terminal lobes are rhomboid- obovate with acuminate apices and cuneate to truncate bases; margins bear irregular 3–4 coarse teeth or crenations; sometimes lower serrations are lobed or deeply parted (1.5–6 cm long, 1.2–4 cm wide). Leaf veins on the abaxial surface are conspicuously protuberant; both surfaces are glabrous, though sparse pubescence may occur along or on the abaxial veins. Cauline leaves resemble basal leaves but are smaller; upper stem leaves are sessile, with ternate leaf blades bearing narrow lobes, cuneate bases, and decurrent midribs.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on hillsides, forest margins, roadsides, or grassy areas on semi-shaded hillsides, at altitudes of 250–2,000 meters above sea level.
Botanical Description: Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim. is also known as Porphyroscias decursiva Miq. or Angelica decursiva (Miq.) Franch. et Sav. Common names include Zǐ Huā Qián Hú ("purple-flowered hogfennel"), Tǔ Dāng Guī, and Yā Jiǎo Qián Hú (“duck-foot hogfennel”). It is a perennial herb growing 1–2 m tall. The root is conical, often bearing several lateral rootlets; the surface is yellowish-brown to tan (chocolate brown). The stem is erect and cylindrical, with shallow longitudinal grooves, smooth and purple; the upper part is branched and pubescent. Both radical and cauline leaves possess long petioles (13–36 cm), the base swollen into a rounded, purple, amplexicaul (stem-clasping) sheath; the outer surface is glabrous. Leaf blades are triangular to ovate, coriaceous (leathery), 10–25 cm long, and either trisected or 1–2-pinnatifid. Petiolules of primary leaflets extend aliformly (wing-like) along the rachis; lateral lobes join the terminal lobe at the base and extend wing-like along the axis, with serrated margins. Terminal lobes are ovate or oblong-lanceolate (5–15 cm × 2–5 cm), acuminate at the apex; margins bear white cartilaginous serrations with pointed tips. The adaxial surface is dark green and pubescent along the veins; the abaxial surface is greenish-white, with the midvein often purplish and glabrous. Upper stem leaves are reduced to saccate, swollen, purple sheaths.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows on forest margins of hillsides, ditches, gully sides, or in scrubland and mixed woodland.
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