✵This article documents the herb Lilac Daphne Flower Bud—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc., and provides a detailed description of the plant’s botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, characteristics of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Flos Genkwa (Lilac Daphne Flower Bud)
Pinyin Name: Yuán Huā
English Name: Lilac Daphne Flower Bud
Latin Name:Flos Genkwa Properties and Flavor: Warm, bitter, pungent, toxic
Brief Introduction:Flos Genkwa is the dried flower bud of Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc. It functions as a drastic hydrogogue and purgative, indicated for severe edema, hydrothorax, and ascites accompanied by oliguria and constipation. Externally, it is applied for scabies and chilblains. Common names include Flos Genkwa, Lilac Daphne Flower Bud, and Yuán Huā.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal texts define Flos Genkwa (Lilac Daphne Flower Bud) as the dried flower bud of Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc.—a deciduous shrub in the genus Daphne L., family Thymelaeaceae, order Myrtales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc.
Botanical Description:Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc. is commonly known as Yuán Huā. It is an upright, deciduous shrub reaching 0.3–1 m in height, with numerous branches. The taproot is 10 cm long and 0.6–1.5 cm in diameter, branched, yellowish-brown to tawny; root bark is flexible. Stems reach up to 1 cm in diameter and are dark brown; branches are slender and elongated, purplish-brown, and branchlets are densely covered with silky pubescence.
Leaves are opposite (occasionally alternate), chartaceous (papery), short-stipitate (~1 mm), pubescent; leaf blades are elliptic to oblong-ovate, 2.5–5 cm long and 0.8–2 cm wide, slightly coriaceous; apex is acute, margins are entire; both surfaces of young leaves are sparsely covered with silky pubescence—denser along veins—and pubescence gradually abscises with maturity.
Flowers are mauve (lilac), axillary, and bloom before leaf emergence. Typically, 3–7 flowers cluster on short pedicels in leaf axils—more abundant toward branch tips. Flowers are hermaphroditic and apetalous; the perianth tube is slender and elongated (~1 cm), densely covered with silky pubescence, and 4-lobed at the apex; lobes are ovate (egg-shaped), less than 1 cm long. There are 8 stamens in two whorls, inserted on the perianth tube; filaments are absent. A single pistil is present: ovary is superior, unilocular; style is very short or absent; stigma is capitate.
The fruit is a drupe—coriaceous, white, elliptic, ~4 mm long—partially enclosed by the persistent, lower portion of the calyx tube, containing one black seed. Flowering occurs from March to April; fruiting occurs in May.
Ecological Environment:Daphne genkwa grows along roadsides and hillsides, and is also cultivated in outdoor gardens at elevations of 300–1,000 m above sea level.
Growth Characteristics:Daphne genkwa prefers a warm climate, is drought-tolerant, and highly susceptible to waterlogging. Cultivation is best undertaken in fertile, loose, sandy loam soil.
Characteristics of the Herb: Flower buds are mallet-shaped, slightly flattened, and often curved, measuring 1–1.7 cm in length and ~1.5 mm in diameter. Typically, 3–7 buds cluster on a short pedicel; the base bears 1–2 bracts densely covered with yellowish pubescence. The perianth tube surface is mauve (lilac) or celadon (grayish-green), densely covered with white pubescence; apex is 4-lobed, lobes are ovate, lilac or yellowish-brown. The herb has a soft texture, a mild odor, and a sweet, slightly pungent taste.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Increases intestinal peristalsis; (2) Antitussive; (3) Expectorant; (4) Cardiovascular system modulation; (5) Inhibitory activity against diverse bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
Medicinal Efficacy: Drains water and eliminates retained fluid; resolves phlegm and relieves cough; detoxifies and expels parasites. Indicated for: edema and distension; pleural and abdominal effusions (hydrothorax, ascites); phlegm-damp retention; hydrothorax, accumulation, hypocholic pain; abdominal fullness and distension; reversed flowing Qi causing asthma and cough; constipation and oliguria; food poisoning; malarial nodules; carbuncles and furuncles; scabies; favus of the scalp; tinea capitis (favus); chilblains.
Administration of Flos Genkwa (Yuán Huā):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Flos Genkwa (Yuán Huā)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 1.5–3 grams; when prepared with vinegar, administer as a powdered herb—0.6–0.9 grams per dose, once daily. External use: apply an appropriate amount. (2) Internally: as a water decoction, 0.5–1 qián (≈ 1.5–3 g), or formulated into pills or powders. External use: apply the powdered herb topically, or use the water decoction as a mouthwash. (3) Internally: as a water decoction or powdered herb—0.6–0.9 g per dose, once daily. External use: apply the powdered herb topically, or use the water decoction as a mouthwash.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Contraindicated during pregnancy and in cases of deficiency syndromes (e.g., physical deficiency, weakness). Should not be used concurrently with licorice root.
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References:
1.Introduction of Yuan Hua: Lilac Daphne Flower Bud
✵This article documents the herb Lilac Daphne Flower Bud—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species, Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc., and provides a detailed description of the plant’s botanical features, growth characteristics, ecological environment, characteristics of the herb, pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Yuán Huā
Botanical Description: Daphne genkwa Sieb. et Zucc. is commonly known as Yuán Huā. It is an upright, deciduous shrub reaching 0.3–1 m in height, with numerous branches. The taproot is 10 cm long and 0.6–1.5 cm in diameter, branched, yellowish-brown to tawny; root bark is flexible. Stems reach up to 1 cm in diameter and are dark brown; branches are slender and elongated, purplish-brown, and branchlets are densely covered with silky pubescence.
Leaves are opposite (occasionally alternate), chartaceous (papery), short-stipitate (~1 mm), pubescent; leaf blades are elliptic to oblong-ovate, 2.5–5 cm long and 0.8–2 cm wide, slightly coriaceous; apex is acute, margins are entire; both surfaces of young leaves are sparsely covered with silky pubescence—denser along veins—and pubescence gradually abscises with maturity.
Flowers are mauve (lilac), axillary, and bloom before leaf emergence. Typically, 3–7 flowers cluster on short pedicels in leaf axils—more abundant toward branch tips. Flowers are hermaphroditic and apetalous; the perianth tube is slender and elongated (~1 cm), densely covered with silky pubescence, and 4-lobed at the apex; lobes are ovate (egg-shaped), less than 1 cm long. There are 8 stamens in two whorls, inserted on the perianth tube; filaments are absent. A single pistil is present: ovary is superior, unilocular; style is very short or absent; stigma is capitate.
Ecological Environment: Daphne genkwa grows along roadsides and hillsides, and is also cultivated in outdoor gardens at elevations of 300–1,000 m above sea level.
Characteristics of the Herb: Flower buds are mallet-shaped, slightly flattened, and often curved, measuring 1–1.7 cm in length and ~1.5 mm in diameter. Typically, 3–7 buds cluster on a short pedicel; the base bears 1–2 bracts densely covered with yellowish pubescence. The perianth tube surface is mauve (lilac) or celadon (grayish-green), densely covered with white pubescence; apex is 4-lobed, lobes are ovate, lilac or yellowish-brown. The herb has a soft texture, a mild odor, and a sweet, slightly pungent taste.
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