✵The article records the herb Pharbitis Seed, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—two plant species: (1) Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy and (2) Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt—as well as a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two species; the characteristics of the herb Pharbitis Seed; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Semen Pharbitidis (Pharbitis Seed)
Pinyin Name: Qiān Niú Zǐ
English Name: Pharbitis Seed
Latin Name:Semen Pharbitidis Properties and Flavor: Cold, bitter, pungent, and toxic.
Brief Introduction:Semen Pharbitidis is the dried, ripe seed of Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy or Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt. It is used as a hydragogue for edema and oliguria and as an anthelmintic for ascariasis. The herb is commonly known as Semen Pharbitidis, Pharbitis Seed, or Qiān Niǔ Zǐ.
Botanical Source: Herbal classical works define Semen Pharbitidis (Pharbitis Seed) as the dried, ripe seed of (1) Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy or (2) Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt. These are plants of the genus Ipomoea L. (formerly in Pharbitis), family Convolvulaceae (morning glory family), order Solanales (formerly in order Tubular). The two commonly used species are described below:
(1).Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy.
Botanical Description: Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy is commonly known as Qiān Niú, Qiān Niú Huā, Liě Yè Qiān Niú (“cleft-leaf pharbitis”), Gǒu ěr Cǎo (“dog-ear herb”), or Lǎ ba Huā (“trumpet flower”). It is an annual, twining, climbing herb. The stem is sinistral, growing over 2 meters long, and covered with antrorse pubescence, mixed with antrorse or spreading long hirsute hairs. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 2–15 cm long; leaf blades are broad-ovate or orbicular, deeply 3-parted or shallowly 3-lobed (occasionally 5-lobed), 4–15 cm long and 4.5–14 cm wide; the base is cordate; the middle lobe is oblong or oval (egg-shaped), acuminate or cuspidate; lateral lobes are shorter and triangular; sinuses are pointed or rounded; the leaf surface is hirtellous (covered with slightly stiff hairs).
Flowers are axillary, solitary or 2–3 flowers grow at the apex of the peduncle; peduncles are unequal in length and pilose; there are 2 bracts, linear or foliaceous (leaf-like); 5 sepals (calyx lobes), subequal, narrowly lanceolate, pilose on the outside; corolla is funnelform, 5–10 cm long, royal purple (bluish violet) or prunus (violet-red), with a pale-colored corolla tube; 5 stamens, not exserted beyond the corolla, filaments are unequal in length, slightly broadened at the base, pilose; 1 pistil, ovary is glabrous, 3-locular, stigma is capitate.
Capsule is subsphaeroidal, 0.8–1.3 cm in diameter, dehiscing by 3 valves. Seeds: 5–6 per capsule, ovate-trigonous, dark brown (blackish brown) or beige (maize-yellow). Flowering occurs from July to September; fruiting from August to October.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows at altitudes of 100–1,600 meters above sea level, in habitats such as hillside thickets, dry valley roadsides, garden margins, mountain roadsides, or under cultivation. Native to tropical America, it is now widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and often occurs as a weed in fields.
Growth Characteristics: Pharbitis nil exhibits strong adaptability; requirements for climate and soil are not strict. However, a temperate climate and moderately fertile sandy loam soil are optimal. Growth is poor in waterlogged, drought-prone, infertile, or thin soils. The plant prefers warm–cool conditions; it tolerates summer heat but is intolerant of cold and frost. It thrives in loose, well-drained soils and shows moderate tolerance to early drought, salinity, and alkalinity. The optimal temperature for seed germination is 18–23 °C (64.4–73.4 °F); seedlings can develop at temperatures above 10 °C (50 °F).
Characteristics of the Herb: The seeds resemble orange segments, are slightly trigonous (three-edged), 5–7 mm long and 3–5 mm wide. The surface is grayish-black ("Heichou": blackish-ugly) or pale yellowish-white ("Baichou": whitish-ugly); the dorsal surface is arched; the two lateral surfaces are slightly flattened and faintly wrinkled; a shallow longitudinal groove runs along the center of the dorsal surface; near the lower end of the ventral ridge lies a nearly circular, light-colored hilum. The texture is firm and hard; cross-sections reveal pale yellow or yellowish-green, folded cotyledons. When soaked in water, the seed coat becomes rimose and exudes conspicuous mucilage. The herb has a slight odor and tastes pungent, bitter, and numbing.
Medicinal Efficacy: Promotes diuresis and laxation; alleviates fluid retention to relieve constipation; resolves phlegm and eliminates retained fluids; directs Qi downward; dispels food stagnation; expels parasites; and breaks up accumulations. It is indicated for edema, abdominal distension due to fluid accumulation, ascites, urinary and fecal obstruction, constipation, phlegm-damp retention, mass formation (accumulation), rebellious Qi with wheezing and cough, dyspneic fullness, sputum-obstructed cough, beriberi, lumbago, scrotal swelling, ulcerative swellings and toxicity, hemorrhoids and stool toxicity, malnutrition secondary to parasitic infestation, indigestion with food retention, parasitic infestation with abdominal pain, ascariasis, and taeniasis (tapeworm disease).
Administration of Semen Pharbitidis (Qiān Niú Zǐ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Semen Pharbitidis (Qiān Niú Zǐ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–6 grams; (2) Internally: as pills or powder, 1–3 fen (≈0.3–0.9 grams); as water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (≈4.5–9 grams); (3) Internally: as water decoction, 3–10 grams; or as pills/powder, 0.3–1 grams per dose, two to three times daily. The fried herb exhibits milder properties than the raw herb.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Contraindicated during pregnancy. Should not be combined with Croton seed (Croton tiglium) or croton cream.
(2) Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt.
Botanical Description:Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt., or Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth is commonly known as Yuán Yè Qiān Niú ("round-leaf pharbitis"), Máo Qiān Niú ("hairy pharbitis"), or Zǐ Huā Qiān Niú ("purple-flowered pharbitis"). It is an annual twining climbing herb. The stem is covered with antrorse pubescence, mixed with antrorse or spreading long hirsute hairs. Leaves are alternate; leaf blades are round-cordate or broadly ovate-cordate, 4–18 cm long and 3.5–16.5 cm wide; base is rounded or cordate; apex is acute, cuspidate, or acuminate; margin is usually entire, occasionally 3-lobed; both surfaces are sparsely to densely covered with appressed bristles; petioles are 2–12 cm long, bearing hairs identical to those on the stem.
Flowers are axillary, solitary or 2–5 flowers grow at the apex of the peduncle; peduncles are shorter than petioles or nearly equal in length, 4–12 cm long, with hairs identical to those on the stem; bracts are linear, 6–7 mm long, covered with spreading long hirsute hairs; pedicel is 1.2–1.5 cm long, covered with antrorse pubescence and long hirsute hairs; sepals (calyx lobes) are subequal, 1.1–1.6 cm long; the outer three sepals are oblong-ovate and acuminate, the inner two are linear-lanceolate; both surfaces are covered with spreading hirsute hairs—denser at the base; corolla is funnelform, 4–6 cm long, violet-red, red, or white, with a usually white corolla tube; the inner surface of the lobes is dark-colored, the outer surface is pale; stamens and style are included; filaments are unequal in length, pubescent at the base; ovary is glabrous, 3-locular, each locule containing two ovules; stigma is capitate; nectary disc is annular.
Capsule is subsphaeroidal, 9–10 mm in diameter, dehiscing by three valves. Seeds are ovate-trigonous, ≈5 mm long, dark brown (blackish brown) or beige (maize-yellow), covered with very short, squarrose hairs.
Leaf morphology resembles that of Pharbitis nil, but key distinctions include: leaf blades are round-cordate or broadly ovate-cordate (4–18 cm long × 3.5 cm wide), usually entire; flowers are axillary, solitary or arranged in 2–5-flowered umbellate cymes; sepals are ovate-lanceolate.
Ecological Environment: Grows wild or is cultivated on plains, in fields, along roadsides, beside dwellings, or in valleys, up to altitudes of 2,800 meters above sea level. Native to tropical America, it has been widely introduced and naturalized across temperate and subtropical regions worldwide.
Characteristics of the Herb: Capsule is subsphaeroidal, 9–10 mm in diameter, dehiscing by three valves. Seeds are ovate-trigonous, ≈5 mm long, dark brown (blackish brown) or beige (maize-yellow), covered with extremely short, squarrose hairs.
Black Pharbitis Seed
Brief Introduction: Black Pharbitis Seed refers to seeds with a grayish-black surface.
✵It is commonly known as Hēi Chǒu ("black-ugly"), Hēi Qiān Niú Zǐ. Its botanical origin is described under "Semen Pharbitidis (Pharbitis Seed)".
White Pharbitis Seed
Brief Introduction: White Pharbitis Seed refers to seeds with a pale yellowish-white surface.
✵It is commonly known as Bái Chǒu ("white-ugly"), Bái Qiān Niú Zǐ. Its botanical origin is described under "Semen Pharbitidis (Pharbitis Seed)".
Black and White Pharbitis Seed
Brief Introduction: The herb Black and White Pharbitis Seed consists of equal parts of black and white pharbitis seeds.
✵The Black and White Pharbitis Seed is commonly known as Hēi Bái Chǒu (meaning "black ugly" and "white ugly"), Hēi Bái Qiān Niú Zǐ. Its botanical origin is described in the entry "Semen Pharbitidis (Pharbitis Seed)".
✵The article records the herb Pharbitis Seed, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—two plant species: (1) Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy and (2) Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt—as well as a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these two species; the characteristics of the herb Pharbitis Seed; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Qiān Niú Zǐ
Botanical Description: Pharbitis nil (L.) Choisy is commonly known as Qiān Niú, Qiān Niú Huā, Liě Yè Qiān Niú (“cleft-leaf pharbitis”), Gǒu ěr Cǎo (“dog-ear herb”), or Lǎ ba Huā (“trumpet flower”). It is an annual, twining, climbing herb. The stem is sinistral, growing over 2 meters long, and covered with antrorse pubescence, mixed with antrorse or spreading long hirsute hairs. Leaves are alternate; petioles are 2–15 cm long; leaf blades are broad-ovate or orbicular, deeply 3-parted or shallowly 3-lobed (occasionally 5-lobed), 4–15 cm long and 4.5–14 cm wide; the base is cordate; the middle lobe is oblong or oval (egg-shaped), acuminate or cuspidate; lateral lobes are shorter and triangular; sinuses are pointed or rounded; the leaf surface is hirtellous (covered with slightly stiff hairs).
Ecological Environment: The plant grows at altitudes of 100–1,600 meters above sea level, in habitats such as hillside thickets, dry valley roadsides, garden margins, mountain roadsides, or under cultivation. Native to tropical America, it is now widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions and often occurs as a weed in fields.
Botanical Description: Pharbitis purpurea (L.) Voigt., or Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth is commonly known as Yuán Yè Qiān Niú ("round-leaf pharbitis"), Máo Qiān Niú ("hairy pharbitis"), or Zǐ Huā Qiān Niú ("purple-flowered pharbitis"). It is an annual twining climbing herb. The stem is covered with antrorse pubescence, mixed with antrorse or spreading long hirsute hairs. Leaves are alternate; leaf blades are round-cordate or broadly ovate-cordate, 4–18 cm long and 3.5–16.5 cm wide; base is rounded or cordate; apex is acute, cuspidate, or acuminate; margin is usually entire, occasionally 3-lobed; both surfaces are sparsely to densely covered with appressed bristles; petioles are 2–12 cm long, bearing hairs identical to those on the stem.
Ecological Environment: Grows wild or is cultivated on plains, in fields, along roadsides, beside dwellings, or in valleys, up to altitudes of 2,800 meters above sea level. Native to tropical America, it has been widely introduced and naturalized across temperate and subtropical regions worldwide.
Brief Introduction: Black Pharbitis Seed refers to seeds with a grayish-black surface.
Brief Introduction: White Pharbitis Seed refers to seeds with a pale yellowish-white surface.
Brief Introduction: The herb Black and White Pharbitis Seed consists of equal parts of black and white pharbitis seeds.
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