✵The article records the herb Chrysanthemum Flower—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical source—a single plant species, Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant; the macroscopic characteristics of the herb Chrysanthemum Flower; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Flos Chrysanthemi (Chrysanthemum Flower)
Pinyin Name: Jú Huā
English Name: Chrysanthemum Flower
Latin Name:Flos Chrysanthemi Properties and Flavor: Lightly cold; pungent, sweet, and slightly bitter
Brief Introduction:Flos Chrysanthemi is the dried capitulum (flower-head) of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. It is used (1) to disperse wind-heat in the treatment of wind-heat invasion accompanied by fever and headache; (2) to pacify the liver and brighten the eyes, for conditions such as acute conjunctivitis and dizziness due to hyperactivity of liver-yang; and (3) to clear heat and resolve toxins, for boils and sores. The herb is commonly known as Flos Chrysanthemi, Chrysanthemum Flower, or Jú Huā.
Botanical Source:Flos Chrysanthemi is the dried capitulum of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat., commonly known as chrysanthemum flower. It is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Chrysanthemum (syn. Dendranthema), family Asteraceae (Compositae, or daisy family), order Asterales. This widely used species is described below:
Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.
Botanical Description:Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. is also known as Dendranthema morifolium (Ramat.) Tzvel. The plant—commonly called chrysanthemum flower or Jú Huā—is a perennial herb that grows up to 60–150 cm tall and is densely covered with white pubescence. The stem is erect, branched or unbranched, and pilose. Leaves are alternate, with short petioles; leaf blades are ovate to lanceolate, 5–15 cm long, pinnatilobed or pinnatifid, with a cuneate base; the lower surface is covered with white pubescence.
Capitula (flower heads) are 2.5–20 cm in diameter, variable in size, and grow singly or in clusters at the apices of branches. The involucre consists of multiple layers of bracts: the outer layer is green and striate, with a membranous margin and pilose outer surface. Ligulate flowers are white, red, purple, or yellow.
Achenes are undeveloped. Flowering occurs from September to November.
Growth Characteristics: The plant prefers a warm, humid climate and full sun—especially during flowering—and is intolerant of shade. It is cold-tolerant, moderately drought-tolerant, but highly susceptible to waterlogging; it responds well to fertilization. Optimal growth temperature is approximately 20 °C (68 °F); growth occurs within 0–10 °C (32–50 °F); it tolerates low temperatures down to −4 °C (24.8 °F) during flowering, and its roots tolerate −16 to −17 °C (3.2–1.4 °F). Soil requirements are not strict, but cultivation is best on elevated, well-drained, sunny, leeward fields with loose, fertile, humus-rich loamy or sandy loam soil, pH 6–8. It thrives in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils. Heavy clay soils and low-lying, waterlogged sites are unsuitable. Relay cropping is feasible with corn, mulberry, soybean, tobacco, cabbage, garlic, and wheat.
Characteristics of the herb: Five common types of chrysanthemum flower are described: Tribute Chrysanthemum (Gōng Júhuā), Chu Chrysanthemum (Chǔ Júhuā), Huái Chrysanthemum (Huái Júhuā), Bó Chrysanthemum (Bó Júhuā), and Hang Chrysanthemum (Háng Júhuā)
Tribute Chrysanthemum (Gōng Júhuā): Oblate or irregularly globular, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Ligulate flowers are white or whitish (nearly white), obliquely ascending with reflexed apices and slightly curled, wrinkled margins; glandular dots are typically absent. Tubular flowers are few and exserted.
Chu Chrysanthemum (Chǔ Júhuā): Irregularly globular or oblate, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Ligulate flowers are white, irregularly twisted and involute (rolled inward), with wrinkled margins; light brown glandular dots may be present. Tubular flowers are mostly concealed.
Huái Chrysanthemum (Huái Júhuā): Irregularly spherical or oblate, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Ligulate flowers predominate—whitish or yellow, irregularly twisted and involute, with wrinkled margins; glandular dots may be visible. Tubular flowers are mostly concealed.
Bó Chrysanthemum (Bó Júhuā): Capitulum obconical or cylindrical, occasionally slightly compressed and fan-shaped, 1.5–3 cm in diameter. The involucre is discoid, with 3–4 layers of oval or elliptic, herbaceous, yellow-green or brown-green bracts; the outer surface is pilose, the margin is membranous, and the receptacle is hemispherical—lacking stipules or hairs. Ligulate flowers are arranged in several whorls, pistillate, peripheral, whitish (nearly white), stiff and erect, longitudinally folded and contracted, with scattered golden glandular dots. Tubular flowers are numerous, hermaphroditic, centrally located, concealed by ligulate flowers, yellow, and 5-toothed at the apex. Achenes are undeveloped and lack pappus. The dried herb is light, soft, smooth, loose, and crisp. It possesses a delicate fragrance and tastes sweet with mild bitterness.
Hang Chrysanthemum (Háng Júhuā): Discoid (plate-like) or oblate, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, often occurring as fused clusters. Ligulate flowers are whitish or yellow, flat or slightly folded, closely appressed; glandular dots are usually absent. Tubular flowers are numerous and exserted.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) significantly dilates coronary arteries; (2) increases coronary blood flow; (3) improves myocardial oxygen consumption; (4) exhibits antipyretic, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects; (5) exerts inhibitory effects against influenza virus, Leptospira, and various pathogenic bacteria.
Medicinal Efficacy: Disperses wind and dissipates heat; clears liver fire and improves vision; calms liver Yang; clears heat and detoxifies; indicated for headache, dizziness, red eyes, dysphoria with a stifling sensation in the chest and heart, furuncles, boils, pyogenic infections, wind-induced dizziness, alcohol toxicity, and malignant boils.
Administration of Chrysanthemum Flower (Jú Huā):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Chrysanthemum Flower (Jú Huā)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 5–9 grams; (2) water decoction, 1.5–3 qián (approximately 4.5–9 grams), or brewed as tea, or processed into pills or powder; (3) water decoction, 10–15 grams, or processed into pills, powder, or brewed as tea. Externally: appropriate amount, used as a wash with water decoction or mashed and applied topically.
✵The article records the herb Chrysanthemum Flower—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, and botanical source—a single plant species, Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant; the macroscopic characteristics of the herb Chrysanthemum Flower; its pharmacological actions; medicinal efficacy; and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Jú Huā
Botanical Description: Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. is also known as Dendranthema morifolium (Ramat.) Tzvel. The plant—commonly called chrysanthemum flower or Jú Huā—is a perennial herb that grows up to 60–150 cm tall and is densely covered with white pubescence. The stem is erect, branched or unbranched, and pilose. Leaves are alternate, with short petioles; leaf blades are ovate to lanceolate, 5–15 cm long, pinnatilobed or pinnatifid, with a cuneate base; the lower surface is covered with white pubescence.
Growth Characteristics: The plant prefers a warm, humid climate and full sun—especially during flowering—and is intolerant of shade. It is cold-tolerant, moderately drought-tolerant, but highly susceptible to waterlogging; it responds well to fertilization. Optimal growth temperature is approximately 20 °C (68 °F); growth occurs within 0–10 °C (32–50 °F); it tolerates low temperatures down to −4 °C (24.8 °F) during flowering, and its roots tolerate −16 to −17 °C (3.2–1.4 °F). Soil requirements are not strict, but cultivation is best on elevated, well-drained, sunny, leeward fields with loose, fertile, humus-rich loamy or sandy loam soil, pH 6–8. It thrives in slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soils. Heavy clay soils and low-lying, waterlogged sites are unsuitable. Relay cropping is feasible with corn, mulberry, soybean, tobacco, cabbage, garlic, and wheat.
Tribute Chrysanthemum (Gōng Júhuā): Oblate or irregularly globular, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Ligulate flowers are white or whitish (nearly white), obliquely ascending with reflexed apices and slightly curled, wrinkled margins; glandular dots are typically absent. Tubular flowers are few and exserted.
Chu Chrysanthemum (Chǔ Júhuā): Irregularly globular or oblate, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Ligulate flowers are white, irregularly twisted and involute (rolled inward), with wrinkled margins; light brown glandular dots may be present. Tubular flowers are mostly concealed.
Huái Chrysanthemum (Huái Júhuā): Irregularly spherical or oblate, 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Ligulate flowers predominate—whitish or yellow, irregularly twisted and involute, with wrinkled margins; glandular dots may be visible. Tubular flowers are mostly concealed.
Bó Chrysanthemum (Bó Júhuā): Capitulum obconical or cylindrical, occasionally slightly compressed and fan-shaped, 1.5–3 cm in diameter. The involucre is discoid, with 3–4 layers of oval or elliptic, herbaceous, yellow-green or brown-green bracts; the outer surface is pilose, the margin is membranous, and the receptacle is hemispherical—lacking stipules or hairs. Ligulate flowers are arranged in several whorls, pistillate, peripheral, whitish (nearly white), stiff and erect, longitudinally folded and contracted, with scattered golden glandular dots. Tubular flowers are numerous, hermaphroditic, centrally located, concealed by ligulate flowers, yellow, and 5-toothed at the apex. Achenes are undeveloped and lack pappus. The dried herb is light, soft, smooth, loose, and crisp. It possesses a delicate fragrance and tastes sweet with mild bitterness.
Hang Chrysanthemum (Háng Júhuā): Discoid (plate-like) or oblate, 2.5–4 cm in diameter, often occurring as fused clusters. Ligulate flowers are whitish or yellow, flat or slightly folded, closely appressed; glandular dots are usually absent. Tubular flowers are numerous and exserted.
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