Introduction of Xin Yi:Flos Magnoliae or Biond Magnolia Flower.

TCM Herbalism:Medicinals and Classifications. ✵The article gives records of the herb Biond Magnolia Flower, its English name, Latin name, property and flavor, its botanical source 3 plant species, ①.Magnolia biondii Pamp., ②.Magnolia denudata Desr., ③.Magnolia sprengeri Pamp., with a detailed introduction to the botanical features of these three plants, the growth characteristics, and ecological environment of these three plants, the features of the herb Biond Magnolia Flower, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guide.

Flos Magnoliae(Biond Magnolia Flower).

a flowering Biond Magnolia tree with purple flowers Pin Yin Name: Xīn Yí.
 English Name: Lily Magnolia, or Biond Magnolia Flower.
 Latin Name: Flos Magnoliae.
 Property and flavor: warm, pungent.

 Brief introduction: The herb Flos Magnoliae is the dried flower bud of Magnolia biondii Pamp., Magnolia denudata Desr., or Magnolia sprengeri Pamp., used for treating stuffy nose and nasal discharge in cases of rhinitis and nasosinusitis. The herb is commonly known as Flos Magnoliae, Biond Magnolia Flower, Xīn Yí.

 Botanical source: The herb Flos Magnoliae (Biond Magnolia Flower) is the dried flower bud of the Magnolia biondii Pamp., Magnolia denudata Desr., or Magnolia sprengeri Pamp., they are plants of the Magnolia L. Genus, the Magnoliaceae family (magnolia family) of the Magnoliales Juss order.

 Herbal classic book defined the herb Flos Magnoliae (Biond Magnolia Flower, or Xīn Yí) as the dried flower bud of :(1). Magnolia biondii Pamp., (2). Magnolia denudata Desr., or (3). Magnolia sprengeri Pamp. These 3 commonly used species are introduced:

(1).Magnolia biondii Pamp.


 sprouting leaves and spikes of Magnolia biondii Pamp Botanical description: The plant Magnolia biondii Pamp is also known as M.fargesii (Finet et Gagnep.) Cheng., or Wang Chun Yu Lan. Deciduous trees, the tree grows up to 6~12 meters tall. Branchlets are yellow-green or light brown, smooth or piliferous at the part near the tip; the winter bud is oval (egg-shape), and bracts have dense pale yellow fuzz. Single leaves are alternate; petioles are 1~2 cm long, the base has stipule marks; leaf blades are oblong-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 10~18 cm long, 3.5~6.5 cm wide, the apex is acuminate, the base is rounded or cuneate, entire, the surface is dark green, smooth, the undersurface is pale green, sparsely piliferous along veins.

 Flowers bloom before leaves grow out, solitary on branch apex, sparsely axillary, campanulate, 6~8 cm in diameter, white, purplish-red on outside base, aromatic; 3 perianths in the floral whorl, the calyx is flaky and nearly linear, about a quarter of the length of petals; the middle and inner floral whorl have 3 tepals each, spatulate (spoons-shaped), 4~8 cm long, about 2.5 cm wide; stamens are numerous, spirally arranged in the lower part of the elongated receptacle; pistils are numerous, arranged on the upper part of the receptacle.

 Aggregate fruits (composite fruits) are cylindrical, slightly twisted, 8~13 cm long; the follicle is ligneous. Seeds are obovate. Its flowering period is from February to March, and the fruiting period is in September.

 two flowers of Magnolia biondii Pamp on branch tip Ecological environment: The tree grows in forests on slopes at altitudes between 400~2,400 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the Qinba mountainous area, the upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River, and mountain area in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, China.

 Growth characteristics: The tree was native to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, and it is now cultivated all over the country of China. The plant prefers a warm and moist climate and sunlight, and it is tolerant to cold and drought, and avoids water logging. Seedlings fear strong light and drought. It is better to choose a field with sufficient sunshine and fertile, slightly acidic sandy loam for cultivation.

 Characters of herbs: The herb flower bud is ovate-oblong, like a writing brush head, 1.2~2.5 cm long, and 0.8~1.5 cm in diameter. The base often has a woody short stalk, about 5 mm long, and the stalk has whitish punctate lenticels. Bracts are in 2~3 layers, 2 lobes in each layer, and there are small scaly buds between the two layers of bracts, the outer surface of bracts is densely covered with gray-white or gray-green pilose, and the inner surface is brown, and glabrous. 9 tepals (perianth lobes), in 3 whorls, brown, the tepals on the outer whorl are strip-shaped, about 1/4 the length of the inner two floral whorls, in calyx lobe shape. Stamens are numerous, and insert spirally on the lower part of the receptacle, filaments are flat, and the anther is linear; pistils are numerous and insert spirally on the upper part of the receptacle. The herb is light and crisp. The herb has a sweet fragrance, and it tastes pungent, cool, and slightly bitter. The herb of a better grade has big flower buds, not bloomed, yellow and green, without a branch or stalk.

 Pharmacological actions: ①.Anti-hypertensive effect; ②.Effects on the uterus; ③.Other effects: inhibitory effect on a variety of pathogenic fungi, contractile effect on the blood vessels of the nasal mucosa, promote the absorption of secretions.

 Medicinal efficacy: Indicated for a headache, sinusitis, etc., have the effect of reducing blood pressure.

 Administration of Flos Magnoliae (Xīn Yí): 
 
Reference: Administration Guide of Flos Magnoliae (Xīn Yí)
TCM Books: ①.Internally: 3~9 grams, Externally:proper amount; ②.water decoction, 1~3 qian (about 3~9 grams), or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:prepare to finely ground herb powder, stuff nose, or infusing in water and distilled and drop to nose; ③.water decoction, 3~10 grams, or decoct wrapped, or prepare to pill or powder. Externally:proper amount, prepare to finely ground herb powder and stuff nose, or drop to nose with distilled liquid.

(2).Magnolia denudata Desr.


 pink flowers and green leaves of Magnolia denudata Desr. Botanical description: The plant Magnolia denudata Desr is also known as M.heptapeta (Buchoz) Dandy, or M.obovata Thunb.var.denudata (Desr.) DC., or Yu Lan. The difference between this species and Magnolia biondii Pamp are: the branchlets are thick and covered with pubescence; leaf blades are usually obovate, broadly obovate, the apex is broadly rounded, truncated, or slightly concave, often mucronate, the base is cuneate, petiole and undersurface of the leaf are covered with white fine pubescence. Perianth has 9 lobes, white, sometimes red at the outer base, obovate-oblong. Its flowering period is from February to March, and the fruiting period is from August to September.

 flowering tree of Magnolia denudata Desr,with pink flowers. Ecological environment: The tree grows in the mixed forest of evergreen broad-leaved trees and deciduous broad-leaved trees, at altitudes below 1,200 meters above sea level, it is also universally planted in the yard. It is mainly distributed in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the east of Zhujiang river area, and other areas of China.

 Characters of herbs: Flower buds are 1.5~3 cm long, and 1~1.5 cm in diameter, the basal branch stalks are thick, and the lenticels are light brown. The outer surface of bracts is densely covered with gray-white or gray-green fuzz. 9 tepals (perianth lobes), inner and outer whorls have no significant difference. The herb of a better grade has big flower buds, not bloomed, yellow and green, without a branch or stalk.

(3).Magnolia sprengeri Pamp.


 a flowering tree of Magnolia sprengeri Pamp. Botanical description: The plant Magnolia sprengeri Pamp is also known as M.denudata Rehd. et Wils.var.purpurascens (Maxim.) Rehd.et Wils, M.denudata Rehd. et Wils.var.elongata Rehd.et Wils, Wu Dang Yu Lan or Hu Bei Mu Lan. It differences from the above two species are: leaf apex is sharp-pointed, tapering, or with a protuberant small pointed end. Perianth has 12~14 lobes, the outer surface is rose-red, lighter inside, with deep purple vertical veins. Its flowering period is in March, and the fruiting period is between June and July.

 Ecological environment: The tree grows in the mingled forest of evergreen trees and deciduous broad-leaved trees, at altitudes of 1,300~2,000 meters above sea level. It is mainly distributed in the Qinba mountainous area, the west middle reaches of the Yellow River, and the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River, China.

 Characters of herbs: Flower buds are 3~4 cm long, and 1~2 cm in diameter, the branch stalks are thick and strong, and the lenticels are reddish brown. The outer surface of bracts is densely covered with yellowish (light yellow) or yellowish green (light yellow-green) fuzz, and some outer layer bracts have fallen off and turn dark brown. 10~15 tepals (perianth lobes), inner and outer whorls have no significant difference. The herb of a better grade has big flower buds, not bloomed, yellow and green, without a branch or stalk.
 

 
  

 

 QR codeURL QR code:
 URL QR-code 

 
References:
  • 1.Introduction of Xin Yi:Flos Magnoliae or Biond Magnolia Flower.

 Last edit and latest revision date:
   cool hit counter