✵The article records the herb Pagodatree Flower, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, botanical source—namely, the single plant species Sophora japonica L.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb Pagodatree Flower; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Flos Sophorae (Pagodatree Flower)
Pinyin Name: Huái Huā
English Name: Pagodatree Flower
Latin Name:Flos Sophorae Property and Flavor: slightly cold, bitter
Brief Introduction: The herb Flos Sophorae is the dried flower of Sophora japonica L., used (1) to cool blood and stop bleeding in various hemorrhages due to blood-heat—especially hemorrhoidal bleeding—and (2) to clear liver fire in cases of upward-flaming liver fire accompanied by headache, as well as in hypertension. The herb is commonly known as Flos Sophorae, Pagodatree Flower, or Huái Huā.
Botanical Source: Common herbal classics and other authoritative herbal works define Flos Sophorae (Pagodatree Flower) as the dried flower of Sophora japonica L. It is a plant of the genus Sophora, family Fabaceae (Leguminosae, the legume or pea family), order Rosales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Sophora japonica L.
Botanical Description:Sophora japonica L. is commonly known as Huái or Bái Huái. It is a deciduous tree reaching 8–20 m in height, occasionally up to 25 m. The bark is taupe-brown (grayish brown), with irregular longitudinal cracks; the inner bark (endodermis) is canary-yellow (bright yellow) and emits a distinctive odor. Young shoots are dark olive-brown, glabrate or sparsely covered with short, fine hairs; lenticels are conspicuous. Leaves are imparipinnate and alternate, 15–25 cm long; the rachis is hairy and broadened at the base; leaflets number 7–15, petiolules are ~2 mm long and densely white-pubescent; stipules (peraphylla) are sickle-shaped—sometimes ovate, linear, or subulate—and caducous; 4–7 pairs of leaflets, opposite or subalternate, chartaceous (papery), ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, 2.5–7.5 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide; apex is acuminate and protruding, base broadly cuneate or orbicular and slightly oblique, margins are entire; upper surface is green and slightly glossy, initially sparsely pubescent but becoming glabrous; lower surface is covered with appressed white pubescence; two petiolules, subulate.
Panicles are terminal, often pyramidal, 15–30 cm long; pedicels are shorter than the calyx; two bracteoles are present; calyx is shallowly campanulate (bell-shaped), 5-lobed, ~4 mm long, lobes are nearly equal, rounded or obtuse-triangular, grayish pubescent, calyx tube is glabrate; corolla is papilionaceous, cream-white (milky white) or pale yellow, vexillum is broadly cordate, ~11 mm long and wide, with a short claw, veins are slightly purplish, apex is emarginate, base is shallowly cordate; alae (wings) and keel (carina) are ovoid-oblong or rectangular; ten stamens, free and unequal in length, persistent; ovary is fistuliform (tubular), thinly and densely pilose; style is curved.
Pods are succulent and beaded, 2.5–5 cm long (occasionally slightly longer), ~10 mm in diameter, yellowish-green, glabrous, and indehiscent; seed clearance minimal, seeds are closely arranged; pericarp is succulent and indehiscent at maturity; 1–6 seeds per pod. Seeds are reniform, yellowish-green when fresh, turning dark brown upon drying. Flowering occurs from July to August; fruiting from October to November.
Ecological Environment: The tree grows on hillsides, plains, and in gardens; it is commonly cultivated along roadsides and near dwellings.
Growth Characteristics:Sophora japonica exhibits strong climatic adaptability and thrives in deep, moist, fertile, well-drained sandy loam soils. It also grows normally in calcareous and mildly saline-alkaline soils.
Characteristics of the Herb: Pagodatree Flower is mostly shriveled and curled, with many scattered petals. The intact calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), yellowish-green, and 5-lobed at the apex; five petals, yellow or yellowish-white—of which one is large and orbicular with an emarginate (slightly concave) apex—while the other four are oblong; ten stamens, nine of whose filaments are basally connate; filaments are slender and elongated; pistil is cylindrical and curved.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) shortens clotting time; (2) reduces blood pressure and prevents arteriosclerosis; (3) inhibits dermatophytes such as Trichophyton violaceum and Trichophyton schoenleinii.
Medicinal Efficacy: Cools blood and stops bleeding, clears heat, drains liver fire, and improves vision. It is indicated for hematochezia (blood in stool), hemorrhoidal bleeding, hematuria (blood in urine), bloody stranguria (stranguria accompanied by hematuria), blood dysentery, uterine bleeding, hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nasal bleeding), bleeding from the orifices or subcutaneous tissues, dysentery with bloody stools, liver-fire-induced red and painful eyes, wind-heat-induced red eyes, red and swollen eyes with pain, liver-fire-induced headache, sores and ulcerative toxins, headache, and dizziness. It is also used for the prevention of apoplexy.
Administration of Flos Sophorae (Huái Huā):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Flos Sophorae (Huái Huā)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 5–9 grams; (2) Internally: water decoction, 2–5 qian (≈6–15 grams); or prepared as pills or powder. External use: fumigation and washing with decoction, or finely ground herb powder applied topically; (3) Internally: water decoction, 5–10 grams; or prepared as pills or powder. External use: appropriate amount—fumigation and washing with decoction, or application of finely ground herb powder.
Flos Sophorae Immaturus (Pagodatree Flower-bud)
Brief Introduction:Flos Sophorae Immaturus is used similarly to the mature flower but exhibits stronger hemostatic and heat-clearing effects. It is commonly known as Flos Sophorae Immaturus, Pagodatree Flower Bud, or Huái Mǐ.
Botanical Source: Standard herbal classics define Flos Sophorae Immaturus (Pagodatree Flower Bud) as the dried flower buds of Sophora japonica L. It is a plant of the genus Sophora, family Fabaceae (Leguminosae, the legume or pea family), order Rosales. This species is described under “Flos Sophorae (Pagodatree Flower)”.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb is egg-shaped or ovoid, 2–6 mm long and 2–3 mm in diameter. Several longitudinal ridges occur on the lower portion of the calyx. The upper calyx is yellowish, and the white petals remain unopened. The pedicel is minute. The herb is lightweight, brittle, odorless or with a faint odor, and tastes bitter.
Fructus Sophorae (Pogodatree Pod)
Brief Introduction:Fructus Sophorae is the dried, ripe fruit of Sophora japonica L. Its actions resemble those of Pagodatree Flower, especially for hemorrhoidal bleeding. It is commonly known as Fructus Sophorae, Pagodatree Pod, or Huái Jiǎo.
Botanical Source: Standard herbal classics define Fructus Sophorae (Pagodatree Pod) as the dried, ripe fruit of Sophora japonica L. It is a plant of the genus Sophora, family Fabaceae (Leguminosae, the legume or pea family), order Rosales. This species is described under “Flos Sophorae (Pagodatree Flower)”.
Characteristics of the Herb: The pods are cylindrical—sometimes slightly curved—with constrictions between seeds giving a beaded appearance; they measure 1–6 cm in length and 0.6–1 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-green or yellowish-brown, wrinkled, coarse, rough, and slightly lustrous. A yellow band runs along one side of the dorsal suture; a protruding persistent style remnant is present at the apex, and a stalk scar remains at the base. The texture is soft and easily fractures at the constrictions. The pulp is yellowish-green, sticky, translucent, and corneous. Each pod contains 1–6 seeds, which are reniform or oblong, 8–10 mm long and 5–8 mm wide, brownish-black, smooth and glossy, with a concave, ash-gray (grayish-white), circular hilum on one side. The seeds are hard and contain two yellowish-green cotyledons. The herb has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste; when chewed, it emits a characteristic beany (leguminous) odor.
Contraindications, Precautions, and Adverse Reactions: Fructus Sophorae is contraindicated during pregnancy.
✵The article records the herb Pagodatree Flower, including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, property and flavor, botanical source—namely, the single plant species Sophora japonica L.—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species; the characteristics of the herb Pagodatree Flower; its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Huái Huā
Botanical Description: Sophora japonica L. is commonly known as Huái or Bái Huái. It is a deciduous tree reaching 8–20 m in height, occasionally up to 25 m. The bark is taupe-brown (grayish brown), with irregular longitudinal cracks; the inner bark (endodermis) is canary-yellow (bright yellow) and emits a distinctive odor. Young shoots are dark olive-brown, glabrate or sparsely covered with short, fine hairs; lenticels are conspicuous. Leaves are imparipinnate and alternate, 15–25 cm long; the rachis is hairy and broadened at the base; leaflets number 7–15, petiolules are ~2 mm long and densely white-pubescent; stipules (peraphylla) are sickle-shaped—sometimes ovate, linear, or subulate—and caducous; 4–7 pairs of leaflets, opposite or subalternate, chartaceous (papery), ovate-lanceolate or ovate-oblong, 2.5–7.5 cm long and 1.5–3 cm wide; apex is acuminate and protruding, base broadly cuneate or orbicular and slightly oblique, margins are entire; upper surface is green and slightly glossy, initially sparsely pubescent but becoming glabrous; lower surface is covered with appressed white pubescence; two petiolules, subulate.
Panicles are terminal, often pyramidal, 15–30 cm long; pedicels are shorter than the calyx; two bracteoles are present; calyx is shallowly campanulate (bell-shaped), 5-lobed, ~4 mm long, lobes are nearly equal, rounded or obtuse-triangular, grayish pubescent, calyx tube is glabrate; corolla is papilionaceous, cream-white (milky white) or pale yellow, vexillum is broadly cordate, ~11 mm long and wide, with a short claw, veins are slightly purplish, apex is emarginate, base is shallowly cordate; alae (wings) and keel (carina) are ovoid-oblong or rectangular; ten stamens, free and unequal in length, persistent; ovary is fistuliform (tubular), thinly and densely pilose; style is curved.
Ecological Environment: The tree grows on hillsides, plains, and in gardens; it is commonly cultivated along roadsides and near dwellings.
Characteristics of the Herb: Pagodatree Flower is mostly shriveled and curled, with many scattered petals. The intact calyx is campanulate (bell-shaped), yellowish-green, and 5-lobed at the apex; five petals, yellow or yellowish-white—of which one is large and orbicular with an emarginate (slightly concave) apex—while the other four are oblong; ten stamens, nine of whose filaments are basally connate; filaments are slender and elongated; pistil is cylindrical and curved.
Brief Introduction: Flos Sophorae Immaturus is used similarly to the mature flower but exhibits stronger hemostatic and heat-clearing effects. It is commonly known as Flos Sophorae Immaturus, Pagodatree Flower Bud, or Huái Mǐ.
Brief Introduction: Fructus Sophorae is the dried, ripe fruit of Sophora japonica L. Its actions resemble those of Pagodatree Flower, especially for hemorrhoidal bleeding. It is commonly known as Fructus Sophorae, Pagodatree Pod, or Huái Jiǎo.
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