Introduction of Zōng Lǘ Tàn: Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole
✵The article records the herb Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and its botanical source: a single plant species, (1) Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl.—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Zōnɡ Lǘ Tàn
English Name: Carbonized Windmillpalm Petiole
Latin Name:Petiolus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus Properties and Flavor: Neutral in nature; bitter and astringent
Brief Introduction:Petiolus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus is the carbonized petiole of Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl., used as an astringent hemostatic agent for treating hematemesis, epistaxis, hematochezia, and menorrhagia. It is commonly known as Petiolus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus, Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole, or Zōng Lǘ Tàn.
Botanical Source: Common herbal classics and other authoritative materia medica works define Petiolus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus (Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole) as the carbonized petiole of (1) Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. It is a species of the genus Trachycarpus, family Arecaceae (formerly Palmae), order Arecales. This widely used species is described below:
(1) Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl.
Botanical Description:Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. is also known as Chaemaerops fortunei Hook. The tree is commonly called Zōng Lǘ. An evergreen palm, it grows up to 3–10 meters tall or more. The stem is cylindrical, stout, and unbranched, about 20 cm in diameter; residual brown fibrous old leaf sheaths wrap the stem in layers, forming ring-like nodes after shedding.
Leaves are tufted and grow apically at the stem tip, spreading outward; petioles are firm and rigid, approximately 1 meter long, with a subtriangular (nearly triangular) cross-section; their margins bear small teeth, and the base retains a brown fibrous leaf sheath. Newly emerged petioles are erect, whereas older ones often become pendulous. Leaf blades are cuneate-fan-shaped, 60–100 cm in diameter, deeply folded, and palmately divided to the middle; they possess 30–50 lobes, each lobe apex is shallowly bifid (dichotomous); the upper surface is green, the lower surface bears a waxy bloom and is coriaceous.
The inflorescence is a stout, much-branched spadix that emerges from the axils of the apical leaves. Its base bears numerous large, sheathing bracts; the spadix is primrose yellow (pale yellow) and pubescent. The plant is usually dioecious. Male inflorescences are small and numerous, pale yellow, with six perianth segments arranged in two whorls—broad-ovate in shape—and six stamens with short, free filaments. The female flowers have perianth segments identical to those of the male flowers; the ovary is superior and densely covered with white pubescence; the style is trifid.
Fruits are drupes, globular or subreniform, approximately 1 cm in diameter; the epicarp is slate blue (cadet blue) and coated with a waxy bloom. Flowering occurs from April to May; fruiting occurs from October to December.
Ecological Environment: Widely cultivated throughout China; rarely found wild in sparse forests, up to an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters. The species is broadly distributed across China.
Growth Characteristics:Trachycarpus fortunei prefers warm, humid climates; it is not cold-tolerant and thrives in fertile, shaded conditions. For cultivation, well-drained, deep loamy or sandy loam soils are recommended; dry, infertile soils should be avoided.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of elongated plate-like pieces: one end is narrower and thicker, the other is wider and thinner, varying in size. The surface is reddish-brown and rough, bearing longitudinal wrinkles; one side displays prominent protruding fibers, while both sides of these fibers are covered with numerous brown hairs. The herb is hard and difficult to break; its fracture surface is fibrous. It is odorless and has a mild taste.
Medicinal Efficacy: Astringent and hemostatic. Indicated for hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nasal bleeding), hematuria (blood in urine), hematochezia (blood in stool), uterine bleeding, bloody stranguria (stranguria accompanied by hematuria), dysentery, pathological leukorrhea, incised (metal-induced) wounds, scabies, and bleeding wounds.
Administration of Petiolus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus (Zōng Lǘ Tàn):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Petiolus Trachycarpi Carbonisatus (Zōng Lǘ Tàn)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3–9 grams of the prepared herb. (2) Internally: water decoction, 3–5 qián (≈9–15 grams); or finely powdered herb, 1–2 qián (≈3–6 grams). External use: apply an appropriate amount of powdered herb topically. (3) Internally: water decoction, 10–15 grams. External use: apply an appropriate amount of finely powdered herb as a topical application.
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1.Introduction of Zōng Lǘ Tàn: Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole
✵The article records the herb Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavors, and its botanical source: a single plant species, (1) Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl.—with a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Carbonized Windmill Palm Petiole, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Zōnɡ Lǘ Tàn
Botanical Description: Trachycarpus fortunei (Hook.) H. Wendl. is also known as Chaemaerops fortunei Hook. The tree is commonly called Zōng Lǘ. An evergreen palm, it grows up to 3–10 meters tall or more. The stem is cylindrical, stout, and unbranched, about 20 cm in diameter; residual brown fibrous old leaf sheaths wrap the stem in layers, forming ring-like nodes after shedding.
Ecological Environment: Widely cultivated throughout China; rarely found wild in sparse forests, up to an altitude of approximately 2,000 meters. The species is broadly distributed across China.
Characteristics of the Herb: The herb consists of elongated plate-like pieces: one end is narrower and thicker, the other is wider and thinner, varying in size. The surface is reddish-brown and rough, bearing longitudinal wrinkles; one side displays prominent protruding fibers, while both sides of these fibers are covered with numerous brown hairs. The herb is hard and difficult to break; its fracture surface is fibrous. It is odorless and has a mild taste.
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