✵The article records the herb Plum Flower—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor—and identifies its botanical source as a single plant species: (1) Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the characteristics of the herbal material Plum Flower, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Flos Mume (Plum Flower)
Pinyin Name: Méi Huā
English Name: Plum Flower
Latin Name:Flos Mume Properties and Flavor: Cool, bitter, slightly sweet, slightly sour
Brief Introduction: The herb Flos Mume consists of the dried flower buds of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. (family Rosaceae). It is used to regulate Qi, calm the mind, and resolve phlegm—indicated for depression, restlessness, hypochondriac and epigastric pain, and globus hystericus. It is commonly known as Flos Mume, Plum Flower, or Méi Huā.
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Flos Mume (Plum Flower) as the dried flower buds of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. It is a plant belonging to the genus Prunus, family Rosaceae (rose family), order Rosales. The commonly accepted source species is introduced below:[I]
(1) Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc.
Botanical Description: Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc is also known as Armeniaca mume Sieb., the tree is commonly known as Méi. Plum is a deciduous tree, it grows up to 4~10 meters high; Bark is taupe brown (grayish brown) or greenish, smooth; Branchlets are green, smooth, and glabrous, thin and long, apex is acanthous (spinous). Simple leaves are alternate; Petioles are 1.5 cm long, pubescent; stipule (peraphyllum) is caducous; leaf blades are elliptic broad-ovate, flowering before leaves in spring, has aroma, 1~3 flowers cluster in leaf axil on biennial lateral branches.
Pedicels (flower stalks) are usually brunneus (russet), but the calyx of some species is green or greenish-purple; 5 flower petals, white or faint red (rosiness), about 1.5 cm in diameter, broadly obovate; many stamens.
Fruits are subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 2~3 cm in diameter, yellow or greenish white, and pubescent; the fruit core is circular (rounded), the front end has small protruding tips, ventral surface and rib on the back surface has grooves, the surface has honeycomb structure cavity. Its flowering period is in winter and spring, the fruiting period is from May to June.
Ecological Environment: The tree is cultivated in China.
Growth Characteristics: Prunus mume has strong adaptability, it is tolerant to coldness. It likes warm and moist climate, and need sufficient sunlight, temperature in the flowering phase has a great big influence on its yield, when the temperature lowers to -5~-6 °C (Celsius, or 23~21.2 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher than 20 °C (Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit) the fruition rate is markedly affected, the area with annual mean air temperature 16~23 °C (Celsius, or 60.8~73.4 degrees Fahrenheit), average yearly precipitation (average annual rainfall) is over 1,000 mm is most suitable for cultivation. Its soil requirement is not strict, it is appropriate to choose fields with deep soil layers, loose and fertile, sandy loam with good drainage for cultivation. The plant is afraid of water logging and tolerant to drought, it is not appropriate to choose low-lying land and moist soil for cultivation.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried flower buds are subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 3~6 mm in diameter, and have very short pedicels. Bracts are in several layers, scaly, 3.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, dark brown, with short hairs. 5 sepals (calyx lobes), broadly ovate, about 4 mm in diameter, celadon (sage green) or brown, piliferous. 5 flower petals or many, broadly oval, about 4 mm long, about 5.5 mm wide, yellowish-white. Many stamens, 1 pistil, the ovary inserted in the sunken receptacle, and the surface is densely puberulose (puberulent). The herb is light, has a faint scent, and the herb tastes slightly bitter, and puckery.
Medicinal Efficacy: Expelling stagnation and regulating the middle energizer, stimulate one's appetite and promote the secretion of saliva or body fluid, reduce phlegm, detoxification. It is indicated for depression and vexation, stomachache due to emotional depression and the hyperactive liver-Qi attacking the stomach, globus hysteriocus, scrofula (lymphoid tuberculosis), skin ulcer sores and poison, etc.
Administration of Flos Mume (Méi Huā):
Reference:
Administration Guide of Flos Mume (Méi Huā)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 3~5 grams; (2) Internally:water decoction, 2~6 grams, or prepared to pill, powder. Externally:mashed fresh herb and apply stick.
✵The article records the herb Plum Flower—including its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor—and identifies its botanical source as a single plant species: (1) Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. It provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this plant species, as well as the characteristics of the herbal material Plum Flower, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Méi Huā
Botanical Source: Classical herbal works define Flos Mume (Plum Flower) as the dried flower buds of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc. It is a plant belonging to the genus Prunus, family Rosaceae (rose family), order Rosales. The commonly accepted source species is introduced below:[I]
Botanical Description: Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc is also known as Armeniaca mume Sieb., the tree is commonly known as Méi. Plum is a deciduous tree, it grows up to 4~10 meters high; Bark is taupe brown (grayish brown) or greenish, smooth; Branchlets are green, smooth, and glabrous, thin and long, apex is acanthous (spinous). Simple leaves are alternate; Petioles are 1.5 cm long, pubescent; stipule (peraphyllum) is caducous; leaf blades are elliptic broad-ovate, flowering before leaves in spring, has aroma, 1~3 flowers cluster in leaf axil on biennial lateral branches.
Pedicels (flower stalks) are usually brunneus (russet), but the calyx of some species is green or greenish-purple; 5 flower petals, white or faint red (rosiness), about 1.5 cm in diameter, broadly obovate; many stamens.
Growth Characteristics: Prunus mume has strong adaptability, it is tolerant to coldness. It likes warm and moist climate, and need sufficient sunlight, temperature in the flowering phase has a great big influence on its yield, when the temperature lowers to -5~-6 °C (Celsius, or 23~21.2 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher than 20 °C (Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit) the fruition rate is markedly affected, the area with annual mean air temperature 16~23 °C (Celsius, or 60.8~73.4 degrees Fahrenheit), average yearly precipitation (average annual rainfall) is over 1,000 mm is most suitable for cultivation. Its soil requirement is not strict, it is appropriate to choose fields with deep soil layers, loose and fertile, sandy loam with good drainage for cultivation. The plant is afraid of water logging and tolerant to drought, it is not appropriate to choose low-lying land and moist soil for cultivation.
Characteristics of the Herb: The dried flower buds are subsphaeroidal (near-spherical), 3~6 mm in diameter, and have very short pedicels. Bracts are in several layers, scaly, 3.5 mm long, 2 mm wide, dark brown, with short hairs. 5 sepals (calyx lobes), broadly ovate, about 4 mm in diameter, celadon (sage green) or brown, piliferous. 5 flower petals or many, broadly oval, about 4 mm long, about 5.5 mm wide, yellowish-white. Many stamens, 1 pistil, the ovary inserted in the sunken receptacle, and the surface is densely puberulose (puberulent). The herb is light, has a faint scent, and the herb tastes slightly bitter, and puckery.
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