Paulownia bark

Paulownia bark

CortexKalopanacis

Septemlobate Kalopanax bark

[alias] Catalpa bungei and acanthopanax.

[source] the bark of Kalopanax septemlobus (Thunb.) Koidz.

[plant morphology] deciduous tree with thick spines. Leaves alternate on long branches, clustered on short branches, palmately 5-7-lobed, lobes triangular ovate to oblong oblanceolate, apex acuminate or convex, margin serrate, pubescent below when young. The flowers are white or yellowish green; calyx teeth are 5; petals are 5; stamens are 5; filaments are more than 1 time longer than petals; ovary is inferior, 2-locular, style is 2, connate into a column, apex separated. Fruit globose, black when ripe. The flowering period is from July to August and the fruiting period is from October to November.

It grows in sparse forest in mountain area. Produced in Anhui, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi.

[harvesting] it can be harvested all year round, especially in spring, and dried in the sun.

[character] the bark is plate-shaped or curly inward, 2-7mm thick. The outer surface is light gray black, with gray white stripes, or gray green to black brown lichens attached, with longitudinal wrinkles and cracks, and brown rhombic skin holes. The spikes are papillary, slightly longitudinal flat, with sharp thorns or traces left by removal at the top. The diameter of the base of the spikes is 0.5-1cm, and some of the larger spikes are slightly annular; the inner surface is yellowish brown, smooth, with fine longitudinal lines. The material is hard and the section is fibrous. The taste is pungent and slightly numb.

[chemical constituents] the bark contains tannins, flavonoids, coumarins, tree esters, essential oils and a small amount of alkaloids; the root bark contains kalotoxin and saponins.

[nature and taste] it is mild in nature and slightly bitter in taste.

Function indications: dispel wind and dampness, dredge collaterals and relieve pain. For rheumatoid arthritis, waist and knee pain; external use of traumatic injury.

Note: the bark is plate-shaped or curled inward, 2-7mm thick. The outer surface is light gray black, with gray white stripes, or gray green to black brown lichens attached, with longitudinal wrinkles and cracks, and brown rhombic skin holes. The spikes are papillary, slightly longitudinal flat, with sharp thorns or traces left by removal at the top. The diameter of the base of the spikes is 0.5-1cm, and some of the larger spikes are slightly annular; the inner surface is yellowish brown, smooth, with fine longitudinal lines. The material is hard and the section is fibrous. The taste is pungent and slightly numb.