Aster monocephalus

Aster monocephalus

(Zhejiang folk herbs)

[synonym] Herba Hedysarum, Rhizoma Dioscoreae, Herba Hedyotis, Herba Hedysarum and Chrysanthemum indicum.

[source] it is the whole plant of Asteraceae.

[plant morphology] aster grandis

Perennial herbs, 50-100 cm high. Stem erect, base purplish red, longitudinally ribbed and sparsely short hairy. The middle leaves are alternate, long elliptic lanceolate or lanceolate, 10-12 cm long, 1.5-2.5 cm wide, apex short, base rounded, sessile, half clasped on stem, margin denticulate, both surfaces short bristle. Inflorescence solitary in the upper leaf axil of stem; involucre obconic, bracts multilayered, ovate elliptic, apex obtuse, margin reddish; flowers heterozygous, ligulate, female, white or purplish; tubular flowers bisexual, yellow. Achenes obovate with white corolla. The flowering period is from August to October. The fruit period is from October to November.

It grows in sunny low hillside, hill under sparse forest, shrub and roadside grassland. It is distributed in Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Fujian.

The root of this plant is also used for medicine. See special section for details.

[collection] collected in summer and autumn, fresh or dried.

[flavor] slightly bitter, cool.

Functions and indications: clearing away heat and toxin, stopping dysentery and itching.

[selection] 1. To treat cold and fever: Radix Astragali and radix astragali. Take it in water.

② Cure dysentery: single head aster 22. Take it in water.