Fritillaria hupehensis

Fritillaria hupehensis

BulbusFritillariaeHepehensis

Hupeh fritillary bulb

Another name is Yaobei and banbei.

[source] it is the bulb of Fritillaria hupehensis hsiaoet K.C.Hsia.

[plant morphology] perennial herb, 26-50cm in height. The bulb consists of two scales, 1.5-3cm in diameter. The leaves are 3-7 whorls, often opposite or scattered in the middle, oblong lanceolate, not curly or slightly curved at the apex. It has 1-4 purple flowers with small yellow squares, usually 3 leaflike bracts, rarely 4, pedicel 1-2cm long, perianth 4.2-4.5cm long, 1.5-1.8cm wide, outer perianth slightly narrower, nectary pit slightly protruding on the back. Capsule 2-2.5cm, 2.5-3cm wide, wing 4-7mm wide. The flowering period is April and the fruiting period is May to June.

It's a kind of cultivation. It is mainly produced in Hubei, Sichuan and Hunan.

[mining and processing] from May to July, the soil and sand should be removed, soaked in lime water and dried in the sun, or fumigated with sulfur.

[traits] the bulb is ovoid, oblate ovate or oblong conical, 0.6-3.4cm in diameter and 0.8-2.8cm in height. The surface is white or yellowish white and smooth. The top of the two scales is slightly flat, cracking, and the bottom is flat. It tastes bitter.

[chemical constituents] the bulb contains a variety of isosteroidal and steroidal alkaloids, mainly including verticine, Verticinone, hupehenine, hupeheninoside, hupehenirine, hupehenizine, hupehenisine and hupehenidine.

Cold in nature and bitter in taste.

[function indications] resolving phlegm, relieving cough and dispersing nodules. It is used for cough due to lung heat, chest tightness, phlegm accumulation, scrofula, carbuncle and swelling.