Crystal orchid

Crystal orchid

(Guizhou folk medicine)

[synonym] orchid dream, water orchid grass.

[source] it is the root of crystal orchid of Pyrola family.

Crystal orchid

Parasitic herbs, 18 cm high, all white. The root is slender, interwoven and lumpy. The surface of the root is covered with mycorrhiza, which is brown. Stem erect, unbranched. Leaves alternate, degenerate into scales, white translucent, the lower part of the stem leaves dense, interconnected. Flowers solitary at the top of stem, white, drooping, with bracts; sepals 4, scalelike; petals 5, long elliptic, base without capsule, margin and inner surface hairy; stamens 10, anthers short, shield shaped, red yellow, filaments thick hairy; ovary ovoid, style short, upper part expanded into funnel-shaped stigma. The capsule is 5-locular and divided into 5 petals. It blooms in autumn.

Born in the shade under the mountain trees. It is distributed in southwest and northeast of China.

[nature and taste] it is flat in nature and slightly salty in taste.

[function indications] tonifying weakness and treating deficiency cough.

[usage and dosage] oral administration: decoction, 1 Liang; or stewed meat.