Prawn raft grass

Prawn raft grass

(commonly used Chinese herbal medicine in Sichuan)

[synonym] shuichuancao.

[source] it is the whole grass of Salicaceae.

[plant morphology] Salix petrosa

Herbs perennial, 1.5-60 cm high. The stem is ribbed, the upper part and branches have fine curly hairs, and the lower part only has fine curly hairs on the edge. Single leaf opposite; long elliptic lanceolate or lanceolate, sometimes ovate lanceolate, 1.5-9 cm long, 5-33 mm wide, upper leaf quite small, apex acute, base cuneate, margin irregularly serrate, veins on both sides covered with white hairs and glandular hairs; petiole very short. Flowers solitary in leaf axils, reddish to white; pedicel short, with curly hairs; calyx tubular, lobes 4, lanceolate; petals 4, 2-lobed, purple, oblong; stamens 8; ovary inferior, with close curly hairs; style short, stigma capitate, significantly expanded. The capsule is long linear, 3.5-8 cm long, 4-sided, sparsely covered with fine curly hairs, dehiscent into 4 petals, each petal reflexed. Seeds numerous, ovate or elliptic, brown, apex with silvery white tufts. The flowering period is from April to May and the fruiting period is from June to July.

It grows in the grass on the hillside of low mountain area. It is distributed in Sichuan, Guangxi and other places.

[collection] collected in summer and dried in the sun.

Bitter and smooth.

Functions and indications: clearing away heat, expelling wind, removing dampness and detumescence. It is used to treat sore throat, cold, hoarseness, menorrhagia and edema.

[usage and dosage] oral: decoction, 3-5 yuan.