Eclipta prostrata (cylindrical stem with longitudinal ridges, greenish-brown, opposite leaves nearly sessile, broadly covered with white villous hair)

Eclipta prostrata (long flower stalk, terminal capitulum, brown-brownish elliptic achene)

Eclipta prostrata

Red Eclipta

Red Eclipta (red-brown stem, hollow, conical fruit, red-brown exterior)

Large Flower of Red Eclipta

Mistakenly Used as Eclipta (Yellow Sweetclover)

【Naming】

Eclipta

 【Source】

Newly Revised Materia Medica, Eclipta prostrata

 【Commonly Used Degree】

D

 【Botanical Origin】

The dried aerial parts of Eclipta prostrata L. (family Asteraceae), commonly known as Mo Han Lian (墨旱蓮). Red Eclipta is the dried whole plant of Hypericum ascyron L. (family Hypericaceae).

 【Characteristics】

(1) Eclipta prostrata: The stem is cylindrical or nearly square, 2-7mm thick, greyish-black or dark green, sparsely covered with white villous hairs, firm in texture, fibrous when broken; yellowish-white, leaves greyish-green, opposite, extremely wrinkled, with many villous hairs, long flower stalk, also with white hairs, white flowers, capitulate inflorescence, terminal or axillary, with remaining involucral bracts and inflorescence axis. Achene elliptical; slightly fragrant, slightly salty taste.
(2) Red Eclipta: Stem reddish-brown, hollow, leaves often fall off, with leaf scars everywhere, yellow flowers, terminal, several flowers arranged in a dichotomous cyme, capsule conical, about 1.5cm long and 0.8cm in diameter, reddish-brown exterior, 5-lobed at the apex, with slender, pointed lobes, hard, seeds reddish-brown, cylindrical, small. Slightly fragrant, slightly bitter and astringent taste.

 【Identification】

1. Eclipta prostrata: The best quality is dry, green, free of mud and impurities, with long stems, large leaves, and tender texture. 2. Red Eclipta: The best quality is rootless, with leaves, reddish-brown stems, and plump seeds.

 【Category】

Whole Herb