Grain Ear Grass (with stem) (flower stem slender, yellowish-green)
Grain Ear Grass (Sichuan) (capitate inflorescence hemispherical, soft and moist, small particles when crushed)
Grain Ear Grass (Hainan Island)
Grain Ear Grass (capitate inflorescence flattened and rounded, dozens of bracts densely arranged in a disc shape)
【Naming】
【Source】
Song Kaibao
【Common Usage Level】
E
【Botanical Origin】
The dried flower-stalked inflorescence of Eriocaulaceae Grain Ear Grass Eriocaulon buergerianum Koern.
【Characteristics】
It is a capitate inflorescence with a flower stem. The capitate inflorescence is flattened and round, 3-5 mm in diameter. At the bottom, there is a light yellow involucre composed of dozens of obovate, light yellow, shiny bracts tightly arranged in 2-3 layers in a disc shape (or imbricate). There are 30-40 grayish-white small flowers. When crushed by hand, numerous small black particles and grayish-green small seeds can be seen. The inflorescence is connected to a slender flower stem, which is delicate and long, about 15-30 cm, soft and pliable, less than 1 mm in diameter, light yellowish-green on the outside, often twisted, and has longitudinal wrinkles. The odor is weak.
Those with flower stems are called “Grain Ear Grass“, and those without flower stems and only the flower head are called “Grain Ear Pearl” (Pearl: generally refers to the capitate inflorescence of Grain Ear Grass. Therefore, the inflorescence of Grain Ear Grass used as medicine is also called “Grain Ear Pearl”, which is semi-spherical in shape and 4-5 cm in diameter).
【Identification】
《Ben Cao Qiu Zhen》: “The tender seedlings with white star-like flowers are of good quality.” It is best to have neat flowers, dry body, flower stems about 20 cm long, abundant and large pearls (fruits), white color, and cyan-yellow stems. In pharmacies, the pearls and grass are often separated. The pearls are called “Grain Ear Pearl”, with larger and whiter ones being better and more expensive. The grass is the lower flower stem, which is less used medicinally and is cheaper.
【Category】
Flower Category