Lophatherum gracile
Lophatherum gracile (Stem is yellowish-green, hollow in the center with nodes; nodes have white, soft hairs on the leaf sheath edges; leaves are lanceolate, wrinkled, curled, and narrow)
Lophatherum gracile (Sparse villous hairs on both sides, fine parallel veins, transverse markings between veins, light, soft, and resilient with splits)
【Name】
【Source】
Compendium of Materia Medica
【Common Usage Level】
C
【Botanical Origin】
The dried whole plant of grass family Lophatherum gracile Lophatherum gracile Brongn.
【Characteristics】
Leaves are wrinkled and curled, lanceolate, 3~22cm long, 1~3.5cm wide, grayish-green, with sparse villous hairs on both sides. Leaf veins are parallel, with transverse markings between the veins, more obvious on the lower surface. Stems are light yellow, hollow, about 20~60cm high, about 1mm in diameter, with nodes and leaf sheaths around the nodes. Rhizomes are light yellow or brown, broken, about 0.5~1cm long, with a few twisted fibrous roots remaining at the lower end.
【Identification】
《Annotations to Materia Medica》: “Central bamboo, Sheng bamboo, and Kuei bamboo are all valued for their shoots.” 《Annotations to Materia Medica》: “There are many types of bamboo. The previous entry mentions Hwang bamboo, followed by light and bitter bamboo. Another type with a thin husk is called sweet bamboo leaf, which is the best.” 《Illustrated Materia Medica》: “There are also solid-core bamboo and Hwang bamboo, both valued for their shoots.” 《Comprehensive Medical System of Ancient and Modern Times》: “Lophatherum gracile has thin flesh and powder between the nodes. Southerners use it to burn bamboo sap. Only this one product is used by medical practitioners. Another type with a thin husk is called sweet bamboo leaf, which is the best.” 《Seeking Truth in Materia Medica》: “Bamboo that grows for one year, tender and vigorous, is good.”
Good quality is indicated by dryness, green color, absence of mud, impurities, and flower spikes.
【Category】
Whole Herb Category