Selaginella (Curled into a ball, fist-shaped, with small scaly leaves, distinctly membranous serrated leaf margins, and residual tufted fibrous roots at the base, brittle and easily broken)

Selaginella Leaves

[Naming]

Selaginella

 [Source]

Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, Superior Class

 [Common Usage]

C

 [Botanical Origin]

The dried whole plant of Selaginellaceae Selaginella Selaginella tamariscina (Beauv.) Spr.

 [Characteristics]

The whole plant is curled into a mass, resembling a fist shape, sometimes a flattened spherical shape, varying in size, generally 5~10cm long. The branches and leaves grow in clusters, are flat and branched, green or brownish-yellow, curled inward. The branches are densely covered with scaly leaflets, brittle and easily broken. A few clustered fibrous roots remain at the base. It has no odor and no taste.

 [Processing]

1. Selaginella 2. Charred Selaginella

 [Identification]

《Essentials of Materia Medica》: “Finely crushed and curled ones are good.”
The best are those that are green, with many complete and unbroken leaves.

 [Category]

Whole Herb