Xin Yi (Looks like a calligraphy brush tip) (Long, purple-brown flower buds with short stems, densely covered with soft, long hairs, light, brittle, fragrant, and pungent)

Xin Yi (Hui Chun Hua – Magnolia biondii)

Xin Yi (Da Chun Hua – large spring flower)

Xin Yi (Secondary grade with leaf buds)

Xin Yi (Secondary grade)

Xin Yi

Xin Yi Flower Core

【Naming】

Xin Yi

 【Source】

Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, Upper Class

 【Common Usage Level】

C

 【Botanical Origin】

Dried flower buds of Magnolia biondii Pamp., M. denudata Desr., or M. sprengri Pamp.

 【Characteristics】

It is obovoid, shaped like a calligraphy brush tip, with a woody short branch at the base. The flower buds are 1-4 cm long, with a middle diameter of 0.7-2 cm. They are covered with two layers of bracts, with small bud scales visible between the two layers. The surface of the bracts is densely covered with yellowish-green soft long hairs, about 5 mm long. The inner surface is smooth and brownish-purple. After removing the bracts, 3 sepals and 6-9-12 tightly embracing brownish-purple petals can be seen. Inside there are numerous brownish-yellow stamens and 1 brown pistil. It is brittle and easily broken, has a special aroma, and tastes pungent, cool, and slightly bitter.

 【Identification】

“The best ones are those with shrunken flower pistils,” according to *Zhenglei Bencao*. “It is better to take the flowers that are about to bloom.” *Liang Lie Jianbie* states, “Flower buds that are full and large are considered good.” The best ones are unopened flower buds, shaped like a brush tip, dry, green in color, hairy, without twigs, and with a strong aroma inside. Magnolia biondii is traditionally considered the best, followed by M. denudata. The bracts of M. sprengri are loose and easily fall off or break, and the luster of the hairs on the surface is poor.

 【Identification Terminology】

1. Hairs (毛茸): Generally refers to the hairs on the outer skin of fruits, seeds, etc. For example, Strychni Semen (Ma Qian Zi), Rubi Fructus (Fu Pen Zi), and the hairs on the surface of Magnolia Flower Bud (Xin Yi) bracts, etc.
2. Calligraphy brush tip (毛筆頭): Refers to the Magnolia Flower Bud (Xin Yi) medicinal material (flower bud) being long and oval, shaped like a calligraphy brush tip, hence the name “brush tip flower”.

 【Category】

Flowers