（《救荒》）
【释名】锦荔枝（《救荒》）、癞葡萄。
时珍曰∶苦以味名。瓜及荔枝、葡萄，皆以实及茎、叶相似得名。
【集解】周定王曰∶锦荔枝即癞葡萄，蔓延草木。茎长七、八尺，茎有毛涩。叶似野葡
萄，而花又开黄花。实大如鸡子，有皱纹，似荔枝。
时珍曰∶苦瓜原出南番，今闽、广皆种之。五月下子，生苗引蔓，茎叶卷须，并如葡萄
而小。七、八月开小黄花，五瓣如碗形。结瓜长者四、五寸，短者二、三寸，青色，皮上痱
如癞及荔枝壳状，熟则黄色自裂，内有红瓤裹子。瓤味甘可食。其子形扁如瓜子，亦有痱
。南人以青皮煮肉及盐酱充蔬，苦涩有青气。按∶费信《星槎胜览》云∶苏门答剌国一等
瓜，皮若荔枝，未剖时甚臭如烂蒜，剖开如囊，味如酥，香甜可口。疑此即苦瓜也。
瓜
【气味】苦，寒，无毒。
【主治】除邪热，解劳乏，清心明目（时珍《生生编》）。
子
【气味】苦、甘，无毒。
【主治】益气壮阳（时珍）。
（水菜类六种）。
（《食疗》）
【释名】紫 （音软）。
【集解】诜曰∶紫菜生南海中，附石。正青色，取而干之则紫色。
时珍曰∶闽、越海边悉有之。大叶而薄。彼人 成饼状，晒干货之，其色正紫，亦石衣
之属也。
【气味】甘，寒，无毒。
藏器曰∶多食令人腹痛发气，吐白沫。饮热醋少许，即消。
【主治】热气烦塞咽喉，煮汁饮之（孟诜）。病瘿瘤香港脚者，宜食之（时珍）。
【发明】震亨曰∶凡瘿结积块之疾，宜常食紫菜，乃咸能软坚之义。
(From *Jiu Huang Ben Cao*)
[Names] Jin Lizhi (from *Jiu Huang Ben Cao*), Laiputaoguo.
Li Shizhen said: It is named "Ku" (Bitter) due to its taste. The terms melon, lychee, and grape are all derived from the similarity of their fruits as well as stems and leaves.
[Collected Explanations] King Ding of Zhou said: Jin Lizhi is Laiputaoguo; it spreads over grass and trees. The stem is seven or eight chi long, hairy and rough to the touch. The leaves resemble wild grapes, but it bears yellow flowers. The fruit is as large as a chicken egg, wrinkled, resembling a lychee.
Li Shizhen said: Bitter melon (*Momordica charantia*) originally came from the Southern Barbarian lands; today it is cultivated in Fujian and Guangdong. Seeds are sown in May, producing vines that climb with tendrils; the stems and leaves resemble those of grapes but are smaller. Small yellow flowers with five petals shaped like bowls bloom in July and August. The fruits are four or five cun long if large, two or three cun if short, green in color, with a skin covered in warts resembling leprosy sores or lychee shells. Upon ripening, they turn yellow and split open naturally, revealing red pulp enclosing the seeds. The pulp is sweet and edible. The seeds are flat like sunflower seeds and also bear warts. People in the South use the green rind boiled with meat and salted condiments as a vegetable; it tastes bitter and astringent with a grassy odor. According to Fei Xin's *Xingcha Shenglan*: In the Kingdom of Samudera, there is a first-rate melon with a skin like a lychee. Before cutting, it smells extremely foul like rotting garlic; once cut open like a bag, its taste resembles butter, sweet and fragrant. I suspect this is indeed bitter melon.
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, cold, non-toxic.
[Indications] Clears pathogenic heat, relieves fatigue and exhaustion, clears the heart and brightens the eyes (Li Shizhen, *Shengsheng Bian*).
Seeds
[Flavor and Nature] Bitter, sweet, non-toxic.
[Indications] Tonifies qi and strengthens yang (Li Shizhen).
(Categorized under six types of aquatic vegetables).
(From *Shiliao Bencao*)
[Names] Zicai (pronounced "ruan").
[Collected Explanations] Meng Shen said: Zicai grows in the South China Sea, attached to rocks. It is pure green when fresh, turning purple upon drying.
Li Shizhen said: It is found everywhere along the coasts of Fujian and Yue. The leaves are large and thin. Locals process it into cake shapes, dry it for storage, and it appears pure purple; it also belongs to the category of Shi Yi (stone lichen).
[Flavor and Nature] Sweet, cold, non-toxic.
Chen Cangqi said: Excessive consumption causes abdominal pain and distension, and vomiting of white foam. Drinking a small amount of hot vinegar resolves these symptoms.
[Indications] For heat sensation, irritability, and blockage in the throat, boil and drink the juice (Meng Shen). Suitable for patients suffering from goiter (Yingliu) and beriberi (Hongjiaojiao) (Li Shizhen).
[Elucidation] Zhu Zhenheng said: For diseases involving goiters, nodules, and accumulations, it is advisable to frequently consume Zicai, based on the principle that salty flavors can soften hardness.