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(Pronounced "lei", classified as Upper Grade in *Shennong Bencao Jing*)
[Correction] Transferred from the Fruit Section to this section.
[Names] Fupen (*Shennong Bencao Jing*), Linglei (*Mingyi Bielu*), Yinlei (*Mingyi Bielu*), Hanmei (*Zhenglei Bencao*).
Li Shizhen says: Penglei and Fupen are of the same category, therefore *Shennong Bencao Jing* states it is also known as Fupen. This plant grows among hills, with vines and leaves spreading profusely, bearing clusters of fruit, distinct from Fupen, hence called Penglei or Linglei, referring to its vine stems. Its fruit ripens only in August; common people call it Gedianlei.

[Collected Explanations] *Mingyi Bielu* states: Penglei grows in the flat marshes of Jingshan and Yuanju.
Tao Hongjing says: Penglei refers to the root name, which physicians do not use; it was consumed by Changrong to rejuvenate the complexion. Fupen refers to the fruit. Li Dangzhi said: It is the berry eaten by humans. Using saliva juice...
Su Gong says: Fupen and Penglei are two names for one substance, originally referring to the fruit, not the root. Li's statement that it is a berry is close to the truth. However, depending on the growing environment, fruits in fertile land are large and sweet, while those in barren land are small and sour. This is because the fruit has a sour taste, whereas the root does not. Tao Hongjing considered the root sour and the fruit sweet, listed them in the Fruit Section, and duplicated the entries twice, which was very rash.
Ma Zhi says: Penglei is the seedling and stem of Fupen, while Fupen is the fruit of Penglei. Consulting *Qieyun*: Mei sounds like Mao, and its fruit is Fupen. Lei refers to the vine stem.
Su Song says: Penglei is the seedling of Fupen, found everywhere, especially abundant in Qin and Wu regions. The seedlings are short, not exceeding one chi, with thorns on stems and leaves, white flowers, and reddish-yellow fruits about half the size of a marble, supported by a calyx like that of a persimmon; children often eat them. Harvest the fruit in May; the seedlings and leaves can be harvested at any time. In Jiangnan, it is called Mei, but local growth is slightly later, with seedlings appearing in March and [ripening in] August or September...
Chen Shiliang says: According to collectors, Penglei resembles silkworm berries, red and large, with a sour-sweet taste; leaves resemble wild roses with thorns. Fupen seeds are smaller, and their seedlings are distinct. Various pharmacopoeias failed to recognize this, thus claiming Penglei is the root of Fupen.
Meng Shen says: Mei seeds are Penglei fruits. Tree raspberries are Fupen fruits.
Kou Zongshi says: Penglei is not Fupen; it is a different species. Although withered, the branches remain intact. It is rarely used nowadays.
Chen Cangqi says: There are three varieties within this class. Only those ripening in April, resembling Fupen in shape and possessing a sweet and pleasant taste, are authentic. The others are unsuitable for medicinal use.
Wang Ji says: Penglei is called Hanmei in Huizhou. It grows in clumps along ditches, with dense leaves and many thorns on the stems. Its fruits consist of 40-50 drupelets forming one cluster, the size of a saucer surface, turning red after frost. Su Song’s *Tujing* annotated this as Fupen, which is erroneous. Jiangnan Fupen also ripens in April or May; how could it be considered late? Fupen has thick stems and sparse leaves, bearing large and scattered fruits, unlike Hanmei, which has thin stems and dense leaves, bearing small fruits in clusters. One ripens in summer, the other in autumn; how can they be the same?
Li Shizhen says: There are five types in this category. I personally collected specimens and verified them against those listed in *Erya*, thereby obtaining the accurate identification. Claims by previous authors are unreliable. One type has spreading vines, stems with backward-pointing thorns, leaves growing node by node, leaves as large as a palm, resembling small hibiscus leaves, green on the front and white on the back, thick and hairy. It blooms small white flowers in June and July, forming clusters of 30-40 drupelets at the calyx. When raw, they are yellow-green; when ripe, purple-black with slight black hairs, resembling flattened ripe mulberries. The seedlings and leaves do not wither in winter. Commonly known as Gedianlei, this is Penglei mentioned in the pharmacopoeia. Another type has vines smaller than Penglei, also with hooked thorns, five leaves per branch, small leaves green on both sides, smooth, thin, and hairless, blooming white flowers. Fruits mature in April and May, smaller and sparser than Penglei, turning dark red when ripe, with seedlings withering in winter. Commonly known as Chadianlei, this is Fupen mentioned in the pharmacopoeia, referred to as Lei or Quepen in *Erya*. Both are suitable for medicinal use. Another type has vines smaller than Penglei, three leaves per branch, green on the front, pale white on the back with slight hair, blooming small white flowers. Fruits ripen in April, red like cherries. Commonly known as [missing character]tianlei, this corresponds to [missing character] in *Erya*. Thus, Guo Pu’s annotation states: [missing character] is Mei. The fruit is larger than Fupen, red, sour-sweet, and edible. This type is not used medicinally. Another type grows on trees, reaching four to five chi in height, leaves narrow and long like cherry leaves, blooming small white flowers in April. Fruits resemble Fupen but differ in being red. Commonly named [missing character], this is Shanmei in *Erya* and Xianggouzi in Chen Cangqi’s *Bencao*. See the relevant entry. Another type creeps on the ground, several inches long, blooming yellow flowers, bearing bright red fruits like raspberries but inedible. This is Sheimei (Snake Berry) mentioned in the pharmacopoeia. See the relevant entry. Through such analysis, Penglei and Fupen are clearly distinguished. The views of Li Dangzhi, Chen Shiliang, Chen Cangqi, Kou Zongshi, and Wang Ji are close to correct but lack clarity. Tao Hongjing identified Penglei as root and Fupen as fruit; Ma Zhi and Su Song identified Penglei as seedling and Fupen as fruit; Su Gong considered them one substance; Meng Shen identified tree-grown plants as Fupen. All these are speculative and cannot be relied upon.
[Properties and Flavors] Sour, neutral, non-toxic. *Mingyi Bielu* states: Salty. Chen Shiliang states: Sweet, sour, slightly warm.
[Therapeutic Actions] Calms the Five Zang organs, benefits Essence and Qi, promotes genital development and firmness, strengthens willpower and doubles physical strength, aids conception. Long-term consumption lightens the body and prevents aging (*Shennong Bencao Jing*). Treats sudden wind-stroke, fever, and great fright (*Mingyi Bielu*). Improves complexion, promotes hair growth, and enhances resistance to cold and dampness (Su Gong).
[Innovations] See under Fupen Zi.
[Attached Prescriptions] One new prescription.