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The *Shennong Bencao Jing* (Divine Farmer's Materia Medica) does not distinguish between red peony root and white peony root. Li Dongyuan stated: Red peony root promotes urination and directs rebellious Qi downward; white peony root relieves pain and disperses Qi and Blood. Folk sayings claim: White is tonifying, red is draining. The *Bencao Gangmu* (Compendium of Materia Medica) states: White peony root benefits the Spleen and can drain Liver Wood within the Earth element (i.e., prevent Liver from overacting on Spleen); red peony root disperses pathogenic factors and moves stasis in the Blood. After childbirth, Qi and Blood are already deficient, so draining methods should not be used further; thus, red peony root is contraindicated, not merely because of its sour and cold nature. Ri Huazi claimed it treats all diseases in women and is suitable for postpartum use when stir-fried with wine. I believe it is safer to avoid using it altogether.

The *Mingyi Bielu* (Record of Famous Physicians) states that Dendrobium grows in the valleys of Lu'an. Su Song said Dendrobium from Guangnan is superior. The *Bencao Gangmu* stated that Dendrobium from Shu is best. Currently, genuine dried Dendrobium is bright yellow in color and shaped like the thigh of a grasshopper, known as "Gold Hairpin Dendrobium" (*Jinchai Shihu*). Fresh Dendrobium grows less than one cun high, resembling small *Sedum sarmentosum*, growing in clumps connected by roots, and can be planted in dishes for appreciation. However, it is rare in our region. It is produced in the deep mountains of Ying County, on cliffs thousands of feet high, visible but inaccessible. Collectors lower themselves from the peak using ropes to the mountainside, using tools to dig vigorously until pieces fall down, which they then collect in the streams and valleys below. This process is extremely dangerous. Moreover, only a few liang of dry material can be obtained from one jin of fresh material, so very few people collect it. Local gazetteers mistakenly list it as a specialty of Hefei, and enthusiasts occasionally request it from there. Li Xuzhou, the magistrate, remarked, "Our region has no high mountains, how could such things exist?" This became a subject of ridicule. Recently, a friend returned from Western Guangdong and mentioned *Panax notoginseng*, saying it is also very expensive there. Superiors demand it endlessly for making pastes, taking trivial amounts while wasting them like dirt. Precious items like "Jade Face and Golden Sprouts" in my hometown are rare treasures, yet compared to Dendrobium, I am still glad that there are no readers of the *Materia Medica* here to exploit it.

*Acorus tatarinowii* (Shichangpu): Tao Hongjing stated that those with nine nodes per inch are good. Those with a ridge on the leaf like a sword are authentic. Similar plants without leaf ridges are *Lansun*. He also said that specimens with exposed roots should not be used. Li Shizhen stated there are five types of Acorus; only those growing among stones near water, with sword-like ridged leaves, thin roots with dense nodes, and about one chi high, are true *Acorus tatarinowii*. When transplanted into pots for ornamentation, they become finer with pruning. For medicinal use, they should be soaked in rice washing water and steamed over rice; borrowing the Qi of grain is particularly beneficial. Currently, they are abundant on the rocks of streams in the southwestern mountains of Lu'an, often having more than nine nodes per inch, and are easy to transplant and survive. However, many have exposed roots, and collectors may not be able to select carefully.