典藏书目

Non-toxic.

Gougu (Celastrus flagellaris, cited from *Bencao Gangmu*). Its bark is mainly used for soaking in wine to tonify the waist and legs, making the body strong (as stated by Chen Cangqi). Its branches and leaves are mainly burned to ash, leached for juice, or decocted into a paste to apply on vitiligo lesions (as stated by Chen Cangqi). [Name] Mao'er Ci (Cat's Thorn) (Chen Cangqi said: The texture of this tree is white like the bone of Gougu; Li Shizhen said: The leaves have five thorns resembling a cat, hence the name; additionally, Wei Mao also has the name Gougu, sharing the same name as this one). [Origin] (Su Song said: It grows mostly in Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions; its wood is excellent for making turned boxes). [Quality] (Lu Ji in his commentary on the *Shi Jing* said: Gougu is a mountain tree, resembling the Tulip tree (Lumu), with white and smooth grain, suitable for making book covers; there are horseflies in the leaves, which curl up like Zi Yu transformed into flies. Li Shizhen said: The Gougu tree resembles Ligustrum lucidum (Nüzhen), with very white texture; leaves are 2-3 cun long, dark green, dense, hard, with five angular thorns, evergreen, bearing fruits similar to Ligustrum lucidum and Smilax glabra, with thin skin and sweet taste, and four-part seeds. People collect its bark, decoct it into paste to catch sparrows, called "Zhan"). [Season] Blooms small white flowers in May, matures in September. [Color] Crimson red. [Taste] Slightly bitter. [Nature] Cool.

Non-toxic.

Shanfan leaves mainly treat chronic dysentery, relieve thirst, and kill fleas and bookworms. Usage: Steep thirty leaves with three slices of old ginger in water, heat by steaming, and wash the ulcerated margins of the eyes (cited from *Bencao Gangmu*). [Name] Yunxiang, Dinghua, Zhehua, Chungui, Qilixiang (Li Shizhen said: "Yun" means numerous; the *Laozi* states "all things flourish," which refers to this. This plant grows abundantly in mountains and fields, with abundant flowers and rich fragrance, hence the name. According to Zhou Bida, "Zhe" sounds like "Zheng," cited from *Nanshi*; the custom in Jing region mispronounces "Zhe" as "Zheng," calling it Zhengfan, while Jiangnan further mispronounces "Zheng" as "Ye." Huang Tingjian said: "Dinghua" is very common in Jiangnan wilderness; locals burn leaves to ash for dyeing purple-black without needing alum, so I changed its name to Shanfan. [Origin] Li Shizhen said: Shanfan grows in the wilds of Jianghuai, Hushu. [Quality] Large trees have stems about one zhang high; leaves resemble Gardenia leaves, opposite at nodes, glossy, hard, slightly serrated, evergreen. Blooms in March, profuse white flowers like snow, six-petaled yellow stamens, very fragrant. Fruits are large as peppercorns. Leaves are astringent; people use them for dyeing yellow, for coagulating tofu, or mixing with tea. According to Shen Kuo's *Bitan*: Ancients used Yunxiang to repel insects in books, called Yuncao, i.e., current Qilixiang. Leaves resemble pea leaves, grow in small clusters, smell very fragrant when chewed/smelled, with white powder-like substance on leaves in autumn, effectively repelling insects. Also according to *Cangjie Jieji*: Yunxiang resembles Xiehao, edible, repels paper insects. Xu Shen's *Shuowen* says: Yunxiang resembles Alfalfa. Chengong Huan's *Yunxiang Fu* says: Stems resemble autumn bamboo, branches resemble pine. Guo Yigong's *Guangzhi* mentions Yunxiang glue. *Duyang Bian* says: Yunxiang grass comes from Tian Kingdom, its fragrance is white as jade, indestructible in soil. Yuan Zai built Yunhui Hall, coating walls with its powder. Based on these accounts, Yunxiang is not a single species. Shen Kuo identifying it as Qilixiang lacks basis. The description of pea-like leaves, fragrant smell, and autumn powder does not match current Qilixiang, resembling Wuyaoleaf instead; likely Shen Kuo speculated. Zeng Duanbo identified Qilixiang as Yurui flower, unknown if correct. [Color] Dark green/black, turns yellow when ripe, edible. [Taste] Sour, astringent, slightly sweet.