铁树叶 铁树附
皇华纪闻∶粤地湿热，人多染麻风，所居室人不敢处，必种香蕉木本结实者于院中，一
二年
后，其毒尽入树中，乃敢居。两广杂志∶蕉种甚多，子皆甘美，以香牙蕉为第一，名龙奶奶
者，乳也。言若龙之乳，不可多得，然食之寒气沁心，颇有邪甜之目。其叶有朱砂斑点，植
必以木夹之，否则结实时风必吹折，故又名折腰娘。凡蕉叶必三，三开则三落，落不至地，
但悬挂茎间，干之可以作书。花出于心，每一心辄抽一茎作花，闻雷而坼，坼者如倒垂菡萏
，层层作卷瓣，瓣中无蕊，悉是瓣。渐大则花出瓣中，每一花开，必三四月乃阖，一花阖成
十余子，十花阖成百余子，小大各为房，随花而长，长至五六寸许，先后相次，两两相抱，
其子不俱生，花不俱落，终年花实相代谢，虽历岁寒不凋。子经三四月始熟，粤人婴儿乳少
，辄熟蕉子饲之。又以浸酒，味甚美，其蕉心嫩白，可为 。纲目芭蕉条下所载各类，于香
蕉独未明晰，今依粤志补之。
收麻风毒。
五杂俎∶凤尾蕉其本粗巨，叶长四五尺，密比如鱼刺，然高者亦丈余。又有番蕉，似凤
尾而
小，相传从琉球来者，云种之能辟火患，是水精也。枯时以铁屑粪之，或以铁钉钉其根上，
则复活。盖金能生水也，植盆中不甚长，一年才落下一叶，计长不能以寸，亦不甚作花，予
种之三十年，仅见两度花，其花亦似芭蕉。而色黄不实。
《皇华纪闻》记载：广东地区气候湿热，许多人感染麻风病，家人不敢与其同住。必须在庭院中种植香蕉树（此处指木本结实者），一两年后，体内的毒素会全部进入树中，此时才敢居住。《两广杂志》记载：香蕉品种很多，果实都甘甜美味，其中以香牙蕉为第一，名为“龙奶奶”的，是指乳汁。意思是像龙的乳汁一样，不可多得，然而食用它寒气沁入心脾，有“邪甜”之称。它的叶子有朱砂般的斑点，种植时必须用木夹固定，否则结果时风一定会吹折枝干，所以又名“折腰娘”。凡是蕉叶必定三片，三片展开则三片落下，落下时不触及地面，只是悬挂在茎间，晒干后可以用来写字。花从中心抽出，每有一个中心就抽出一根茎作为花茎，听到雷声就会开裂，开裂的样子像倒垂的荷花，层层卷曲成瓣，花瓣中没有花蕊，全是花瓣。逐渐长大则花从花瓣中伸出，每一朵花开放，必须经过三四月才闭合，一朵花闭合形成十余个果实，十朵花闭合形成百余果实，大小各成房室，随着花朵生长，长到五六寸左右，先后依次排列，两两相抱，这些果实不是同时生成，花朵也不是同时凋落，终年花果交替代谢，即使经历岁寒也不凋谢。果实经过三四月才成熟，广东人婴儿母乳不足时，就用熟透的香蕉果实喂养他们。又用其浸泡酒，味道非常甜美，其蕉心嫩白，可用作食物。《本草纲目》芭蕉条下所载各类，对于香蕉唯独没有讲清楚，现在依据广东地方志补充说明。
具有收敛麻风病毒素的功效。
《五杂俎》记载：凤尾蕉的根部粗壮巨大，叶子长四五尺，密集排列如同鱼刺，高的也有丈余。又有番蕉，形状像凤尾但较小，相传是从琉球传来的，据说种植它能辟除火灾，这是水精（水性植物）。枯萎时用铁屑施肥，或者用铁钉钉在根部上，就能复活。这是因为金能生水的原因，种植在盆中不太容易长大，一年才落下一片叶子，计算长度不到一寸，也不太开花，我种植它三十年，仅见到两次开花，它的花也像芭蕉，但颜色黄而不结果实。
Iron Tree Leaf. Appendix on Iron Tree.
*Huanghua Jiwen* records: In the Guangdong region, the climate is hot and humid, and many people contract leprosy (Mafeng). Family members dare not live with them. One must plant banana trees (specifically those that are woody and bear fruit) in the courtyard. After one or two years, the toxins from the body will have completely entered the tree, at which point it is safe to reside there. *Liangguang Zazhi* records: There are many varieties of bananas, all with sweet and delicious fruits, among which Xiangya Jiao (Fragrant Tooth Banana) is considered the best. The variety named "Long Nainai" refers to milk, meaning it is like dragon's milk, rare and hard to come by. However, consuming it causes coldness to seep into the heart, earning it the description of "evil sweetness." Its leaves have cinnabar-like spots. When planting, they must be supported with wooden clamps; otherwise, the branches will be broken by the wind when bearing fruit, hence the nickname "Zheyao Niang" (Waist-Bending Lady). Banana leaves always appear in threes; when three unfurl, three fall. They do not touch the ground but hang suspended among the stems. When dried, they can be used for writing. Flowers emerge from the center; each central shoot produces a flower stalk. Upon hearing thunder, the bud splits open, resembling an inverted lotus bud, with layers forming rolled petals. There are no stamens within the petals; they consist entirely of petals. As they grow larger, flowers emerge from within the petals. Each flower remains open for three to four months before closing. One closed flower yields over ten fruits; ten closed flowers yield over a hundred fruits. These fruits form chambers of varying sizes, growing along with the flowers. Reaching about five to six inches in length, they appear sequentially, embracing each other in pairs. The fruits do not develop simultaneously, nor do the flowers wither simultaneously. Throughout the year, flowers and fruits alternate in succession. Even through the harsh winter, they do not wither. The fruits ripen after three to four months. In Guangdong, if an infant lacks breast milk, ripe banana fruits are fed to them. They are also soaked in wine, yielding a very sweet taste. The tender white heart of the banana can be used as food. The various types listed under the "Banana" section in *Bencao Gangmu* did not clarify the specifics of Xiangjiao (Ensete/Banana). This account supplements that information based on Guangdong local gazetteers.
It has the function of absorbing/consolidating leprosy toxins.
*Wuzazu* records: Fengwei Jiao (Phoenix Tail Banana) has a thick and massive base, with leaves four to five chi long, densely arranged like fish spines. Those that grow tall can exceed one zhang. There is also Fanjiao (Foreign Banana), which resembles Fengwei but is smaller. It is said to have originated from Liqiu (Ryukyu). It is believed that planting it can ward off fire disasters, identifying it as a "water essence" (a plant associated with water properties). When withered, fertilizing it with iron filings or nailing iron nails into its roots can cause it to revive. This is because metal generates water. Grown in pots, it does not grow well, shedding only one leaf per year, with growth amounting to less than one cun. It rarely flowers. I cultivated it for thirty years and witnessed flowering only twice. Its flowers resemble those of Ensete but are yellow and do not produce fruit.