（《纲目》）
【释名】古贝（《纲目》）、古终。
时珍曰∶木绵有二种∶似木者名古贝，似草者名古终。
或作吉贝者，乃古贝之讹也。梵书谓之 婆，又曰迦罗婆劫。
【集解】时珍曰∶木绵有草、木二种。交广木绵，树大如抱。其枝似桐。其叶大，如胡
桃叶。入秋开花，红如山茶花，黄蕊，花片极浓，为房甚繁，逼侧相比。结实大如拳，实中
有白绵，绵中有子。今人谓之斑枝花，讹为攀枝花。李延寿《南史》所谓林邑诸国出古贝花
，中如鹅毳，抽其绪，纺为布；张勃《吴录》所谓交州、永昌木绵树高过屋，有十余年不换
者，实大如杯，花中绵软白，可为 絮及毛布者，皆指似木之木绵也。江南、淮北所种木绵，
四月下种，茎弱如蔓，高者四、五尺，叶有三尖如枫叶，入秋开花黄色，如葵花而小，亦有
红紫者，结实大如桃，中有白绵，绵中有子，大如梧子，亦有紫绵者，八月采 ，谓之绵花；
李延寿《南史》所谓高昌国有草，实如茧，中丝为细 ，名曰白叠，取以为帛，甚软白；沈
怀远《南越志》所谓桂州出古终藤，结实如鹅毳，核如珠 ，治出其核，纺如丝绵，染为斑
布者，皆指似草之木绵也。此种出南番，宋末始入江南，今则遍及江北与中州矣。不蚕而绵，
不麻而布，利被天下，其益大哉。又《南越志》言∶南诏诸蛮不养蚕，惟收娑罗木子中白絮，
纫为丝，织为幅，名娑罗笼段。祝穆《方舆志》言∶平缅出娑罗树，大者高三、五丈，结子
有绵，纫绵织为白毡兜罗锦。此亦斑枝花之类，各方称呼不同耳。
白绵及布
【气味】甘，温，无毒。
【主治】血崩金疮，烧灰用（时珍）。
子油（用两瓶合烧取沥。）
【气味】辛，热，微毒。
【主治】恶疮疥癣。燃灯，损目（时珍）。
【释名】古贝（出自《本草纲目》）、古终。
李时珍说：木棉有两种，像树木的叫古贝，像草本植物的叫古终。
有人写作“吉贝”，是“古贝”的讹误。梵文称之为婆，又叫做迦罗婆劫。
【集解】李时珍说：木棉有草、木两种。交州、广州一带的木棉，树干大得需要两人合抱。它的枝条像桐树。叶子很大，像胡桃叶。入秋开花，花色红得像山茶花，花蕊黄色，花瓣非常浓密，结成的房（指果实）很多，紧密地排列在一起。果实大如拳头，果实中有白色的绵絮，绵絮中有种子。现在的人叫它斑枝花，讹传为攀枝花。李延寿在《南史》中记载林邑等国出产古贝花，中间像鹅毛一样，抽取其丝绪，纺成布；张勃在《吴录》中记载交州、永昌的木棉树高过屋顶，有十多年不换皮的，果实大如杯子，花中的绵软白，可以做成絮和毛布的，这些都是指像树木的木棉。江南、淮北种植的木棉，四月下种，茎柔弱如藤蔓，高的有四、五尺，叶子有三个尖角像枫叶，入秋开黄花，像葵花但较小，也有红紫色的，果实大如桃子，里面有白色绵絮，绵絮中有种子，种子大如梧桐子，也有紫色绵絮的，八月采集，称为棉花；李延寿《南史》中高昌国有一种草，果实像茧，抽丝很细，名叫白叠，取来做帛，非常柔软洁白；沈怀远《南越志》中记载桂州出产古终藤，果实像鹅毛，核像珍珠，取出其中的核，纺成如丝绵的东西，染成斑布，这些都是指像草本植物的木棉。这种植物原出南洋，宋末才开始传入江南，现在则遍及江北和中州了。不养蚕而有绵，不种麻而有布，利益被天下人享受，它的益处真大啊。另外《南越志》记载：南诏各蛮族不养蚕，只收集娑罗木子中的白絮，缝合为丝，织成幅状织物，名叫娑罗笼段。祝穆《方舆志》记载：平缅出产娑罗树，大的高三、五丈，结子有绵，将绵缝合织成白毡兜罗锦。这也是斑枝花的一类，只是各地称呼不同罢了。
[Names] Gu Bei (from *Bencao Gangmu*), Gu Zhong.
Li Shizhen stated: There are two types of Mian (Cotton): the one resembling a tree is called Gu Bei, and the one resembling a herb is called Gu Zhong.
Some write it as Ji Bei, which is an error for Gu Bei. In Sanskrit texts, it is referred to as Po, also known as Jia Luo Po Jie.
[Collected Explanations] Li Shizhen stated: Mian (Cotton) has both woody and herbaceous varieties. The Mian found in Jiao (Jiaozhi) and Guang (Guangzhou) regions grows into trees as large as two people embracing. Its branches resemble those of the Paulownia tree. Its leaves are large, similar to walnut leaves. It flowers in autumn; the flowers are red like Camellia flowers, with yellow stamens, thick petals, and numerous fruits that grow closely together. The fruit is fist-sized, containing white floss within which are seeds. People today call it Ban Zhi Hua (Spotted Branch Flower), erroneously pronounced as Pan Hua Shan. Li Yanshou's *History of the Southern Dynasties* mentions that countries such as Lin Yi produce Gu Bei flowers, the interior of which resembles goose down; drawing out the fibers allows them to be spun into cloth. Zhang Bo's *Records of Wu* describes Mian trees in Jiaozhi and Yongchang that exceed the height of houses and do not shed bark for over ten years; their fruits are cup-sized, and the soft white floss within the flowers can be used for stuffing or making woolen cloth. These all refer to the tree-like variety of Mian.
The Mian planted in Jiangnan and north of the Huai River is sown in April. Its stems are weak and vine-like, reaching heights of four or five chi. The leaves have three points like maple leaves. It blooms in autumn with yellow flowers, smaller than sunflowers, though some are red or purple. The fruits are peach-sized, containing white floss with seeds inside, the size of Sophora seeds. Some varieties have purple floss. Harvested in August, it is called Mian Hua (Cotton). Li Yanshou's *History of the Southern Dynasties* notes that in Gao Chang State, there was a grass whose fruits resembled cocoons, yielding fine silk named Bai Die, used to make fabric that was very soft and white. Shen Huaiyuan's *Records of Southern Yue* states that Gui Zhou produced Gu Zhong vines; their fruits resembled goose down, with pits like pearls. Extracting the pits and spinning them yielded silk-like material, which was dyed into patterned cloth. These all refer to the herbaceous variety of Mian. This species originated from the Southern Seas and only entered Jiangnan towards the end of the Song Dynasty; now it is widespread in Jiangbei and the Central Plains. It provides floss without silkworms and cloth without hemp, benefiting the whole world; its utility is indeed great.
Furthermore, *Records of Southern Yue* records that the various barbarian tribes of Nanzhao did not raise silkworms but collected white floss from Sapo (Kapok) tree pods, stitching it into thread and weaving it into fabric named Suo Luo Long Duan. Zhu Mu's *Fangyu Zhi* records that Ping Mian produced Sapo trees, some reaching thirty to fifty zhang in height, bearing pods with floss that could be stitched and woven into white felt Dou Luo Jin (Kapok brocade). These are also varieties of Ban Zhi Hua, differing only in local names.
[Properties and Flavor] Sweet, warm, non-toxic.
[Indications] Metrorrhagia and traumatic injuries caused by metal weapons; burnt to ash for use (Li Shizhen).
Seed Oil (Obtained by distilling seeds in two combined vessels.)
[Properties and Flavor] Pungent, hot, slightly toxic.
[Indications] Malignant sores, scabies, and tinea. Burning it as a lamp damages the eyes (Li Shizhen).