Piluozi, also known as Piluo Pao Hua, is a plant in the Clear Wind Vine family. It is also known as wild loquat, Piluo tongue, white lotus, mountain loquat, Piluo Lang, and flower wood fragrance. The root bark or fruit of the Piluozi plant is used. There are about 90 species in the Clear Wind Vine family, distributed in temperate Asia and America. China has 29 species, including 2 medicinal ones. Piluozi is one of them. Let's take a closer look at the knowledge related to Piluozi.
I. Morphological Characteristics
Piluozi is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 10-18 meters tall. The trunk is straight with gray-brown bark. The branches are thick and covered in rusty short hairs. The leaves are single, leathery, lanceolate or oblong in shape, 10-20 cm long and 3-4.5 cm wide. The apex is pointed, the base narrows gradually, and the upper half of the margin has serrations. The upper surface is hairless, the midrib is concave with short soft hairs, and the lower surface is covered in rusty soft hairs with raised midribs and 13-18 pairs of lateral veins. The petiole is 1.3-3 cm long with rusty short hairs. The inflorescence is a terminal, erect, rusty-haired cone-shaped cluster of white flowers. The sepals are 4, almost circular, and vary greatly in size, 1-1.5 mm long. The base of the outer side has hairs and small marginal hairs. The petals are 3, round and about 2 mm long, without hairs. The stamens are 2 and about 1.5 mm long, and the ovary is hairless. The small flowers bloom in summer, are white in color, and have rusty hairs. The fruit is ovate, 5-8 mm in diameter, and the flowering period lasts for 5-6 months with the fruit ripening in August.
II. Habitat and Distribution
Piluozi grows on slopes at an altitude of 650-1700 meters, in broad-leaved forests along ravines. It is distributed in Zhejiang, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, and Guangxi in China. It is also found in Japan. The bark and leaves contain tannin and can be used to make glue. The seeds can be pressed for oil. The wood can be used for agricultural tools, firewood, and charcoal.
III. Characteristics and Uses
Piluozi is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 10 meters tall. The wood is yellow-brown with a weak luster. The growth rings are distinct, and the pores are relatively few and scattered. The grain is straight, and the structure is usually very fine and uniform. The wood is medium to heavy in weight. It is hard and has significant shrinkage upon drying. It is not slow to dry, but is prone to deformation and difficult to process. The cross-section is smooth. It can be used for general construction, doors and windows, furniture, packaging boxes, agricultural tools, and wooden clogs.
IV. Medicinal Properties and Indications
According to "Folk Medicinal Materials in Hunan": "It is used to treat cough, cold, and pain."
V. Usage and Dosage
It can be taken internally as a decoction, 6-9g.
Piluozi is mainly used for its root bark in traditional Chinese medicine. It has detoxifying, diuretic, and anti-inflammatory effects. It is used to treat edema, abdominal distension, unknown swellings, and snakebites. The root bark can be mashed and applied to the affected area.
