Tianpeng grass is the whole plant of the Caryophyllaceae plant Paronychia argentea. Although it is difficult to distinguish from other plants, it has high medicinal value. Let's learn about Tianpeng grass together!
Tianpeng grass is a perennial herb. The stem is slender, lying flat at the lower part, with sparse branches at the upper part, 15-30 cm tall, green or with a purple hue.
The leaves are opposite, sessile, long-ovate or lanceolate, 5-20 mm long, 2-8 mm wide, pointed at both ends, with golden edges or shallowly wavy margins. The umbel inflorescence is terminal or axillary.
The flowers are white, with slender pedicels like silk. The sepals are lanceolate, pointed at the apex, membranous at the edges, and smooth. The petals are 5, equal to or slightly shorter than the sepals, deeply lobed to the base.
There are 5 stamens and 2-3 styles in the ovary. The capsule is slightly longer than the persistent sepals, and splits into 6 lobes when mature. It blooms in spring.
It grows in fields, riverbanks, or wet areas, and is distributed in most parts of China.
Tianpeng grass has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling, detoxifying and stopping bleeding. It is commonly used for colds, diarrhea, dysentery, rheumatism, sprains, fractures, abscesses, hemorrhoids, snakebites, vomiting blood, nosebleeds, and external bleeding.
Tianpeng grass prefers heat and the optimal growth temperature is 20-30℃. The growth is stagnant when the temperature is below 15℃. It can tolerate high temperatures and has no impact on growth when the temperature reaches 41℃.
It prefers sunlight and is not tolerant to shade. It grows and develops quickly under strong light and blooms early. When the sunlight is less than 5 hours, it tends to only grow leaves without flowering.
It does not have strict soil requirements, but fertile clay rich in organic matter is preferred. It grows in fields, riverbanks, or wet areas.
