The stone silkworm, also known as the stone lotus, is the whole herb of the Orchidaceae spotted leaf orchid. It is distributed in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Guizhou, and Guangdong provinces in China. It has the effects of moistening the lungs, stopping cough, clearing heat, and cooling blood. Now, let's learn about the efficacy, function, and cultivation methods of the stone silkworm.
【Morphological Characteristics of Stone Silkworm】
The stone silkworm has various names, among which stone lotus is just one of them. It is also called stone silkworm and true gold grass. "Lotus" refers to its rhizome, which looks like several silkworms connected end to end, because each section looks like a shrunken lotus root.
The stone silkworm is also called "variegated blood leaf orchid" or "blood vein lotus". Its fat rhizomes creep and grow, resembling giant caterpillars. The leaves of the stone silkworm are oval-shaped, measuring 2-11.5 cm in length and 1-5.5 cm in width, with short hairs on both sides of the veins.
The leaf stalk is as long as or slightly shorter than the leaf blade. The inflorescence is panicle-like without hairs. The bracts are linear-lanceolate. The corolla is white or pale red, with the tube accounting for one-fourth of the total length of the corolla, without an internal hairy ring. The aggregate fruit exceeds half of the total surface area. The whole herb is 10-20 cm long.
The rhizomes of the stone silkworm elongate like caterpillars, fleshy, with a diameter of about 3 mm. The surface is grayish-yellow, with longitudinal wrinkles and obvious nodes. Remnant membranous or dried leaf sheaths can be seen. The roots of the stone silkworm are short and slightly stout, covered with fine hairy root hairs.
The leaves are opposite, papery, often curled and shriveled, and become ovate-elliptic after being flattened, measuring 2-5 cm in length and 1-2 cm in width. They are grayish-green or dark red. The leaf stalks elongate into membranous sheaths and clasp the stem. The odor is faint and the taste is mild and slightly astringent. The flowering and fruiting period is from July to October.
【Efficacy and Function of Stone Silkworm】
According to traditional Chinese medicine, stone silkworm has the effects of moistening the lungs, stopping cough, clearing heat, and cooling blood. It is used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, cough, hemoptysis, whooping cough, bronchitis, and has therapeutic effects on hemoptysis caused by pulmonary tuberculosis, neurasthenia, loss of appetite, and muscle and bone pain.
The most significant effect of stone lotus is moistening the yin and lungs. Drinking water soaked with stone lotus or boiling stone lotus can prevent and control coughing and difficulty breathing in the lungs.
For blood heat problems caused by dryness and heat, stone lotus can also clear heat, detoxify, and cool blood. It can also be effective in stopping bleeding.
During episodes of rectal bleeding or hemoptysis, there is no need to panic. Drinking stone lotus water consistently for 1-3 days can relieve bleeding symptoms. In fact, stone lotus also has the effect of improving sleep, especially for those caused by neurasthenia.
1. "Ben Jing": It treats enuresis, urolithiasis, and abortion. Internally, it resolves qi stagnation, promotes urination, and dispels heat.
2. "Bie Lu": It treats urinary stones, urinary retention.
【Cultivation Methods of Stone Silkworm】
1. Growth Habits
The stone silkworm prefers warm weather and dislikes high temperatures and humidity. The suitable temperature for its growth is 15-25 degrees Celsius. The cultivation soil should be fertile sandy soil with good drainage to avoid rot caused by stagnant water.
2. Propagation Methods
It can be propagated by cuttings or rhizomes, or by dividing the plant. However, for small families, there is no need to collect seeds, as propagation by cuttings is sufficient.
3. Soil Planting
The stone silkworm is not strict about soil requirements, but fertile soil is most suitable. Since its roots do not penetrate deeply into the soil, deep plowing is not necessary. Apply well-rotted organic fertilizer before tillage and shallowly till the soil into flat beds.
4. Field Management
The stone silkworm has a long growth period, so we should pay attention to intertillage and weed control. In summer, attention should be paid to controlling water and fertilizer to prevent excessive plant growth. When flower buds appear, they should be promptly removed along with the apical bud to save nutrients and promote the growth of rhizomes.
