The Chinese medicinal herb Chishengsan is an annual or perennial herb that grows to a height of 30-50 centimeters. It is harvested in the summer and autumn and is suitable for planting in flower gardens, along roadsides, or in sparse forests. How to cultivate Chishengsan and what are its characteristics? Let's find out together!
Chishengsan
Characteristics of Chishengsan
Morphological identification: The roots are slender, reddish-brown, and the nodes are swollen with numerous fibrous roots.
The stem is cylindrical, slender, slightly flattened, with slight branching in the upper part, pale green or slightly reddish-brown, hairy or nearly hairless; the cross-section is hollow.
The leaves are ovate, elongated ovate, or triangular-ovate, 5-8 cm long, 3-5 cm wide, gradually pointed at the apex, nearly truncate or slightly cordate at the base; they extend downward to the petiole and often form 1-3 pairs of inwardly concave circular lobes on both sides, with triangular dark purple markings on the upper surface; the leaf sheaths are tubular, membranous, and brown.
The inflorescence is terminal, composed of several head-like inflorescences; the corolla is white or pink. It has a faint aroma and a slightly astringent taste.
Habitat and Distribution of Chishengsan
Ecological environment:
It grows in shady and damp places such as roadsides, ditches, and grassy areas, or it can be cultivated.
It grows in the subalpine forests below 3000 meters above sea level. It can also be found in mountain valleys and grasslands.
Chishengsan
Distribution:
It is distributed in southwestern China, as well as in Shaanxi, Gansu, Taiwan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangxi, Tibet, and other regions.
Cultivation techniques of Chishengsan
Biological characteristics: It prefers shady and damp environments and can tolerate cold temperatures. It grows best in loose, fertile, and well-drained soil.
Cultivation techniques: It can be propagated by division or seed, with division being the main method.
From the end of winter to before the emergence of new shoots in spring, dig up the rhizomes and divide them into individual plants, making sure to leave buds and fibrous roots on each plant.
During planting, plow the land and create ridges that are 1.3 meters wide, with spacing of about 33 centimeters between rows and plants.
Plant 2 plants per hole, compact the soil, apply animal or livestock manure and wood ash, and finally cover with fine soil to be level with the ridge.
Field management: After planting, weed and fertilize 3 times a year.
The first fertilization should be done in March just after emergence, the second in June to July, and the third during the winter when the shoots have withered. Remove the withered stems and leaves before applying fertilizer, and also cover with soil for winter protection.
For the first and second fertilizations, animal or livestock manure is the main source, while wood ash or compost can be applied for the third fertilization.
