The Chinese medicinal herb "Shi Can" is found in Guangdong, Hong Kong, Hainan, Guangxi, and southern Yunnan. It has the effects of nourishing yin, moistening the lungs, cooling blood, and stopping bleeding. It has therapeutic effects on pulmonary tuberculosis with hemoptysis and neurasthenia!
[Identification of Shi Can's Morphology]
The whole plant of Shi Can is 10-20 cm long. The rhizome is elongated like a silkworm, fleshy, with a diameter of about 3 mm. The surface is grayish-yellow, with longitudinal wrinkles, obvious nodes, and visible residual membranous or dry and hairy leaf sheaths.
The roots are short and slightly stout. The leaves are alternate, papery, often curled, and become ovate-elliptic after being flattened, 2-5 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. They are grayish-green or dark red. The petiole extends into a membranous sheath that encloses the stem.
Sometimes, flowers and white flowers can be seen on the inflorescence, and the lower part of the flower stalk of the inflorescence is covered with membranous bracts. It has a mild aroma, a light taste, and a slightly astringent flavor.
Growth Characteristics:
Shi Can prefers warm weather and dislikes high temperature and humidity. The suitable temperature for growth is 15-25 degrees Celsius. The preferred soil for cultivation is fertile sandy soil with good drainage. Stagnant water can cause rotting.
It grows on tree trunks or rocks at an altitude of 300-1760 meters in forests and is also commonly found on rocks or trees by the stream.
[Shi Can Pictures]
