The whole plant of the Tiger Ear Grass family, Hemistemma heterophyllum, is used medicinally as Lungxincao. It has the effects of clearing heat, moistening the lungs, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is mainly distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, and Henan provinces in China.
Lungxincao picture
Lungxincao has the effects of clearing heat, moistening the lungs, reducing swelling, and relieving pain. It is used to treat pulmonary tuberculosis, parotitis, lymphadenitis, laryngitis, leukorrhea, and hot and toxic sores, as well as injuries from falls or blows.
Lungxincao is a perennial herb, growing 10-45 centimeters tall. The basal leaves are thick and papery, kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, measuring 2.5-6 centimeters in length. The petioles can reach up to 16 centimeters long.
Lungxincao picture
One leaf grows on the stem, round in shape, with a heart-shaped base, and it clasps the stem. The flower is white, solitary at the top of the stem. There are 5 sepals, ovate or broadly ovate, with blunt rounded tips.
There are 5 petals, spoon-shaped, inverted ovate, or inverted lanceolate, reaching up to 2.5 centimeters in length, with entire margins. Sometimes, they are sparsely fringed with fine hairs at the lower or basal parts.
Lungxincao picture
There are 5 stamens, alternating with the petals. The anthers have brown connective tissue, protruding above the anthers in a diamond-shaped manner, and the middle part of the degenerated stamens is deeply divided into 3 parts or more.
The ovary is superior, with 3 fused carpels. The style is slightly longer than the ovary, and the stigma is 3-lobed. The fruit of Lungxincao is ellipsoid. It flowers and bears fruit from June to September.
