In autumn, we often see large patches of withered grass in rural areas. Many people don't know that it is actually a Chinese medicinal herb called Maocao. Maocao leaves are the leaves of the Poaceae plant Imperata cylindrica. Maocao leaves are distributed in Northeast China, North China, East China, Central South China, Southwest China, Shaanxi, Gansu, and other regions.
Harvesting and storage: Can be harvested throughout the year.
Morphology: Imperata cylindrica is a perennial herbaceous plant. It grows to a height of 20-100cm. The roots are white, creeping and covered with scales. The stems are erect, cylindrical, smooth, and hairless, with many old leaves and leaf sheaths at the base. The leaves are linear or lanceolate; the leaves at the base are as long as the plant; the leaves on the stem are shorter, 3-8mm wide, brown leaf sheaths, hairless, or with short hairs on the upper part, edges, and sheath mouth. The inflorescence is a compact cylindrical spike, terminal, 5-20cm long, 1-2.5cm wide; the spikelets are lanceolate or oblong, arranged in pairs on the inflorescence axis, one spikelet has a longer stalk, the stalk of the other spikelet is shorter; the flowers are bisexual, each spikelet has 1 flower, the base is covered with white silky hairs; the two glumes are equal or the first glume is slightly shorter and narrower, with 3-4 veins, the second glume is wider, with 4-6 veins; the glumes are membranous, hairless, the first outer glume is ovate-oblong, the inner glume is short, the second outer glume is lanceolate, the same length as the inner glume; there are 2 stamens, with yellow anthers, about 3mm long; there is 1 pistil, with a long stigma, feathery. The nutlet is elliptical, dark brown, and the mature fruit cluster is covered with long white hairs. Flowering period is from May to June, fruiting period is from June to July.
Ecological environment: Maocao leaves grow on sunny grasslands or slopes along the road.
Chemical composition: The leaves and stems of Maocao contain triterpenes (friedelin), arborinol and its methyl ether, fernenol and its methyl ether, arborinone, arundoin, and other triterpenoid compounds.
Taste and properties: Spicy, slightly bitter, neutral.
Usage and dosage: Oral administration: Decoction, 15-30g. External use: Appropriate amount, decoct and wash.
