The Chinese medicinal herb Da Wei Yao is the whole herb or root of the plant Da Wei Yao, a member of the Rubiaceae family. It is harvested in autumn and can be used fresh or dried. It has the effect of clearing heat and detoxification, and can be used clinically to treat pneumonia, boils, and other conditions.
Da Wei Yao is also known as Gou Wei Cao or Quan Chong Cao. It is an annual herbaceous plant that grows 15-60cm tall. The root is cylindrical and turns yellow-brown when dried. The stem is erect, robust, and branched, with rough hairs.
Leaves: The leaves are alternate or nearly opposite, with wrinkled blades that are about 5-10cm long and ovate or triangular-ovate in shape.
Flowers: The sepals are green, and the corolla is pale blue-purple or white. There are 5 stamens, and the inflorescence is terminal, forming a one-sided spike. The small flowers grow densely on the upper side of the flower axis, with the apex bending outward. They gradually open from the bottom to the top, blooming from May to September.
The inflorescence is arranged in a forked scorpion tail shape, with a total length of 15cm. The apex curls up like a caterpillar, which is why it is also called Ear Hook Grass.
Fruit: The fruit is a capsule formed by the fusion of two small drupes.
Uses: It can be used for food, medicine, and as a source of nectar for bees.
