Tianpengcao, a Chinese herbal medicine, is the whole plant of Stellaria uliginosa Murr. [S. alsine Grimm.], a plant in the Caryophyllaceae family. It is distributed in Northeast China, East China, Central China, Southwest China, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and other regions. Tianpengcao has the effects of dispelling wind and dampness, promoting blood circulation and reducing swelling, detoxification and stopping bleeding. It is commonly used for common cold, diarrhea, dysentery, rheumatism, bruises, fractures, boils, hemorrhoids, snake bites, vomiting blood, nosebleeds, and external bleeding.
Tianpengcao is a perennial herb with a height of 15-30cm. The stem is slender, forming tufts, with lower parts lying flat and upper parts sparsely branched, green or purple. The leaves are opposite, sessile, and elongated oval or lanceolate, 5-20mm long, 2-3mm wide, gradually tapering at the apex, narrowing at the base, with smooth or slightly wavy edges, and hairless on both sides. The inflorescence is umbel-like, terminal or axillary; the pedicel is thin, long and thread-like; the bracts and bracteoles are small; the sepals are lanceolate, pointed at the apex, membranous at the edges, and smooth; the petals are white, about the same length or slightly shorter than the sepals, deeply divided into two; there are 5 stamens and 2-3 styles in the ovary. The fruit is a capsule slightly longer than the persistent sepals, splitting into 6 lobes when mature, with numerous seeds inside. The seeds are kidney-shaped, brown, and have wrinkled surfaces. The flowering period is from April to November, and the fruiting period is from June to December.
Habitat and ecological environment: It grows in fields, stream banks, or wet areas.
Distribution of resources: It is distributed in Northeast China, East China, Central China, Southwest China, Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, and other regions.
Morphological characteristics: The whole plant is 15-30cm long and dirty green. The leaves are opposite, with complete leaf blades elongated oval or lanceolate, 5-20mm long, 2-3mm wide, gradually tapering at the apex, and with smooth or slightly wavy edges. The inflorescence is umbel-like, terminal or axillary; the sepals are lanceolate, pointed at the apex, and smooth; the petals are white, divided into two; there are 5 stamens and 2-3 styles. The fruit is a capsule, slightly longer than the persistent sepals, and splits into 6 lobes when mature. It has a faint smell and a mild taste.
