Yayingcao, Chinese medicinal name. It is the whole plant of Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forsk., a plant in the family Boraginaceae. It is distributed in East China, South China, Southwest China, as well as Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, and other places. It has the functions of clearing heat, detoxifying, diuresis, and reducing swelling. It is commonly used for acute nephritis, periodontitis, periodontal abscess, acute lymphadenitis of the mandible, and snake bites.
Source of medicinal materials: The whole plant of Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forsk.
Latin plant, animal, and mineral name: Cynoglossum lanceolatum Forsk. [C. micranthum Desf.; C. hirsutum Jacq.]
Harvesting and storage: Harvested from May to August, dried or used fresh.
Original morphology: Perennial herb, 20-90cm tall. The stem is erect, with branches in the middle and lower part, branches spreading, and the whole plant densely covered with coarse hairs. Basal leaves and lower stem leaves have petioles; basal leaves are elliptic-lanceolate, 8-14cm long, about 3cm wide, with pointed tips, gradually narrowing and extending downwards at the base, entire margins, and both sides covered with coarse hairs or appressed hairs; stem leaves are sessile or have short petioles, lanceolate, 4-7cm long, about 1cm wide, with very small leaves on the upper part of the stem. The umbel inflorescence is branched in a forked manner, terminal and axillary; without bracts; the flower stalk does not grow much during fruiting; the calyx is deeply lobed, lobes ovate, 1-2mm long, densely covered with short appressed hairs on the outer surface, slightly enlarged during fruiting; the corolla is campanulate, pale blue or white, with elliptic lobes at the apex, 1.5-2.5mm long, with 5 crescent-shaped appendages at the throat; stamens 5, hidden beneath the appendages; ovary deeply lobed, style short and thick, tetragonal, about 1mm long. Small nutlets 4, ovoid, 2-2.5mm long, with prominent dorsal ridges, densely covered with short and unequal anchor-shaped prickles, the base of the marginal anchor-shaped prickles not fused. Flowering period is from April to May, fruiting period is from July to September.
Habitat and ecological environment: It grows on sandy hills, slopes, grasslands, and roadside at altitudes of 300-2800m.
Distribution of resources: Distributed in East China, South China, Southwest China, as well as Shaanxi, Gansu, Henan, and other places.
Characteristics and identification: Stem cylindrical, hairy on the surface. Leaves opposite, wrinkled, broad linear after being flattened, short-pointed at the apex, gradually narrowing and extending downwards at the base, with coarse and distinct leaf veins on the underside, covered with coarse hairs on both sides, and with entire margins. Flowers are wrinkled and yellowish. Fruit is ovoid, with a diameter of 1.2-2.0mm. It has a faint odor and a slightly bitter taste.
