The fruits of the Pen Luo Zi are the fruit of the Qingfeng Teng family plant, which is a highly valued medicinal herb. It is harvested when mature and dried for use. It has the effect of relieving external symptoms and treating coughs. Let's learn more about Pen Luo Zi together.
【Morphological characteristics】
The Pen Luo Zi is a tall tree, reaching up to 7m in height. The buds, young branches, leaf veins on the back, and inflorescences are all covered with reddish-brown long hairs. The leaves are simple; petioles are 1.5-4cm long; leaf blades are lanceolate or narrowly ovate, 8-25cm long and 2.5-4.5cm wide.
The apex is gradually pointed or tapering, the base is gradually narrow and wedge-shaped, with entire margins or several sharp serrations above the middle. The back of the leaf is covered with rusty soft hairs; there are 9-18 veins on each side; the texture is leathery.
The flowers are hermaphroditic, with a terminal corymb inflorescence, and the main axis has 3 ridges. The sepals are 5 or 4, ovate or nearly circular, with margin hairs; the petals are 5, white, with 3 nearly circular outer petals with a diameter of 2-2.5mm and 2 inner petals about half the length of the stamens, 2-cleft;
The stamens have several marginal hairs; the developing stamens are 1.2-1.5mm long; the ovary is hairless. The drupe is spherical, 5-8mm in diameter; the nucleus is spherical, slightly oblique, with raised fine reticulations. It flowers in summer and fruits in September and October.
【Habitat distribution】
Ecological environment: It grows in broad-leaved forests below an altitude of 1500m.
Resource distribution: It is distributed in Zhejiang, Jiangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other places.
【Identification characteristics】
The drupe is spherical, 5-8mm in diameter. The nucleus is spherical, slightly oblique, with raised fine reticulations and slightly raised midribs. The dried fruit surface is brownish-green. The odor is faint.
【Nutritional benefits】
Pen Luo Zi is rich in cellulose, pectin, carotene, malic acid, citric acid, potassium, phosphorus, iron, calcium, and vitamins A, B, and C. It is rich in vitamin B and carotene, with 16.0% tannin content in the bark and 5.7% tannin content in the leaves.
Pen Luo Zi has the effects of detoxification, diuresis, and reducing swelling. It is used to treat edema, abdominal distension, unknown swelling, and snake bites.
