Lungxincao
Introduction: Lungxincao is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, which is the whole plant of the plant Impatiens pritzellii of the family Balsaminaceae. It is distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan and other regions. Lungxincao is mainly used to clear heat and moisten the lungs, reduce swelling and relieve pain. It is used to treat tuberculosis, parotitis, lymphadenitis, pharyngitis, leukorrhea, heat-toxin sores, and injuries caused by falls.
【Aliases】
Meihuacao, Baicier.
【Morphology】
Lungxincao is a perennial herb, 10-45 cm tall. The basal leaves are thick and papery, kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, 2.5-6 cm long; petioles up to 16 cm long; stem leaves 1, round, heart-shaped at the base, clasping the stem, with entire margins. The flowers are white, solitary at the apex of the stem; sepals 5, ovate or broadly lanceolate, with obtuse tips.
Petals 5, spoon-shaped, inverted ovate, or inverted lanceolate, up to 2.5 cm long, with entire margins, sometimes sparsely ciliate or finely divided at the lower or basal part; stamens 5, alternating with the petals, anthers brown, diamond-shaped and protruding above the stamens, with the middle and upper parts of the degenerated stamens deeply divided.
The ovary is superior, with 3 connate carpels, and the style is slightly longer than the ovary, with a 3-lobed stigma. The capsule is elliptical. Flowering and fruiting period is from June to September.
【Habitat】
Lungxincao grows on mountain slopes, along forest edges, under forests, or on grassy slopes. It is distributed in Yunnan, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Shaanxi, Henan and other regions.
