Most people hear the name "Chishangsan" and know that it is a medicine, just like Huoxuesan and Xiaofengsan, which are common medicine names and indeed quite powerful. But do you know? Chishangsan is now popular as a landscape plant. Let's learn about it together with the following information!
Picture of Chishangsan
Chishangsan is the whole plant of the Polygonum multiflorum or Polygonum plebeium, which are plants of the family Polygonaceae. It is a kind of heat-clearing and detoxifying medicine, with the efficacy of clearing heat, detoxifying, promoting blood circulation, and reducing swelling. Chishangsan is cultivated by sowing or dividing. Now let's learn about the effects, functions, and planting methods of Chishangsan.
It is indeed recorded in the Chinese herbal compilation that this plant has the functions of analgesia, reducing swelling, and promoting blood circulation. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the alcohol extract of Chishangsan has a significant effect on a certain type of dysentery bacillus and also has strong antioxidant activity.
However, in recent years, Chishangsan has not stayed in its original circle of Chinese medicine. Friends who are engaged in landscaping can often see the shadow of Chishangsan in articles such as "The Most Beautiful Ground Cover Plants," "Super Popular 60 Flower Mirror Plants," and "Shade-tolerant Ground Cover Plants."
With its love for light and tolerance for shade, as well as its tolerance for cold and poor soil, Chishangsan is very suitable for use as a ground cover. In spring, its tender shoots and in autumn and winter, it can present a beautiful purple-red color. In summer, it has refreshing small white flowers, exuding a scent that is very suitable for ground cover.
Picture of Chishangsan
Chishangsan is an annual or perennial herb, growing to a height of 30-50cm. The root rhizome is slender and yellow, and the adventitious roots are black-brown. The stem is slender, erect or oblique, slightly branched, purple, jointed or covered with fine white hairs, or almost hairless.
The leaves are opposite; the petioles are short, winged, with leaf ears at the base, and the upper leaves are nearly sessile; the leaf sheaths are tubular, membranous, up to 1cm long, with marginal hairs or hairless; the leaf blades are ovate, pinnately lobed, 5-8cm long, 3-8cm wide.
The terminal lobes are larger, triangular-ovate, gradually pointed, and the lateral lobes are 1-3 pairs, nearly truncate at the base, hairless or hairy on both sides, with purple-black spots in the middle on the upper surface, and with fine marginal hairs.
The inflorescences are clustered at the top of the branches, usually in pairs, with glandular hairs on the peduncles; the calyx is 5-lobed, pink, and green along the back;
There are 8 stamens, shorter than the calyx; the stigma is spherical and 3-lobed. The achene is ovate, 3-ribbed, black-brown with fine dots. The flowering period is from July to August.
Picture of Chishangsan
Chishangsan is not only used as a ground cover, but also used in many modern Chinese-style gardens to add a touch of Chinese charm.
Chishangsan is actually a wild plant most of the time, and it is similar to another Polygonaceae plant called Huotanmu. However, in recent years, Chishangsan has been used more in gardens. Whether it is wild or artificially cultivated, every plant has its own moment to shine.
