The medicinal herb known as Nü Lou Cai, also known as Guan Guan Hua or Dui Ye Hua, is a type of wild vegetable that can be used to make various delicious soups. Let's take a look at the specific characteristics, taste, and medicinal uses of Nü Lou Cai together with the editor!
Nü Lou Cai
[Appearance]
It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant, 20-70 centimeters tall, with the whole plant densely covered with short soft hairs.
The stem is erect, with many branches at the base. Leaves are opposite; leaf blade is lanceolate to oblanceolate, 2-5 centimeters long, 3-8 millimeters wide, gradually pointed at the tip, wedge-shaped at the base, with entire margins, and densely covered with short soft hairs;
Upper leaves are sessile, while lower leaves have petioles. The umbel inflorescence is umbellate, with 2 flowers per branch on the 2nd or 3rd order branches;
Bracts are linear; sepals are oval, densely covered with short soft hairs on the outside, with 10 veins, and 5 shallow lobes at the top;
There are 5 petals, obovate in shape, with 2 shallow lobes at the top, narrow and claw-like at the base, and 2 scale-like appendages at the throat;
There are 10 stamens, with slender filaments; and 3 pistils. The capsule is elliptical and as long as the sepals. The seeds are numerous, small, dark brown, and have blunt tuberculate protrusions.
[Characteristics]
Identification:
The whole plant is densely covered with short soft hairs, 20-70 cm long. The root is slender and fusiform, woody. The base of the stem is branched.
Leaves are opposite, with entire leaf blades lanceolate to oblanceolate, 4-7 cm long, 4-8 mm wide, sharply pointed at the tip, and gradually narrowed at the base; upper leaves are sessile.
The flowers are pink, usually 2-3 on each branch. The capsule is elliptical.
The seeds are kidney-shaped, small, dark brown, with lumpy protrusions on the edges. It has a slight smell and a mild taste.
Nü Lou Cai
[Leaf Surface View]:
The upper epidermal cells have a distinct periclinal wall compared to the bent lower epidermis. The stomata of the upper and lower epidermis are paracytic and anomocytic.
The upper and lower epidermis have non-glandular trichomes composed of 2-3 cells, especially at the veins; the tips of the non-glandular trichomes are slightly curved or straight, 292-1000μm long, 17-42μm in diameter, bluntly rounded at the tip, thin-walled, and have distinct wart-like projections.
The leaf mesophyll cells contain clusters of calcium oxalate crystals, with a diameter of 17-84μm.
[Taste] Pungent and bitter, neutral.
① "Guizhou Medicinal Herbs": Pungent, slightly warm.
② "Ningxia Medicinal Herb Manual": Bitter-sweet, neutral.
[Medicinal Uses]
Promotes blood circulation and regulates menstruation, strengthens the spleen and promotes diuresis. Used for irregular menstruation, insufficient lactation, infantile malnutrition, and floating deficiency.
① "Guizhou Medicinal Herbs": Promotes blood circulation and regulates menstruation, disperses accumulation, strengthens the spleen, and detoxifies. Used for irregular menstruation, infantile malnutrition, abscesses, and swellings.
② "Ningxia Medicinal Herb Manual": Promotes lactation, diuretic.
[Dosage and Administration] Internal use: Decoction, 3-5 qian (9-15 grams); or powdered. External use: Crushed and applied.
