Light-leaf water parsley, also known as light-leaf water celery, is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows 20-80 centimeters tall. It is found in Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and other regions. It is used to clear heat, resolve phlegm, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
[Other names for light-leaf water parsley]
Wangjiangqing, Tianzhima (from "Li's Secret of Grass"), white horse orchid, mud lamp heart, wild silk, white root grass (from "Zhejiang Folk Common Herbal Medicine").
[Characteristics of light-leaf water parsley]
The plant is a perennial herbaceous plant that grows 20-80 centimeters tall. It has creeping roots at the lower part and square stems with hair on the nodes.
The leaves are opposite, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 4-10.5 centimeters long and 0.7-3 centimeters wide. The apex is acute, the base is nearly round or heart-shaped, and the edges are serrated. Both sides of the leaves are hairless. The petiole is 3-17 millimeters long.
The flowers are arranged in clusters of 6 or more, axillary and interrupted spike-like inflorescences, or terminal on the branches. The flower axis is 5-12 centimeters long. The bracts are small and lanceolate in shape.
The calyx is bell-shaped, 7.2 millimeters long, hairless or slightly hairy on the outside, with 10 veins and 5 teeth. The teeth are pointed and the edges have fine hairs. The upper lip has 3 teeth, and the lower lip has 2 teeth.
The corolla is pale red or pale purple, 14.5 millimeters long. The upper lip is inverted ovate, covered with short soft hairs, and has smooth edges. The lower lip is 3-lobed. There are 4 stamens, 2 of which are prominent.
The stigma is 2-lobed and shorter than the stamens. The small nut is inverted ovate, 1.8 millimeters long, and smooth black. It flowers from April to June and fruits from May to July.
[Usage and dosage of light-leaf water parsley]
Orally: decoct 0.5-1 liang. Externally: crush and apply the juice.
