White Orchid, a perennial herbaceous bulbous plant, grows to a height of 18-60 centimeters. It is mainly distributed in China, Japan, and northern Myanmar. The main flowering period is in spring, but depending on the climate, it can also flower from late winter to early summer. White Orchid has a wide range of medicinal and landscaping value. It is mainly used for astringent hemostasis, reducing swelling and promoting tissue regeneration.
Source: White Orchid is the tuber of the orchidaceae plant, Bai Ji. It is harvested from August to November, and the residual stems and roots are removed. After washing off the soil, it is steamed until the inner surface is free of white heart. Then, the rough skin is peeled off and dried or baked.
Original Form: Bai Ji, also known as Lian Ji Cao (from "Ben Jing"), Ruo Lan and Zhu Lan (from "Hua Jing"), Zi Lan, Zi Hui, Bai Li. It is a perennial herbaceous plant, 30-70 centimeters tall. The tuber is thick and fleshy, triangular in shape, slightly flattened, and yellow-white in color. The root is grayish-white and slender. The leaves are 3-5 pieces, lanceolate or widely lanceolate, 15-30 centimeters long and 2-6 centimeters wide, gradually pointed at the apex, and the base extends downward into a long sheath, with entire margins. The inflorescence is terminal, with 3-8 sparsely arranged flowers; the bracts are lanceolate, 1.5-2.5 centimeters long; the flowers are pale purple or yellow-white, with narrow elliptic perianth lobes, pointed at the apex, and the lower part has 5 raised longitudinal lines, with the upper part divided into 3 rectangular lobes; the stamens and pistils are combined into a pistil with narrow wings on both sides, and one stamen is borne at the tip of the pistil, with 4 pairs of pollen grains, flat and long, waxy in texture; the ovary is inferior, cylindrical and twisted. The capsule is cylindrical, 3.5 centimeters long and 1 centimeter in diameter, slightly pointed at both ends, with 6 longitudinal ribs and often with traces of petals after withering; flowering period is from April to May, and fruiting period is from July to September.
Habitat: White Orchid grows in moist areas of mountains, fields, and river valleys. It is distributed in Henan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Shandong, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and other places.
Characteristics: White Orchid has dry tubers that are slightly palm-shaped and flattened, with 2-3 branches, 1.5-4.5 centimeters long, and about 0.5 centimeters thick. The surface is yellow-white with fine wrinkles, and there are protruding stem marks on the upper surface and marks connecting to another tuber on the lower surface. Around the stem marks, there are concentric brownish-gray rings, with fine root scars on top. The texture is hard and not easy to break. The transverse section is semi-transparent and horny, with scattered vascular bundle points. It has no odor, a mild and slightly bitter taste, and is mucilaginous. The best quality is thick, white and bright tubers without rootlets. It is mainly produced in Guizhou, Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, Henan, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, and other places. It is also produced in Anhui, Yunnan, Jiangxi, Gansu, Jiangsu, Guangxi, and other places.
Chemical Composition: Fresh tubers contain 14.6% moisture, 30.48% starch, and 1.5% glucose. They also contain volatile oil and mucilage. The roots contain Bai Ji glucomannan, which is composed of 4 parts mannose and 1 part glucose.
Processing: Remove impurities, soak in water, remove, and dry when the humidity is appropriate.
Taste and Property: Bitter and sweet, cool.
① "Ben Jing": "Bitter taste, neutral."
② "Wu Pu Ben Cao": "Shennong and Huangdi: pungent. Li's: very cold. Leigong: pungent, non-toxic."
③ "Bie Lu": "Pungent, slightly cold, non-toxic."
④ Li Gao: "Bitter and sweet, slightly cold, astringent."
Meridian Tropism: Enters the Lung meridian.
① "Gang Mu": "Enters the Lung."
② "Ben Cao Zai Xin": "Enters the Lung and Kidney meridians."
