Shieldleaf berry is a type of upright or climbing shrub. Its fruits can be eaten and used as medicine. It is a Chinese medicinal herb that mainly ripens in the summer and autumn seasons. It can treat and strengthen the lower back, dispel wind, and relieve pain. It has a good effect on numbness of the limbs and soreness of the lower back. Specifically, the Enshi Shieldleaf berry is relatively well-known and grows on hillsides. Let's take a closer look at the Shieldleaf berry.
【Morphology of Shieldleaf berry】
It is an upright or climbing shrub, reaching a height of 1-2 meters. The branches are reddish-brown or brown, without hairs, sparsely covered with prickles, and the small branches often have white powder. The leaves are alternate, shield-shaped, oval, heart-shaped at the base, with soft hairs on both sides, denser on the underside, and small prickles along the midrib, with palmate lobes on the edges, triangular-ovate lobes, acute or shortly acuminate at the apex, with irregular fine serrations. The petiole is long and hairless, with small prickles. The stipules are large, membranous, ovate-lanceolate, and hairless. The solitary flowers are terminal, with shorter pedicels than the petioles, with a diameter of 5 cm, and hairless. The bracts are similar to the stipules. The calyx tube is often hairless, and the calyx lobes are ovate-lanceolate, with soft hairs on both sides and often with teeth on the edges. The petals are nearly circular, white, longer than the calyx lobes. There are many stamens and multiple pistils, covered with soft hairs. The fruit is cylindrical, orange-red, and densely covered with soft hairs. It blooms from April to May and fruits from June to July.
【Origin of Shieldleaf berry】
Shieldleaf berry is the fruit of the plant in the genus Rubus of the Rosaceae family. There are more than 700 species in the genus Rubus, with 194 species found in China.
It is found in Hefeng, Lichuan, Enshi, and Jianshi. It grows on slopes, foothills, under forest gaps, on the edge of the forest, or in relatively damp places at an altitude of 300-1500 meters. It is distributed in Sichuan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces. It is also found in Japan. The fruit is edible and can be used to make wine, and the root bark can be used to extract tannin.
【Cultivation of Shieldleaf berry】
1. Loosening the soil and weeding: In spring, loosen the soil between rows and remove weeds within the rows. In summer, depending on the degree of soil compaction and weed growth, the soil should be prepared. In general, loosening the soil between rows and within rows should be done 2-3 times before harvesting. After harvesting, the soil should be loosened once and cultivated twice, as the soil between rows becomes compacted and weeds grow densely during the berry harvesting process.
2. Pruning: In early summer, remove weak and damaged root suckers, and remove excess branches to prevent overcrowding. Remove two-year-old branches that have already borne fruit immediately after harvesting. Also, remove any excess, broken, and diseased one-year-old branches.
3. Supporting and tying: Supporting and tying is also an important part of Shieldleaf berry field management. Supporting and tying involves using a trellis to keep the stem upright and prevent excessive bending after fruiting. Supporting and tying can effectively improve the quality and yield of the fruit.
【Efficacy of Shieldleaf berry】
It is mainly used to treat joint pain in the limbs and soreness of the lower back. It has the effects of strengthening the lower back and kidneys, dispelling wind, and relieving pain.
Dosage: It is taken internally in the form of a decoction, 60-90g.
【Application of Shieldleaf berry】
"Chinese Materia Medica Compilation": "For treating soreness of the waist and legs: Take 60-90g of Shieldleaf berry fruit, decoct it in water, and mix it with yellow wine and brown sugar. Take it before breakfast and dinner."
"Zhejiang Tianmu Mountain Medicinal Plant Records": Also known as "Tianqing Dibaoniu" and "Dalei Fupenzi". It is the fruit of the plant Shieldleaf berry in the Rosaceae family. It is an upright shrub, 1-1.5 meters tall. The stems are reddish-brown or brown, with scattered prickles, and the small branches are green with white powder. It grows on slopes or in mountain valleys. It is found in Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, and other places. It is used to treat soreness of the lower back and limbs. Internally, it is decocted and taken in a dosage of 60-90 grams.
Since Shieldleaf berry is a shrub, it can be planted in both spring and autumn. It is best to plant in early April in spring and before the arrival of frost in autumn to ensure the growth of Shieldleaf berry. Generally, fruits can be harvested in the third year after planting, but during this period, it is important to remember to loosen the soil and remove weeds to ensure a suitable growing environment for Shieldleaf berry.
