What is the difference between Lianqiancao and Jinqiancao?
Many plants look very similar but are actually different species, such as Lianqiancao and Jinqiancao. Many people mistake them for each other, and some even regard them as the same species. In fact, they are still different. So what are the differences between Lianqiancao and Jinqiancao?
I. Introduction to Lianqiancao
1. Lianqiancao, also known as Huoxuedan, Luodi Jinqian, Jinqian'ai, Yeticao, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the species Glechoma longituba in the Lamiaceae family. It has creeping stems, the stems are 10-20 (30) cm tall, the leaves are heart-shaped or nearly kidney-shaped, the flowering period is April-May, the flowers are pale blue, blue to purple, and the fruiting period is May-June.
2. Lianqiancao grows in shady and moist places such as forest edges, under open forests, in grasslands, and by streams, at an altitude of 50-2000 m. Apart from Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang and Tibet, it is distributed throughout the country, and is also found in Russia and Korea.
3. Lianqiancao can be used medicinally. It tastes bitter and pungent, and is cool in nature. It has the effects of draining dampness and treating strangury, clearing heat and detoxifying, and dispersing blood stasis and reducing swelling. It is mainly used for heat strangury and stone strangury; damp-heat jaundice, sores, carbuncles, swelling and pain, and traumatic injuries. Among the people, the whole plant or stems and leaves are widely used as medicine, and it is effective in treating bladder stones or urinary tract stones.
II. Introduction to Jinqiancao
1. Jinqiancao, also known as Guoluhuang, Jingmiancao, Cuipingcao, Hebaocao, etc., is a perennial herbaceous plant of the species Lysimachia christinae in the Primulaceae family. It has creeping stems, 20-60 cm long, the leaves are kidney-shaped to round, the flowering period is May-July, the flowers are yellow, and the fruiting period is July-October.
2. Jinqiancao grows on hillside grasslands, roadsides or ditch edges, at an altitude of 1300-1980 m. It is distributed in all provinces south of the Yangtze River in China and in Taiwan, China, and is widely found in tropical and subtropical regions of both hemispheres.
3. Jinqiancao can be used for ornamental purposes and also as medicine. It tastes sweet and salty, and is slightly cold in nature. It has the effects of draining dampness and reducing jaundice, promoting urination and treating strangury, and detoxifying and reducing swelling. It is used for damp-heat jaundice, gallbladder distension and hypochondriac pain, stone strangury, heat strangury, painful urination, carbuncles, swellings, furuncles and sores, and snake and insect bites.
III. Differences between Lianqiancao and Jinqiancao
Difference 1, different families and genera: Lianqiancao is a perennial herbaceous plant of the species Glechoma longituba in the genus Glechoma in the Lamiaceae family; Jinqiancao is a perennial herbaceous plant of the species Lysimachia christinae in the genus Lysimachia in the Primulaceae family.
Difference 2, different stems: the stems of Lianqiancao are hollow, pale purplish-red in color, and the young parts are sparsely covered with long soft hairs; the stems of Jinqiancao are solid, grayish-green or with a reddish-purple tinge, and the surface has no hairs.
Difference 3, different leaves: the leaves of Lianqiancao are wrinkled together, the leaf blades are herbaceous, heart-shaped or nearly kidney-shaped, with rounded teeth on the edges; the leaves of Jinqiancao are not wrinkled together, the leaf blades are fleshy, kidney-shaped to round, and entire.
Difference 4, different flowers and fruits: the flowering period of Lianqiancao is April-May, the flowers are pale blue, blue to purple, the fruiting period is May-June, and the nutlets are dark brown and oblong-ovoid; the flowering period of Jinqiancao is May-July, the flowers are yellow, the fruiting period is July-October, and the capsules are spherical and yellow to brown.
Difference 5, different distribution: Lianqiancao is very widespread, and apart from Qinghai, Gansu, Xinjiang and Tibet, it is distributed throughout the country; Jinqiancao is not very widespread, and is distributed in all provinces south of the Yangtze River in China and in Taiwan, China.
Difference 6, different effects: Lianqiancao is the dried whole plant of the Lamiaceae plant Glechoma longituba, generally harvested from spring to autumn, and has the effects of draining dampness and treating strangury, clearing heat and detoxifying, and dispersing blood stasis and reducing swelling; Jinqiancao is the dried whole plant of the Primulaceae plant Lysimachia christinae, generally harvested in summer and autumn, and has the effects of draining dampness and reducing jaundice, promoting urination and treating strangury, and detoxifying and reducing swelling.
The above is an introduction to the differences between Lianqiancao and Jinqiancao. We hope it is useful to everyone.