The "deep-mountain landmine" has an enormous root, its flesh like chicken blood, selling for 40 yuan apiece

As the saying goes, "Those who live by the mountains eat from the mountains, those who live by the water drink from the water," and this is exactly the case for farmers in mountainous areas. In the rural mountains there are abundant wild plant resources, and many farmers in mountainous areas love to go treasure-hunting in the mountains. In the afternoon, this author came across several such people.

In the afternoon, when this author took the children for a walk near the foot of the mountain, there were piles of pitch-black, landmine-like plant root tubers stacked by the roadside at the foot of the mountain, each weighing several jin. This author went up to take a look, and it turned out to be quite a treasure. Many city friends may not recognise it, but for many farmers this thing is extremely useful. It is the yam rhizome known as the "deep-mountain landmine", dioscorea cirrhosa.

In the rural area where this author lives, there are quite a few "deep-mountain tuber diggers". They often go into the rural mountains to dig up this wild plant called dioscorea cirrhosa. So what use does this dioscorea cirrhosa have that has turned so many farmers into "deep-mountain tuber diggers"?

In fact, the greatest use of dioscorea cirrhosa lies in its enormous, landmine-shaped root tuber. Since ancient times, the root tuber of dioscorea cirrhosa has been a very good Chinese medicinal material, with the effects of invigorating blood and stopping bleeding, regulating qi and relieving pain, and clearing heat and detoxifying. It is often used to treat postpartum abdominal pain, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, internal-injury blood vomiting, rheumatic joint pain, dysentery, boils, snake bites, external bleeding and many other symptoms.

The root tuber of dioscorea cirrhosa is also a very famous dye plant. Cut open its root tuber and you will find that the flesh of the root tuber is brown, just like chicken blood, so it is also called "chicken-blood lotus". The cloth dyed by soaking in its juice is calledgambiered Canton gauze, also known as dioscorea cirrhosa gauze. The dyeing and finishing technique of gambiered Canton gauze is one of the second batch of China's national-level intangible cultural heritages.

In addition, the root tuber of dioscorea cirrhosa can also be used to make liquor. It is a commonly used folk medicinal liquor called dioscorea cirrhosa liquor, and drinking it regularly can invigorate blood and dispel rheumatism. It is precisely because the root tuber of dioscorea cirrhosa has so many uses that its value is relatively high. According to the "tuber diggers" in the village, generally one root tuber of dioscorea cirrhosa can weigh about 6 jin, and one jin costs 7 yuan, so one dioscorea cirrhosa tuber can sell for about 40 yuan apiece.

Many "deep-mountain tuber diggers" rely on digging dioscorea cirrhosa to earn some pocket money to supplement the household income, but they never over-dig. They only dig the large ones and leave the small ones behind to take in the coming year, so there is no impact on the ecology.

Dear friends, do you know about dioscorea cirrhosa? You are welcome to leave a comment and share your thoughts!