Detailed Explanation of the Introduction and Cultivation Techniques of Gynura segetum

        Gynura segetum (Lour.) Merr. is a plant in the Asteraceae family, also known as Gynura japonica, Baitianqi grass, Sanxuecao, Sanxuedan, Poxuedan, Xuemudan, etc. Its traditional Chinese medicine name is Tusanqi. Its tuberous roots or whole plant are used medicinally, with effects of promoting blood circulation, reducing swelling, detoxifying, dissipating blood stasis, and stopping bleeding. It is mainly used for traumatic injuries, carbuncles, sores and ulcers, venomous snake bites, traumatic bleeding, hematemesis, hematuria, bloody stool, functional uterine bleeding and other conditions. It is mainly produced in Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangdong, Guangxi and other places, and is rarely cultivated in the north. The author introduced and cultivated it successfully, and the cultivation techniques are described below.         1 Botanical Characteristics         It is a perennial herbaceous plant, about 1m tall, with a fleshy, enlarged perennial root that is round and block-shaped, with a soil-brown surface, nodular protrusions and fibrous roots, and stem bases or bud scars at the top. The stem is upright, with longitudinal grooves, purplish-red when young, and hairless at the base. The basal leaves are clustered, serrate or pinnately divided, dark green on the upper surface and purplish-green on the underside, with short hairs on the veins on both sides; the leaves are alternate, pinnately divided, with lobes ovate to lanceolate, the margins shallowly lobed or with coarse serrations; both surfaces of the leaf blade are smooth and hairless; stipules are 1 pair, with 3-5 shallow lobes. The capitula are arranged in corymbs, sparsely borne at the stem tips, with linear involucral bracts, green, tubular or bell-shaped; the corolla is tubular, yellow, with tubular florets, 5-lobed, the lobes linear and pointed at the tip; the flowers are bisexual, with 5 stamens, anthers united, 1 pistil, inferior ovary, stigma forked, awl-shaped, with short hairs. The achenes are small and linear, with ridges on the surface. The flowering period is September to October.         2 Biological Characteristics         It prefers a warm and humid environment and is best suited to loose, fertile sandy loam; it is not strict about soil requirements, but waterlogged lowlands and clay soils are not suitable for cultivation. It is not tolerant of severe cold.         3 Land Preparation and Fertilization         Select suitable land for cultivation, apply 3000-5000kg of farmyard manure per mu, crush it finely, spread it evenly, plow deeply to 20cm, harrow finely and level, and make beds 1m wide for later use.         4 Propagation Methods         4.1 Rhizome propagation Plant at the end of March to early April each year. Select healthy, disease-free rhizomes, cut them into small pieces, and each rhizome piece must have 2-3 buds; after cutting, dry the cut surfaces or mix with plant ash before planting. After the seed rhizomes are cut, open furrows 6-10cm deep in the prepared beds at a row spacing of 35-40cm, place the cut rhizomes in the furrows at a plant spacing of 20-25cm with the bud tips facing upward, cover with soil, and press flat. Pit planting can also be done at the above row spacing. Seedlings emerge about 15 days after planting. In dry weather, water the beds first, and plant after the water has seeped down to ensure the survival rate.         4.2 Cutting propagation In the high-temperature and rainy season from June to July, select healthy, disease-free branches, cut them into small sections 10-15cm long, remove the lower leaves, keep 2-4 leaves at the upper end, dry slightly, and insert them obliquely into sandy soil, leaving about 5cm above the soil surface. After cutting, keep the soil moist. At a temperature of 22-30°C, they will survive in about 2 weeks, and 2 weeks after survival they can be transplanted. The row spacing for transplanting is the same as for rhizome propagation. The rhizomes grown from cuttings are relatively small; larger rhizomes can be used as medicine, and smaller ones can be used as seed rhizomes the following year.         5 Field Management         After planting, water regularly to prevent drought. After the seedlings emerge completely, cultivate and weed regularly. During the vigorous growth period of the plants, apply 1 topdressing of human and livestock manure water or apply 20kg of urea per mu. In the rainy season, prevent water accumulation in the field, and drain promptly after rain to prevent rhizome rot.         6 Pest and Disease Control         Gynura segetum has relatively few pests and diseases; the main pests are cutworms and aphids. When cutworms cause damage, spray with trichlorfon technical material diluted to a 1:100 solution for control, or use 50g of 50% phoxim mixed with 5kg of chopped fresh grass to make poisoned bait for trapping and killing; when aphids cause damage, spray with 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate at 1000-1200 times dilution for control.         7 Harvesting and Processing         Harvest in mid-to-late October of the planting year. At harvest, first cut off the aboveground stems, dig out the tuberous roots, remove the woody part on the tubers, shake off the soil, dry until half-dry, then rub off the fibrous roots, and dry in the sun for medicinal use.         8 Seed Rhizome Storage         In the north, Gynura segetum seed rhizomes are best stored in a cellar, with the cellar temperature controlled at 0-5°C. When storing, place them with the apical buds facing upward, one layer of sand and one layer of rhizomes, and after 4-5 layers, cover with sandy soil on top. Check regularly to prevent heating and mildew.