A Detailed Guide to the Propagation Methods and Key Techniques of Iris lactea var. chinensis

Growing Techniques Jan 1, 1970 0 views

The seeds of wild Iris lactea var. chinensis are very vigorous. Usually after the fruit ripens in August and September, the seeds scatter with the wind, then fall to the ground and grow and germinate on their own. If propagated artificially, the survival rate of direct sowing is relatively low. Therefore, artificial cultivation of Iris lactea var. chinensis mostly adopts the method of division and transplanting for propagation.

If propagated artificially, the survival rate of direct sowing is relatively low. Therefore, artificial cultivation of Iris lactea var. chinensis mostly adopts the method of division and transplanting for propagation.

Division is generally carried out in spring and autumn. Select vigorously growing Iris lactea var. chinensis for division, combining every two to three plants into one clump for division. The newly divided plants should retain three to five leaves, with the remaining leaves removed, then planted into the soil and watered appropriately; they will generally survive on their own. When planting divisions, if the temperature is too high, appropriate shading should be provided.

The above is an introduction to the effects, functions and propagation methods of Iris lactea var. chinensis. It is easy to plant and easy to keep alive. Friends who love flowers and plants should be patient when caring for it, and I believe your Iris lactea var. chinensis will grow more and more luxuriant. Thank you all for reading.

A Complete Guide to the Propagation Methods of Iris lactea var. chinensis

Seed Propagation of Iris lactea var. chinensis

Iris lactea var. chinensis can be propagated by sowing, but there is a drawback to propagation by sowing: the emergence rate of directly sown seeds is relatively low.

When sowing Iris lactea var. chinensis, the temperature for seed germination is between 15°C and 30°C. If the temperature is unsuitable, the germination rate will be very low. Before sowing, germination is generally promoted by soaking in warm water, which can increase the seed germination rate. Seed collection is best done in November: cut off the flower spikes of Iris lactea var. chinensis, take out the seeds, and sow in February or March. When sowing, the drill sowing method can be used. If the temperature is low, plastic film can be used to cover and keep warm.

Note for seed propagation: the seeds of Iris lactea var. chinensis germinate poorly at room temperature, and seeds stored for more than 5 years will decline in vigor. Generally, alternating-temperature storage is adopted during storage.

Division Propagation of Iris lactea var. chinensis

Division propagation of Iris lactea var. chinensis can generally be carried out in all four seasons, but spring and autumn are the best times for propagation. Divide Iris lactea var. chinensis, then combine every 2-3 plants into one clump for planting.

For each new plant of Iris lactea var. chinensis, retain 3-5 leaves and cut off the others. The survival rate of replanted plants is relatively high. Note that shading should be provided during high temperatures.

Rhizome Propagation of Iris lactea var. chinensis

Iris lactea var. chinensis can also be propagated by tuber propagation, generally year-round, but spring and autumn are also preferable. Cut the underground rhizomes of Iris lactea var. chinensis into sections about 10 cm long, each with several buds. When planting the rhizomes, place them into a dug trench with the root buds facing up, spread out the fibrous roots, cover with soil, and then water thoroughly. When the temperature is low, plastic film can be used as cover, and during high temperatures, shading should be provided.

Cultivation Methods and Precautions for Iris lactea var. chinensis

Chinese scientific name: Iris lactea var. chinensis (Malan)

Latin scientific name: Iris lactea Pall. var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz.

Other names: Malian, Malan, Malanhua, Hanpu, Lishi, Licao, Jucao, Shishou, Sanjian, Majiu

Binomial name: Iris lactea var. chinensis

Kingdom: Plantae

Phylum: Angiosperms

Class: Monocotyledoneae

Order: Liliales

Family: Iridaceae

Genus: Iris

Species: Iris lactea

Variety: Iris lactea var. chinensis

Naming authority and year: Fisch., 1925

English name: Chinese Iris

Iris lactea var. chinensis (scientific name: Iris lactea Pall. var. chinensis (Fisch.) Koidz.) is a variety of Iris lactea and a perennial densely clumping herb. The rhizomes and leaves are robust, and the fibrous roots are dense and well developed, reaching a length of more than 1 m and distributed in an umbrella shape. The leaves are basal, broadly linear, reaching a height of 1250px and a width of 0.4~25px, grayish green. The flower stems are about 250px tall and bear 2~4 flowers. The flowers are light blue, blue, or blue-purple, with darker stripes on the perianth; the capsule is long-elliptic and columnar, with 6 obvious ribs and a short beak at the apex; 4~150px long. The seeds are irregular polyhedra, brown, slightly glossy, and mature in September. The flowering period is May-June, and the fruiting period is June-September. It grows on wasteland, roadsides, and hillside grasslands, especially abundantly on salinized grasslands that have been overgrazed. It is distributed in Korea, Russia, India and China.

1. Morphological Characteristics

Iris lactea var. chinensis is a variety of Iris lactea and a perennial densely clumping herb. The rhizomes are robust, woody, obliquely spreading, externally covered with large amounts of dense red-purple broken old leaf residual sheaths and hair-like fibers; the fibrous roots are thick and long, yellow-white, sparsely branched. The leaves are basal, tough, grayish green, linear or narrowly sword-shaped, about 50 cm long and 4-6 mm wide, with acuminate apex, sheath-like base, tinged with red-purple, and no obvious midrib. The flowers are light blue, blue, or blue-purple, with darker stripes on the perianth. The flower stems are smooth, 5-10 cm tall; the bracts are 3-5, herbaceous, green, with white edges, lanceolate, 4.5-10 cm long and 0.8-1.6 cm wide, with acuminate or long-acuminate apex, enclosing 2-4 flowers; the flowers are creamy white, 5-6 cm in diameter; the pedicels are 4-7 cm long; the perianth tube is very short, about 3 mm long; the outer perianth segments are oblanceolate, 4.5-6.5 cm long and 0.8-1.2 cm wide, with obtuse or acute apex and cuneate claw; the inner perianth segments are narrowly oblanceolate, 4.2-4.5 cm long and 5-7 mm wide, with a narrowly cuneate claw; the stamens are 2.5-3.2 cm long, the anthers are yellow, and the filaments are white; the ovary is spindle-shaped, 3-4.5 cm long.

The capsule is long-elliptic and columnar, 4-6 cm long and 1-1.4 cm in diameter, with 6 obvious ribs and a short beak at the apex; the seeds are irregular polyhedra, brown, and slightly glossy. The flowering period is May-June, and the fruiting period is June-September.

2. Growth Habits

It grows on wasteland, roadsides, and hillside grasslands, especially abundantly on salinized grasslands that have been overgrazed. It is salt-alkali tolerant and trampling tolerant, with a well-developed root system, and can be used for soil and water conservation and for improving saline-alkali soil.

3. Geographical Distribution

It is distributed in Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Anhui, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Hubei, Hunan, Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, **, Sichuan, and Tibet in China. It is also produced in Korea, Russia and India.

4. Plant Characteristics

Drought Resistance

Iris lactea var. chinensis has a well-developed root system, with a soil penetration depth of more than 1 m. Its fibrous roots are dense and well developed, distributed in an umbrella shape. This is not only a strong guarantee of its extremely strong resistance and adaptability, but also gives it a strong ability to bind soil and retain water. The upright-growing leaves of Iris lactea var. chinensis can effectively reduce water evaporation, alleviate the direct scouring of rainwater on the ground surface, and also facilitate root aeration. Under harsh environmental conditions, the aboveground part of Iris lactea var. chinensis becomes relatively shorter, with aboveground growth decreasing by more than 20%, while the root system becomes more developed, increasing by more than 10%. All of this helps it survive normally in adverse environments such as high temperature and drought, and waterlogging.

Salt-Alkali Tolerance

Iris lactea var. chinensis is a plant tolerant of heavy saline-alkali conditions. Its seeds germinate normally at a salt content of 0.44%; at a salt content of 0.51%, the germination rate clearly declines; at a salt content of 0.75%, germination ability is lost. The seedlings after germination can still grow normally and flower and set seed under conditions of soil salt content up to 0.27% and pH 7.9-8.8, making it a rare and excellent material for greening and improving saline-alkali land.

Leaf Green Period

In northern regions, Iris lactea var. chinensis generally turns green at the end of March, begins flowering in late April, enters full bloom from mid-May to the end of May, finishes flowering in mid-June, and turns yellow in early November, with a green period of more than 280 d. Iris lactea var. chinensis is verdant in color, with elegant and beautiful flowers and fragrant nectar, and a flowering period of more than 50 days.

Disease and Pest Resistance

Iris lactea var. chinensis has extremely strong resistance to diseases and pests. Not only do diseases and pests never occur in pure communities of Iris lactea var. chinensis, but because of its special secretions, diseases and pests also rarely occur after it is mixed with other plants, greatly reducing the investment and cost required for disease and pest control after green ground cover is established.

5. Ecological Functions

Iris lactea var. chinensis likes sunlight and is slightly shade tolerant. In North China, the aboveground stems and leaves wither in winter. It is tolerant of high temperature, drought, waterlogging, and salt-alkali conditions, and is a ground cover flower with extremely strong adaptability. Under harsh fertility conditions of drought and barrenness, the aboveground stem and leaf growth of Iris lactea var. chinensis decreases by more than 20%, while root growth increases by more than 10%. It can still flower and fruit normally under conditions where soil salt content reaches 7% and pH reaches 7.9-8.8.
Iris lactea var. chinensis is extremely widely distributed naturally. Its well-developed root system, extremely strong resistance and adaptability, and salt-alkali tolerance determine that it is very suitable for soil and water conservation and greening transformation of saline-alkali land in the dry-climate and desertified-soil areas of northern China.
The upright-growing leaves of Iris lactea var. chinensis can effectively reduce water evaporation, alleviate the direct scouring of rainwater on the ground surface, and also facilitate root aeration. The growth of Iris lactea var. chinensis has a high infiltration function, rapidly infiltrating and retaining precipitation, conserving groundwater sources, and having an obvious effect in creating wetland environments. Under harsh environmental conditions, the aboveground part of Iris lactea var. chinensis becomes relatively shorter (aboveground growth decreases by more than 20%), while the root system becomes more developed (the root system increases by more than 10%). All of this helps it survive normally in adverse environments such as high temperature and drought, saline-alkali conditions, waterlogging and barrenness. Iris lactea var. chinensis is also a plant tolerant of heavy saline-alkali conditions. It can still grow normally and flower and set seed under conditions where salt content reaches 7% and pH reaches 7.9-8.8, making it a rare and excellent material for greening and improving saline-alkali land.
A clear example of the naturally tenacious growth of Iris lactea var. chinensis is found in the no-man's land of Lop Nur in the great northwest of China, in the Kongqi River basin of the ancient Loulan kingdom, where other plants no longer exist, yet Iris lactea var. chinensis is indeed scattered there, fully demonstrating the tenacious vitality of the survival of the fittest. In the severe drought, sandstorms and violent winds of Lop Nur, a no-man's land for a thousand years, only the greenery and flowers of Iris lactea var. chinensis form this bright landscape. This fully proves the survival miracle of Iris lactea var. chinensis and gives a shining green light of green vegetation to China and the world for combating desertification. Moreover, the leaves of Iris lactea var. chinensis, its regulation of water, and its ecological characteristics provide space for the survival and development of fungi and insects, are essential conditions for the survival of various natural and wild animals, are the prerequisite foundation of the biological chain, and are also the preferred strategy for improving the ecological environment and combating desertification. For improving the fragile vegetation ecological environment of China's great northwest, using its own native plant vegetation is an effective measure to solve ecological environmental deterioration in a holistic way, rather than introducing foreign imported plants that can adapt and be practical only in the short term. The overall value perspective of introduced foreign plant species, along with the diseases they bring in, also makes the gain not worth the loss. Because of the infiltration function of its root system, its role in conserving groundwater sources, and its shading effect that controls water evaporation, Iris lactea var. chinensis gradually creates a wetland environment after vegetation establishment, creating a new pattern for the entire biological chain.
The propagation of Iris lactea var. chinensis is simple and rapid, with strong vitality, and it possesses the characteristics necessary for establishing artificial vegetation. Iris lactea var. chinensis can be propagated both by seed and asexually. The germination rate of directly sown seeds reaches more than 80%, and the survival rate of propagation by division and transplanting using mature Iris lactea var. chinensis is also very high. New seedlings grow rapidly and can develop to maturity the following year. Iris lactea var. chinensis has strong stress resistance. It is not only drought resistant, cold resistant, salt-alkali resistant, and trampling tolerant, but also has extremely strong disease and pest resistance. Not only do diseases and pests never occur in Iris lactea var. chinensis vegetation, but because of its special secretions it is also free from rodent damage; mice never burrow and nest in Iris lactea var. chinensis grassland. After it is mixed with other plants, diseases and pests also rarely occur. Once the vegetation is formed, no later maintenance is needed, achieving a once-and-for-all effect.
In addition to its soil and water protection functions, Iris lactea var. chinensis also has relatively high ornamental value and economic value. Iris lactea var. chinensis is verdant in color, and in northern regions its green period can reach more than 280 days. The flowers of Iris lactea var. chinensis are elegant and beautiful, densely arranged and fragrant, with a flowering period of up to 50 days, and can also be used as cut flower material. Iris lactea var. chinensis is trampling tolerant, and after being trampled it can recover by itself without cultivation. The plants of Iris lactea var. chinensis are moderate in height, with many leaves that grow upright, and have relatively strong effects in absorbing dust, reducing noise, and lowering temperature. Iris lactea var. chinensis has strong vitality and basically requires no daily maintenance, saving water, fertilizer and management input. When planted in urban open areas or used as livestock feed, it can produce 500 kg of hay per mu, and can also generate certain economic benefits.

6. Propagation and Cultivation

Iris lactea var. chinensis can be propagated both by seed and asexually, but the emergence rate of directly sown seeds is relatively low, while the survival rate of propagation by division and transplanting using mature Iris lactea var. chinensis is relatively high. The vast majority of mature wild seeds are viable, and the internal potential for seed germination is very great. According to biochemical rapid testing of seed vigor, the germination vigor of seeds stored indoors and seeds stored outdoors buried in soil was 90% and 88% respectively, but the germination rate and germination vigor of seeds at room temperature are very low. Seeds stored at room temperature for more than 5 years decline in vigor. Alternating-temperature storage of seeds and outdoor soil-burial overwintering treatment give higher germination rates than storage at room temperature. The temperature range for seed germination is 15-30°C. They do not germinate below 10°C or above 35°C. Under constant temperature conditions, the germination rate is generally very low. Generally, warm water soaking of seeds or stratification treatment is used before sowing to increase the seed emergence rate. Iris lactea var. chinensis seeds have a relatively high hard seed rate, so that under indoor cultivation conditions at room temperature the average germination rate of Iris lactea var. chinensis seeds is only 10%-20%. Wild Iris lactea var. chinensis mostly reproduces asexually by tillering.
Seed propagation method: Fine-rake the nursery land level, make beds 2 m wide, broadcast the seeds in strip-shaped trenches, cover with soil to a thickness 2 times the seed diameter, use about 15 g of seed per square meter, and produce more than 300,000 seedlings per mu; they can reach physiological maturity in 2-3a and flower and fruit.
Division propagation method: Iris lactea var. chinensis can be divided when the rhizomes elongate and grow. Generally, division can be done once every 2-4a, in spring and autumn or after flowering. When dividing the rhizomes, each section should carry 2-3 buds. After cutting, smear the cut with plant ash or sulfur, let it dry slightly in the shade, and then plant. Generally, a row spacing of 15-500px is used, with about 30 seedlings per square meter. Tillering begins after three months, and a fixed clump forms in two years.
Improving seed germination is one of the key technologies for establishing green ground cover through sexual propagation of Iris lactea var. chinensis seeds. Methods such as warm water soaking before sowing, stratification treatment, and concentrated sulfuric acid soaking can all break seed hardness and increase the germination rate and emergence rate. For example, after collected wild Iris lactea var. chinensis seeds are treated by soaking in concentrated sulfuric acid solution, their germination rate increases by an average of 30%-50%. At the same time, artificial seed production bases have already been established in China. For example, in areas such as Jilin and Gansu, commercial Iris lactea var. chinensis seed production bases of initial scale have been built, which can provide seed sources for large-area establishment.
To overcome the limitations of sexual propagation using Iris lactea var. chinensis seed germination, the Beijing Research and Development Center for Grass and Environment and the Beijing Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center carried out cooperative research in 2002 and screened out the optimal medium and operating procedures for each stage of the whole process, including "mature embryo - callus induction - green shoot differentiation - subculture proliferation - rooting - transplanting of test-tube plantlets," thereby establishing an effective rapid tissue culture propagation system for Iris lactea var. chinensis, laying the foundation for realizing rapid asexual propagation of Iris lactea var. chinensis and greatly reducing the cost of Iris lactea var. chinensis establishment. At the same time, it also laid a reliable technical foundation for future biotechnological breeding work such as screening somaclonal variants of Iris lactea var. chinensis and even genetic engineering improvement.

7. Economic Value

Iris lactea var. chinensis has been widely planted in China since ancient times. It is recorded in Confucius's "Family Sayings," Qu Yuan's "Li Sao," Li Shizhen's "Compendium of Materia Medica," and others. As an excellent plant for soil and water conservation, grazing, ornament, and medicinal use, it occupies a place in history and nature.

Greening Function

Iris lactea var. chinensis has a well-developed root system, abundant leaves, strong environmental adaptability, vigorous growth, and extensive management. It is an excellent ornamental ground cover plant that is water saving, drought resistant, salt-alkali tolerant, and resistant to weeds, diseases, insects, and rodent damage. In northern regions, the green period of Iris lactea var. chinensis can reach more than 280 days. Its leaves are emerald green and soft, its orchid-purple flowers are elegant and beautiful, its nectar is fragrant, and its flowering period is up to 50 days, forming a beautiful garden landscape. Iris lactea var. chinensis is trampling tolerant, and after being trampled it can recover by itself without cultivation. Iris lactea var. chinensis has relatively strong functions in storing water and conserving soil, regulating air humidity, and purifying the environment. Therefore, in establishing urban open green spaces, green isolation belts on both sides of roads, and flower-dotted grasslands, Iris lactea var. chinensis is an indisputably high-quality material. Because of its very well-developed root system and strong drought resistance and soil-binding ability, Iris lactea var. chinensis is also an ideal plant for soil and water conservation and slope protection by soil binding.

Medicinal Uses

Iris lactea var. chinensis has important medicinal, forage, and industrial value. Iris lactea var. chinensis has a long utilization life, high grass yield, and rich nutritional content, and is favored as food by all kinds of livestock, especially sheep. The flowers, seeds, and roots of Iris lactea var. chinensis can all be used as medicine. Dried flowers taken orally can promote urination and relieve constipation; the seeds and roots can remove damp-heat, stop bleeding, and detoxify; the seeds have the effects of reducing fever, detoxifying, and expelling parasites. As a fiber plant, it can replace hemp in producing paper and rope. The leaves are a raw material for weaving handicrafts, and the roots can be made into brushes. It can truly be said that "every part of Iris lactea var. chinensis is a treasure."
Attached Formulas
The roots, leaves, flowers and seeds of Iris lactea var. chinensis can all be used medicinally.
Harvesting and Processing
Iris lactea var. chinensis flowers: pick on a sunny day after flowering, and dry in the shade or in the sun.
Iris lactea var. chinensis seeds: when the fruit matures in August-September, cut off the fruit spikes, dry in the sun, thresh out the seeds, and remove impurities.
Iris lactea var. chinensis roots and leaves: harvest in August-September, and dry in the sun.
Efficacy and Indications
Iris lactea var. chinensis flower: salty, sour, slightly bitter in taste, cool in nature, and can clear heat and detoxify. It stops bleeding and promotes urination, and is mainly used for throat obstruction, vomiting blood, nosebleed, inability to urinate, and gonorrhea
, hernia, carbuncles and other conditions.
Iris lactea var. chinensis seed: sweet in taste, neutral in nature. It can clear heat and detoxify, and stop bleeding. It is mainly used for jaundice, diarrhea and dysentery, leukorrhea, carbuncle swelling, throat obstruction, boils, wind-cold-dampness impediment,
vomiting blood, nosebleed, profuse uterine bleeding and other conditions.
Iris lactea var. chinensis leaf: treats throat obstruction, carbuncles, and gonorrhea.
Iris lactea var. chinensis root: can clear heat and detoxify, and treats throat obstruction, carbuncles, and rheumatic impediment pain.
Single Formulas and Proven Formulas
(1) To treat throat obstruction with inability to speak: Iris lactea var. chinensis flower and Vitex trifolia fruit 30 grams each, grind together into fine powder, take 1 gram each time, several times a day, taken with boiled water.
(2) To treat inability to urinate: Iris lactea var. chinensis flower, fennel, and Descurainia sophia seed 10 grams each, stir-fry all and grind into powder, take 6 grams each time, mixed with warm wine.
(3) To treat hernia: Iris lactea var. chinensis flower (stir-fried with radish seed) 60 grams, Toosendan fruit (stir-fried with tangerine seed) 45 grams, Evodia rutaecarpa (soaked in wine and stir-fried
) 30 grams, costus root 6 grams, grind together into fine powder, take 3-6 grams each time, mix evenly with yellow rice wine, and take on an empty stomach.
(4) To treat sores, boils, and carbuncle swelling: Iris lactea var. chinensis flower 6 grams, dandelion 30 grams, Viola mandshurica 30 grams, decoct in water, 1 dose per day.
(5) To treat bone tuberculosis: Dry Iris lactea var. chinensis seeds in an iron pot, grind into powder, take with water, 3 times a day, 5-7 grams each time, reduced appropriately for children. Also use its
powder 2 parts and Vaseline 5 parts to make an ointment for external application.
(6) Contraception: Iris lactea var. chinensis seed 50 grams, crush, add 2 bowls of water, boil down to 1 bowl, add yellow rice wine 250-500 grams, boil briefly, and divide
the residue and soup into 6 portions. Take twice daily during menstruation for 3 consecutive days.
(7) To treat rheumatoid arthritis: Iris lactea var. chinensis root and cocklebur root 100 grams each, sugar 50 grams. Add 2000 milliliters of water and boil down to 1000
milliliters. Take 70-80 milliliters each time, 3 times a day.
(8) To treat chronic bronchitis: Iris lactea var. chinensis root 15 grams, decoct in water, 1 dose per day.
(9) To treat excessive menstruation: Iris lactea var. chinensis seed 9 grams, Iris lactea var. chinensis flower 9 grams, pomegranate peel 12 grams, grind together into fine powder, and take in 3 divided doses a day.
(10) Iris lactea var. chinensis seed quinone A.
Drug name: Anka. Alias: 6-methoxy-2-cis-heptadecenyl-1,4-benzoquinone
Action and use: This product is a radiosensitizer, used for patients with lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy.
Usage and dosage: Take orally after meals, twice a day, 2 capsules each time, taken before and after radiotherapy respectively, reduced appropriately for children. This product should begin to be taken 2-3 days before receiving
radiotherapy, and taken continuously until radiotherapy ends.
Discussions by Various Authors
(1) "Rihua Zi": "Iris lactea var. chinensis can also be eaten as a vegetable, with stems and leaves used together."
(2) "Bencao Tujing": "Now it is also found in the various commanderies of Shaanxi and in Ding and Li prefectures, and is especially abundant near the capital. Its leaves resemble those of Chinese onion but are longer and thicker. In the third month it opens purple-blue flowers, and in the fifth month it sets fruit forming pods and seeds, like hemp but red with ribs. Its roots are slender and long, yellow throughout, and people take them to make brushes. It flowers in the third month, and the fruit is collected in the fifth month, and both are dried in the shade for use. "Shuowen" says: Li resembles cattail but is smaller, and its root can be made into a brush. "Guangya" says: Iris lactea var. chinensis is Li. Cai Yong and Gao You say: Li emerges upright, but then Zheng taking Li Ting as the name is a mistake. This plant grows abundantly in the plains and marshes of Hebei, and there is quite a lot of it in Jiangdong, planted in courtyards, but it is called Hanpu, so people do not recognize it as Iris lactea var. chinensis. Its flowers and fruits both enter medicine. "Liexian Zhuan": Mr. Kou was a man of Song, who liked to plant Li and ate its flowers and fruits. Today mountain people also take its fruit alone, saying it is very warm, benefits the lower body, and has quite remarkable effects. Cui Yuanliang treated throat obstruction with swelling and pain by taking Li flower, bark, and root for a total of twelve parts, boiling them in one sheng of water down to six ge, removing the dregs and holding it in the mouth, swallowing the juice little by little, and stopping when cured."
(3) "Bencao Yanyi": "Lishi, Tao Yinju said: no longer used in prescriptions, and no ordinary person recognizes it. The annotations by various schools in the "Ben Jing" do not correspond. If it really is Iris lactea var. chinensis, then "Rihua Zi" should not further say it can also be eaten as a vegetable. For Iris lactea var. chinensis, its leaves are eaten by neither horses nor cattle, because as soon as they emerge from the soil the leaves are already hard, and moreover they have no flavor, so how could they still be fit for human consumption? Now I dare not take Lishi to be Iris lactea var. chinensis seed, and will wait for a more broadly knowledgeable person."

8. Plant Culture

Poem "Iris lactea var. chinensis Grass" (Ming dynasty, Wu Kuan)
So luxuriant are the leaves, the name of a rich grass it can bear.
Its flowers bloom like orchids and thoroughworts, yet when smelled they have no fragrance.
It is not valued by people, who take only its long roots.
Made into brooms or whisks, the material is also good.
Its roots are long and already in the soil, so it is planted in many places beside riverbanks.
Only when the bank collapses is it considered unsuitable, but orchids and thoroughworts are also ordinary.