What plants are Jizhualan, Yuzilan and Caozhulan?

Scientific name: Chloranthus spicatus (Thunb.) Makino

Family and genus: Chloranthaceae

Alias: Yuzilan, Caozhulan

Morphological characteristics:

It gets its name because its flowers resemble millet grains and fish roe, and its inflorescence resembles a chicken claw. It is an evergreen trailing small shrub of the Chloranthaceae family.

Leaves are opposite, basically with single leaf gaps at nodes, the midrib often has double vascular bundles, leaf stalks are often fused at the base, with small stipules. Flowers are small, bisexual or unisexual, without perianth.

The initial flowering period is late May. The flowers are granular, shaped like fish roe. The flowering period is relatively long, about 3 months.

The fragrance is elegant, mellow and long-lasting, quite similar to that of orchids, yet its strong scent surpasses that of orchids. It is a famous ornamental flower.

This family has 5 genera and about 70 species.

Origin:

Native to the subtropics; wild plants grow in forests in Yunnan, Fujian and other places.

China has 3 genera and 17 species, mostly distributed in the provinces south of the Yangtze River, with the most in the southwest region.

Growth habits:

Jizhualan prefers high temperature and a shady, humid environment, and is intolerant of frost and freezing. Along the Yangtze River basin it is all grown in pots, and moved into a flower house to overwinter in winter.

Jizhualan is an evergreen plant, and its leaves still continue photosynthesis in winter. Therefore, supplying sufficient light in winter has a certain effect on the plant's growth and development the following year. For this reason, it should be placed in a spot indoors with ample sunlight.

It is afraid of direct sunlight, so shade equipment is needed in summer. It likes a ventilated and airy environment and requires soil with good drainage, otherwise the fleshy roots easily rot. After Zhulan is brought out of the house in spring, attention should be paid to water and fertilizer management. In early spring the temperature is still not very high, so it can be watered once a day at noon. In summer it needs watering once in the morning and once in the evening. In autumn when the weather turns cooler, it can be watered once every 2-3 days.

Attention should be paid to timely fertilization so that Zhulan produces more flowers and a stronger fragrance. Fertilizer can be decomposed cake fertilizer or human manure and urine. Apply once after being brought out of the house in spring, once during the plum rain period in summer, once in autumn, and once again after pruning the shoots in autumn.

Applying dilute fertilizer water made from decomposed fish meat, fish innards, bones and the like during the flowering period will enhance the fragrance of the flowers. The stems and branches of Zhulan are weak and somewhat trailing; if allowed to grow freely, they easily become leggy and lodge. Therefore, from the seedling stage onward, pinch the tips frequently and set up supports, which can also promote more branching. Old leaves should also be removed regularly, and dead and weak branches must be pruned after autumn.

Application value:

Plants of the Chloranthaceae family have good medicinal value. For example, many species of the genus Chloranthus have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, blood-activating and stasis-dissolving, detoxifying and swelling-reducing, and dampness-dispelling and cold-dispelling effects, and are used to treat many diseases. The whole plant of Sarcandra glabra of the genus Sarcandra is used as medicine; it contains fumaric acid, succinic acid, volatile oil, as well as tannins, coumarone, flavonoid glycosides, nitrile glycosides and so on.

It has the functions of clearing heat and detoxifying, unblocking meridians and setting bones, activating blood, and relieving pain. In recent years it has also been used to treat cancer.

The rhizomes of some species can be used to extract aromatic oil, and some are garden ornamental plants.

The flowers are yellow-green, extremely fragrant, and non-toxic; adding the flowers to tea can increase the fragrance, and it is called Zhulan tea; it can also be used to extract perfume raw materials.

Medicinal source:

Chloranthus spicatus (Thunb.) Makino, a plant of the genus Chloranthus in the family Chloranthaceae, is used as medicine as the whole plant. Collected in summer, washed, sliced and sun-dried.

Nature, flavor and meridian entry: pungent, sweet, slightly astringent, warm.

Functions and indications:

Dispels wind-dampness, sets bones and tendons. Used for colds, rheumatic joint pain, and traumatic injuries.

Usage and dosage: 0.5-1 liang.

Excerpted from: "Compilation of National Chinese Herbal Medicines"