白花苋 bai hua xian

Achyranthes sanguinolenta Linnaeus, Sp. Pl., ed. 2, 1: 294. 1762; A. scandens Roxburgh; Aerva scandens (Roxburgh) Moquin-Tandon.

Herbs perennial. Stem erect or slightly stoloniferous, simple or branched. Leaves ovate-elliptic, oblong, or lanceolate, 1.5-8 × 0.5-3.5 cm. Inflorescences white or purple sericeous. Bracts, bracteoles, and tepals densely white lanose or puberulous abaxially. Tepals white or pink. Pseudostaminodes triangular. Utricles ovate, glabrous. Seeds reniform. Fl. Apr-Jun, fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 42.

Hillsides; 1100-2300 m. Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan [Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Sikkim, Thailand, Vietnam].

Aerva sanguinolenta var. minor (Hance) H. S. Kiu (Guihaia 13: 105. 1993; A. scandens (Roxburgh) Moquin-Tandon var. minor Hance, J. Bot. 17: 14. 1879) was described from Guangdong, but we have seen no specimens and are therefore unable to treat it in this account. Further revisionary study is necessary. The species is used medicinally.