萝藦 luo mo

Pergularia japonica Thunberg, Fl. Jap. 1: 11. 1784; Metaplexis chinensis Decaisne; M. stauntonii Schultes; Urostelma chinensis Bunge.

Lianas to 8 m. Young stems densely pubescent, glabrescent. Petiole 3-6 cm; leaf blade deep green adaxially, glaucous abaxially, ovate-cordate, basal lobes rounded, re-curved and sometimes overlapping, sinus 1-2 cm deep and often very narrow, glabrous or puberulent when young; lateral veins 10-12 pairs. Inflorescences usually 13-20-flowered; peduncle 6-12 cm; bracteoles membranous, lan-ceolate, ca. 3 mm. Pedicel ca. 8 mm, puberulent. Flower buds conical, apex acute. Sepals lanceolate, 5-7 × ca. 2 mm, pu-berulent. Corolla white, sometimes with purplish stripes; tube short; lobes lanceolate, slightly longer than sepals, spreading, reflexed at apex, conspicuously pilose inside. Stigma head conspicuously exserted, long and slender with 2-fid apex. Follicles fusiform, 8-9 × ca. 2 cm, smooth, gla-brous. Seeds ca. 5 × 3 mm, flat, margin membranous; coma silky white, ca. 1.5 cm. Fl. Jul-Aug, fr. Sep-Dec. 2n = 22, 24*.

Thickets, forest edges, stream banks. Throughout China except for Hainan and Xinjiang [Japan, Korea, adjacent Russia]

The stems and roots are used as medicine for traumatic injury, snake bites, impotence, and infantile malnutrition due to intestinal parasites.