GARDENIA FLORIDA.—(Chih-tzŭ), 639. There are several kinds of this shrub in China, and these have been divided into species by various observers, such as the one here given, Gardenia radicans, Gardenia grandiflora, Gardenia rubra, and the like. But great confusion exists in regard to these identifications, and as the uses of the various drugs derived from these plants are practically the same, and as the Pêntsao discusses them all under one head, they will not be separated here. Generally speaking, two kinds of dried fruits from these plants are found in Chinese medicine. One, the larger, is called simply (Chih-tzŭ), while the other and smaller is called (Shan-chih-tzŭ). The larger occurs as a smooth, oblong, orange-brown, or yellowish, imperfectly two-celled berry, from one to two inches in length, strongly marked with six ribs which terminate in the superior permanent calyx, which generally crowns even the dried fruit of the shops. The pericarp is fragile and horny, marked internally by two narrow, projecting receptacles. The seeds are numerous and embedded in a dark orange pulp. The smaller fruits are met with as ovoid, smooth, six-ribbed, light or dark brown, or even black berries, crowned with more of the calyx than are the larger fruits. They vary from one-half to an inch or more in length. These are the berries which are more frequently used in medicine than are the large ones. In the Customs lists several different kinds of the drug are mentioned as appearing in commerce. (Huang-chih-tzŭ), 512, is given as the principal term for this product, while (Chien-chih), 103, is a kind from Chienchang prefecture in Kiangsi. The name (Huang-chih-tzŭ) is not found in the Pêntsao, but is mentioned in other Chinese medical works. It seems to be identical with the common (Chih-tzŭ). (Shan-chih-tzŭ) and (Shan-hei-chih), 1092, are given as names for the variety yielding the small fruit. The Hankow list speaks of the (Hung-chih-tzŭ) as a species of Gardenia from Szechuan. All of these fruits are used for dyeing purposes, producing a beautiful yellow color, but there is some difference in the value of the different fruits for this purpose ; the Szechuan variety producing a reddish yellow or orange color. The flowers of the plant are very fragrant, and are used for flavoring tea and in cosmetic preparations. In the season when they are in bloom, they are much worn by Chinese women as hair ornaments. The medicinal uses of the smaller fruits are various ; they being prescribed in fevers, fluxes, dropsies, lung diseases, jaundice, and externally as a vulnerary remedy. The larger fruits are more particularly used externally ; the pulp being applied to swellings and to injuries, and to such difficulties as wine-nose, dog bite, slight burns and scalds, and the like. Other names given for this plant are (Mu-tan), (Yüeh-t‘ao), and (Hsien-chih). In the Customs lists the root of this plant, (Chih-tzŭ-kên), 140, is spoken of as an article of commerce, but this is not mentioned in the Pêntsao.
Nothing of the article is left out. The Chinese characters printed before each romanized name are not transcribed. Words hyphenated across a line break are joined.