MAGNOLIA HYPOLEUCA.—(Hou-p‘o), 381. This tree is cultivated in the upper Yangtse provinces for its bark, which on account of its extensive use as a medicine is quite an article of commerce. The wood is dark colored and the bark white. It has very large leaves, and there are two varieties : one with red and the other with white flowers. The drug consists of the rough, thick bark, rolled into large, tight cylinders, from seven to nine inches long, and very thick. The outer surface is of a greyish-brown color, roughened with tubercles and marked with lichenous growths. The inner surface is smooth and of a reddish-brown color. In the coast provinces there seems to be some confusion in regard to the drug ; an inferior product, which is probably the bark of a different tree, appearing in commerce (see Customs Lists, 1040). There is some confusion of Chinese terms between this and Celtis sinensis. The taste of the true bark is aromatic and bitter, but some of the drug found in the shops is almost tasteless, and is probably inert. Its medicinal properties are deobstruent, tonic, stomachic, quieting, and anthelmintic. It is prescribed in diarrhœas, flatulence, amenorrhœa, pyrosis, and a variety of dissimilar difficulties. The fruit is said to be called (Chu-chê), but whether it is the fruit of this or of Eucommia ulmoides, the Pêntsao is not quite certain. It cures ulcers, brightens the eyes, and benefits the breath. A foot-note to this article in the Pêntsao speaks of (Fou-lan-lo-lê), which in Japan is a variety of Magnolia hypoleuca. It comes from Samarcand, and is used as a deobstruent and tonic remedy.
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.