It can clear heat, detoxify, invigorate blood circulation and reduce swelling. Used for bruises and sprains. Root: bitter, slightly sweet, cold.

Longum: annual herb, the whole plant is 30-120 cm high; stem erect, multi-branched; ovate or cordate leaves alternate, subentire; small white flowers in summer, 4-10 in a cyme; spherical berries, black-purple when ripe.

Both berries and leaves are edible, but the leaves contain a large amount of alkaloids, which must be boiled to detoxify the plant. The whole plant is used as medicine, which can dissipate stasis and eliminate swelling, and clear away heat and toxins. It is distributed in almost all of China. It grows near fields, wastelands, and villages. Widely distributed in temperate to tropical regions of America.

Expanded Information

Trait Identification

The stem is cylindrical, multi-branched, 30-70cm long, 2-10mm in diameter, yellowish-green, with longitudinal wrinkles. Hard and brittle, yellowish-white cross-section, hollow. The ground is crumpled or broken, the complete one is ovate or elliptic, 2-12cm long, 2-6cm wide, the apex is acute or obtuse, entire or irregularly undulate serrate, dark green, both surfaces smooth or sparsely pubescent; the petiole is 0.3-2.2cm long.

Flowers and fruits are rare, the cyme scorpion-tailed, extra-axillary, with 4-6 flowers, calyx brown, corolla brownish-yellow. Berry globose, black or green, crinkled. Seeds numerous, brown. Slightly odorless. Stem and leaf color green, with fruit is preferred.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Lobelia