山麦冬 shan mai dong

Convallaria spicata Thunberg in Murray, Syst. Veg., ed. 14, 334. 1784; Liriope spicata var. humilis F. Z. Li; L. spicata f. koreana (Palibin) H. Hara; L. spicata var. prolifera Y. T. Ma; Mondo fauriei (H. Léveillé & Vaniot) Farwell; Ophiopogon fauriei H. Léveillé & Vaniot; O. spicatus (Thunberg) Ker Gawler; O. spicatus var. koreanus Palibin.

Roots usually with fusiform, fleshy, tuberous part near tip. Stolons creeping, slender. Leaves glaucous abaxially, narrowly linear, 25--60 cm × 4--8 mm, distinctly 5-veined abaxially, base surrounded by many brownish sheaths, margin serrulate. Scape 25--65 cm. Inflorescence 6--15(--20) cm, many flowered; bracts lanceolate, basal one 5--6 mm. Flowers in clusters of (2 or)3--5; pedicel ca. 4 mm, articulate distally. Tepals purplish or bluish, suboblong, 4--5 × 2--2.5 mm. Filaments ca. 2 mm; anthers ca. 2 mm. Style ca. 2 mm; stigma as wide as style. Seeds subglobose, ca. 5 mm in diam. Fl. May--Jul, fr. Aug--Oct. 2 n = 36, 72*, (88*), 90*, 108*.

Forests, grassy slopes, hillsides, moist places; near sea level to 1800 m. Anhui, Fujian, Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hainan, Hebei, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, Yunnan, Zhejiang [Japan, Korea, Vietnam].

Widely cultivated in China for its tuberous roots, which are used medicinally.