水甘草 shui gan cao

Tabernaemontana elliptica Thunberg ex Murray, Syst. Veg. ed. 14, 255. 1784; Amsonia sinensis Tsiang & P. T. Li.

Herbs perennial, to 40 cm tall, glabrous. Stems terete. Petiole 3-5 mm; leaf blade elliptic or narrowly so, 2.2-5 cm X 5-8 mm, base and apex acuminate, lateral veins almost flat on both surfaces. Inflorescences terminal, short thyrses. Pedicel ca. 4 mm. Sepals ca. 2 mm. Corolla bluish, tube ca. 1 cm, villous inside and densely so at throat; lobes oblong, ca. 6 mm. Anther apex included. Ovary glabrous. Style ca. 5 mm. Fl. Jun. 2n = 22.

* Grasslands. Anhui, Jiangsu [Japan]

Decoction of all parts is used to cure chills and to induce sweat.