潮风草 chao feng cao

Vincetoxicum acuminatum Decaisne in A. de Candolle, Prodr. 8: 524. 1844, not Humboldt & Bonpland ex Schultes (1820); Alexitoxicon acuminatum (Decaisne) Pobedimova; Antitoxicum acuminatum (Decaisne) Pobedimova; Cynanchum acuminatum (Decaisne) Matsumura (1912), not Humboldt & Bonpland ex Schultes (1820).

Herbs pubescent or puberulent. Rootstock a short rhizome, roots clustered. Stems erect, to 60 cm. Leaves opposite or in whorls of 4; petiole ca. 1 cm; leaf blade elliptic or broadly ovate, 7-13 × 4-5 cm, membranous, base broadly cuneate or rounded, apex acuminate; lateral veins 6 or 7 pairs. Inflorescences terminal and subterminal, umbel-like, 10-12-flowered, 3-5 cm. Sepals ovate; basal glands 5. Corolla white, rotate, 1-1.5 cm in diam.; lobes oblong, to 7.5 × 3 mm, glabrous. Corona cupular, 5-lobed to middle; lobes triangular, fleshy, as long as gynostegium, adnate to anther. Pollinia ovoid. Follicles solitary, erect, lanceolate in outline, 6-7 cm × 5 mm. Seeds oblong; coma ca. 2 cm. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Aug-Nov.

Sunny open woods, grasslands on mountain slopes. Anhui, Hebei, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong [Japan, Korea, E Russia]

The roots are diuretic.