Puqi Fritillary Bulb

Puqi Fritillary Bulb

　　Hubei Fritillary —— Puqi Fritillary Bulb Bulbus Fritillariae Puqiensis (Eng.) Puqi Fritillary Bulb Also known as Pubei or Lantern Flower.

　　Source

　　The bulb of Fritillaria puqiensis G.D.Yu et G.Y.Chen from the Liliaceae family.

　　Plant morphology

　　A perennial herb, 30–100 cm tall. The bulb is flattened-globose, 2–3 cm in diameter, with 2 (or 3) fleshy, thick scales that are nearly equal or unequal in size and clasp each other. The lower two leaves on the stem are mostly opposite, while the others are opposite or whorled, sometimes interspersed; the leaf blades are lanceolate, narrowly lanceolate, or linear-lanceolate, 6.5–18 cm long and 0.4–2.3 cm wide, with tips that are not curled or only slightly curved. There are 1–3 (rarely 4) flowers, nodding, bell-shaped, pale yellow with purple spots or checkered patterns; bracts 1–4, leaf-like, smaller than the leaves, usually with strongly curled tips; the outer three tepals are broadly lanceolate or narrowly elliptic, 3.4–5.7 cm long and 0.5–1.5 cm wide, the inner three tepals are broadly lanceolate or nearly elliptic, nearly the same length as the outer ones, 0.8–1.9 cm wide, with prominent nectar glands; stamens are about 2/5 to 4/5 the length of the tepals, filaments without small papillae, anthers nearly basifixed; stigma lobes 3–6.5 mm long. It grows at altitudes of 200–400 m in low mountainous areas. Mainly produced in Hubei, mostly cultivated. Harvesting and processing are the same as for Hubei Fritillary.

　　Characteristics

　　The bulb is slightly inverted conical or flattened-round, 1.7–2.8 cm in diameter, 1.3–2.4 cm high. The surface is yellowish-brown with granular protrusions. The two outer scales are nearly equal in size, split at the top, and the base is uneven. It tastes bitter. Chemical constituents include puqiketone alkaloid.

　　Properties and flavor

　　Same as Hubei Fritillary.

　　Functions and indications

　　Clears heat and moistens lungs, relieves cough and transforms phlegm, disperses nodules.