Yangbi Treehead Vegetable

Yangbi Treehead Vegetable

　　Yangbi Treehead Vegetable is a perennial wild deciduous shrub or small tree belonging to the Araliaceae family, also known as Cilabao, Cimutong, Cichun, or Quebuzhan. "Treehead Vegetable" is its local name.

　　Uses of Treehead Vegetable:

　　Edible:

　　The tender shoots of the Treehead Vegetable are edible and can be harvested for consumption when the buds grow to a length of 3–5 inches. They have a bitter-cool flavor and a crisp, tender, refreshing taste, making them very popular among people. This is how it got its name as a favorite wild vegetable.

　　Medicinal:

　　The Treehead Vegetable has a pungent, bitter, and cold nature, and is known for its functions such as dispelling wind-dampness, promoting blood circulation, relieving pain, and reducing swelling. It can be used to treat conditions such as nephritis edema, stomach pain, diabetes, rheumatic joint pain, and lumbar muscle strain. Local residents also use its bark to treat constipation and dysentery.

　　In recent years, Yangbi Yi Autonomous County has extensively cultivated Treehead Vegetable artificially, showing great promise for the future.