Ban Bian Lian

Herba Lobeliae Chinensis (Banbianlian) Chinese Lobelia Herb Chinese Lobelia Herb is the dried herb of Lobelia chinensis Lour. (Fam. Campanulaceae). The drug is collected in summer, removed from soil, washed clean, and dried in the sun. Description Usually winded up into masses. Rhizomes 1-2 mm in diameter, externally pale brownish-yellow, smooth or finely striated longitudinally. Roots slender, yellow, bearing lateral fibrous roots. Stems slender, branched, greyish-green, with obvious nodes, some bearing fibrous roots. Leaves alternate, sessile, lamina mostly crumpled, greenish-brown, when whole, narrowly lanceolate, 1-2.5 cm long, 2-5 mm wide, margin sparsely and shallowly serrate. Pedicels slender, flowers small, solitary and axillary, corolla tubular at the base, 5-lobed at the upper part, oblique on one side, pale purplish-red, with white pubescences inside the corolla tube. Odour, slight, characteristic; taste, slightly sweet and pungent. Processing Eliminate foreign matter, wash