PHARMACOGNOSTIC STUDY OF ROOTS OF ACONITUM BULLATIFOLIUM LEVL. VAR. HOMOTRICHUM W. T. WANG IN YUNNAN

In Yunnan, the herb hsiieh shang i chih hao (雪上一枝篙) has long been used as an analgesic remedy by the local inhabitants. Some pharmacologic work has been reported but no pharmacognostic study on the drug has been done. In view of the great medicinal value of it, a detailed morphologic and histologic study is considered as needed. In comparison with various samples collected from Kütsing (曲靖) and Tungchuan(东川) Yunnan, it is proved that they are the roots of the same plant, Aconitum bullatifolium Lévl. var. homotrichum W. T. Wang, family Ranunculaceae. A detailed account of their botanic and pharmacognostic characters is made, six plates being attached. The important difference between hsiieh shang i chih hao and tsao wu (草乌) is also given.