STUDIES OF THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE FAMILY RANUNCULACEAE IN CHINA——Ⅱ.MEDICINAL ACONITES

The genus Aconitum is one of the most important medicinal and poisonous plants in the world. Out of about one hundred and sixty species so far found in China, thirty five are known to possed drug value, of which fourteen having all been known under the names of Fu-tzu or Ts'ao-wu. As a result of our study, only two species, viz., Aconitum carmichaeli Debx. and A. kusnezoffii Rchb. are more widespread and commonly used. We proved that the daughter tubers of the cultivated A. carmichaeli Debx. are the origin of Fu-tzu, and the mother tubers are Ch'uan-wu. Ts'ao-wu in the southern part of China is mainly obtained from the wild A. carmichaeli Debx. and its varieties, while in the North mainly from Aconitum kusnezoffii Rchb.. Furthermore, the tubers of 12 other species of Aconitum viz. A. paniculegerum Nakai, A. artemisaefolium Bar. et Skv., A. sczukini Turcz. (Northeastern China), A. taipeicum Hand.-Mazz. (Shensi), A. sungpanense Hand.-Mazz. (Shensi, Chinghai), A. kara-kolicum Rap. and A. soongaricum Stapf (Sinkiang), A. stylosum Stapf, A. transsectum Diels, A. deavayi Franch. and A. vilmorinianum Kom. (Yunnan), A. hemsleyanum Pritz. (Szechuan, Hupeh, Shensi) are also sold in market under the name Ts'ao-wu, but these species are of local distribution and used in smaller amount. Besides the above mentioned 14 specics, the 21 other species of the genus are also known to possess therapeutic value. They are A. nagarum Stapf, A. naviculare Stapf, A. tanguticum (Maxim.) Stapf, A. rotundifolium Kar. et Kir., A. flavum Hand.-Mazz., A. szechenyianum Gy., A. chasmanthum Stapf, A. brachypodum Diels, A. polystistum Hand.- Mazz., A. coreanm (Lvl.) Rap., A. racemulosum Franch., A. ouvrardianum Hand.- Mazz., A. balfourii Stapf, A. stapfianum Hand.-Mazz., A. longilobum W. T. Wang, A. forrestii Stapf, A. ochranthum C. A. Mey., A. sibiricum Poir., A. sinomontanum Nakai, A. vaginatum Pritz., A. gymandrum Maxim.. For the foregoing 35 species, their medicinal uses and taxonomical revisions are presented, and one new variety was described. An analytical key for all the species stated above is provided. In addition to the descriptions, there are 6 plates and 1 text figure in this paper.