What kind of plant is Ophiopogon japonicus

Ophiopogon is a perennial evergreen herb of the genus Liliaceae, with thick roots, oval or spindle-shaped roots in the middle or near the end, short stems, basal clumps of leaves, gramineous leaves, bracts lanceolate, apex acuminate, seeds globose, flowering from May to August, and fruiting from August to September.

Morphological characteristics

Roots thicker, middle or near tip often dilated into elliptic or fusiform tuberous roots; tuberous roots 1-1.5 cm long, or longer, 5-10 mm wide, brownish yellow; underground stems slender, 1-2 mm in diameter, with membranous sheaths on nodes. Stems short, leaves basal in clusters, graminelike, 10-50 cm long, a few longer, 1.5-3.5 mm wide, with 3-7 veins, margin serrulate.

Scape 6-15 (- 27) cm long, usually much shorter than leaves, racemes 2-5 cm long, or sometimes longer, with several to a dozen flowers; flowers solitary or in pairs in axils of bracts; bracts lanceolate, apex acuminate, lowermost up to 7-8 mm; pedicels 3-4 mm long, joints above or near middle Tepals often slightly pendulous but not spreading, lanceolate, ca. 5 mm, white or lavender; anthers triangular-lanceolate, 2.5-3 mm long; style ca. 4 mm, thicker, ca. 1 mm wide, base broad, attenuate upward. Seeds globose, 7-8 mm in diam. The flowering period is from May to August and the fruiting period is from August to September.

Therefore, the plant posture changes greatly, such as the dense and sparse foliage, the width of the leaf is sometimes obviously different, but the structure of the flower does not change much, especially the tepals only slightly open when the flower is in full bloom, the base of the style is broad, generally a little thick and short, slightly conical and other characters are very consistent, which are the main characteristics to identify this species.

Plant culture

Ophiopogon japonicus is a top-grade medicine recorded in Shennong Materia Medica, the first pharmacological book in China. At the same time, it has always been known as born on the edge of the steps and used as a good health product. The jujube kernel-shaped medicine we are familiar with comes from its fleshy tubers. Ophiopogon is called "Yu leek" by the people in Yuzhou, Henan Province.

The origin of the name of Yu leek has such a legend: after Dayu succeeded in flood control, the crops in the field had a bumper harvest, and the food produced by the common people could not be eaten up. Dayu ordered that the remaining grain be poured into the river, and a recommendation grew in the river, that is, Ophiopogon japonicus. People call this grass "Yu surplus grain". Because this grass is produced in Yuzhou, the leaves are narrow and slender, shaped like leeks, so they are called "Yu Jiu" and "Yuxia". This grass has the effect of "nourishing yin and nourishing fluid, moistening the lungs and relieving cough, clearing the heart and removing annoyance", so it is also called "immortal medicine". Modern research results show that Ophiopogon can improve myocardial contractility and protect cardiomyocytes. As the main component of Shengmai San, Ophiopogon japonicus can achieve the effect of "invigorating pulse" or "compound pulse" to some extent.