ANOECTOCHILUS ROXBURGHII

Golden thread lotus, also known as golden thread orchid or golden stone pine, is a terrestrial plant belonging to the Orchidaceae family and the Orchidaceae genus. Its scientific name is Anoectochilus roxburghii. The following is a detailed introduction to the golden lotus:

1、 Basic Information

Family and genus: Orchidaceae, Orchid genus

Chinese scientific name: Fujian Golden Lotus

Latin name: Anotecochilus roxburghii

Nicknames: Golden Thread Lotus (Golden Thread Grass), Golden Grass, Taiwan Golden Thread Lotus (Golden Thread Lian), Yellow Flower Golden Thread Lotus (Golden Thread Lian), Yellow Flower Nuozi Orchid, etc

2、 Morphological features

Plant height: The overall height of the plant is 10-18cm.

Root and stem: fleshy and creeping.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, with 2-4 leaves at the lower part of the stem; The petiole is 4-10mm long, and the base extends in a sheath like manner to embrace the stem; The leaves are ovate elliptical in shape, measuring 1.5-3.5cm in length and 1-3cm in width. The tip is acute and pointed, while the base is circular. The upper surface is yellow green with a fine golden vein network, and the lower surface is light purple red with 5-7 protruding arc-shaped veins.

Inflorescence: raceme inflorescence, sparse 2-6 flowers, inflorescence axis covered with soft hairs; The flower buds are ovate lanceolate, light purple, and 6-8mm long; The flowers are light purple in color and covered in short hairs on the outside; Lips have two slits, forming a "Y" shape.

Flowering period: September to October.

3、 Growing environment

Preference: It prefers shade and moisture, especially growing on the edges of evergreen broad-leaved trees, stone walls, loose soil, and wetlands rich in humus.

Temperature: The required temperature is 18-20 ℃.

Lighting: The lighting is about one-third of normal sunlight, and direct sunlight is the least recommended.

Altitude: 600-800 meters.

4、 Distribution range

Jinlian is mainly produced in Longyan, Wuping, Liangye Mountain, Mingxi (National Geographic Indication Product), Qingliu (Hometown of Jinlian), Yong'an (Hometown of Jinlian), Taining, Ninghua, Yongchun, Dehua Shiniu Mountain, Xiang'an and other areas in Fujian Province, all of which are the authentic production areas of Fujian Jinlian. In addition, Nanjing County has also been designated as the "hometown of Chinese golden lotus".

5、 Medicinal value

Golden thread lotus is widely used in folk culture and is known as the "King of Medicine", "Golden Grass", "Divine Medicine", "Black Ginseng" and other beautiful names. Its medicinal value is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Clearing heat and detoxifying: It has a good relieving effect on symptoms such as colds and sore throat.

Hemostasis and stasis dispersing: It has a good therapeutic effect on symptoms such as trauma and blood stasis.

Moisturizing the lungs and relieving cough: It has a good relieving effect on symptoms such as bronchitis and chronic pharyngitis.

Anti inflammatory and anti-inflammatory: It has a good therapeutic effect on symptoms such as skin inflammation and swelling.

Nourishing the mind and calming the nerves: It has a good regulatory effect on symptoms such as insomnia and anxiety.

In addition, golden lotus also has the effects of clearing heat and blood, dispelling wind and dampness, tonifying the kidneys, lowering blood pressure, and assisting in the treatment of cancer. However, it should be noted that although lotus has many benefits, there are also some taboos, such as pregnant and lactating women should avoid using it, and it may interact with certain drugs, so caution should be taken when using it.

6、 Eating method

There are various ways to consume golden lotus, which can be eaten raw or cold mixed, or made into desserts, tea drinks, or stewed with other ingredients. For example, golden lotus stewed chicken soup is a commonly used dietary therapy in China to treat rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatic knee pain in the elderly. However, it should be noted that although lotus is a medicinal and edible plant, it is still important to consume it in moderation to avoid adverse reactions caused by excessive consumption.

7、 Planting and maintenance

The cultivation of golden lotus requires choosing a warm and humid environment with good air circulation, semi shaded and semi sunny conditions, as well as fertile, well drained, and organic rich sandy soil. During the planting process, it is necessary to pay attention to field management such as watering, fertilizing, weeding, and pruning to ensure the normal growth and development of the golden lotus. Meanwhile, it is also necessary to pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases to ensure the yield and quality of lotus flowers.

Golden Lotus is a plant with rich medicinal and edible value, and its unique growth environment and morphological characteristics make it stand out among many plants. Through proper planting and maintenance, we can better utilize this valuable resource and contribute to the cause of human health.