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Currently, Dendrobium is used as the fresh or dried stem of the orchid plants Dendrobium nobile Lindl., Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl., or Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook. var. oculatum Hook. and their similar species. After cutting off some of the fibrous roots, Dendrobium candidum is stir-fried while being twisted into a spiral or spring shape, then dried, commonly known as "Tiepi Fengdou" (earring Dendrobium). It is mainly produced in Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Anhui, with additional production in Tibet, Guangdong, and Hubei. It is traditionally believed that Dendrobium nobile from Jingxi, Guangxi is of the highest quality, Dendrobium candidum is distributed in Guangxi, Guizhou, and Yunnan, and Dendrobium fimbriatum is distributed in Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Sichuan.

Materia medica research suggests that the ancient use of Dendrobium was primarily from the orchid genus Dendrobium, but the origin and varieties varied significantly over time. Among them, Dendrobium nobile should be the mainstream medicinal variety. By the mid-Qing Dynasty, Dendrobium produced in Huoshan, Anhui gradually gained fame, and its original plant should be Dendrobium huoshanense. The earliest recorded origin of Dendrobium is in Lu'an, Anhui. During the Ming and Qing periods, due to the emphasis on Dendrobium nobile, it was generally believed that those produced in Sichuan were superior, but the regional specificity was not very pronounced.

bubble_chart Varietal Identification

Dendrobium is recorded in the Bencao Jing, and the meaning of the two characters "Dendrobium" is unclear. Some believe that "shi" and "hu" are both measure words, with ancient measurement units being shi, hu, dou, and sheng in order. The name "Dendrobium" might have been chosen to signify its preciousness, as discussed in Zhao Cunyi's "Materia Medica Name Research"; Mori Risshi's annotations on the Bencao Jing, based on Tao's statement that "those resembling grasshopper thighs are the best," suggest that Dendrobium is a phonetic transformation of "shi hu"; Mr. Xia Weiying's "Notes on Plant Names" cites Gui Fu's "Zhapu" Volume 10, which mentions: "In the mountains of Shunning, there is a grass with dozens of stems per plant, the stems are multi-jointed, and the leaves resemble bamboo leaves. It blooms pure yellow in April and May, with some in purple and white. Locals call it 'shi zhu,' which is actually Dendrobium, and it can also grow when transplanted onto trees." Mr. Xia states: "Dendrobium is 'shi zhu,' and 'shi zhu' is homophonous with 'shi zhu' (stone bamboo). Since Dendrobium has multi-jointed stems and leaves resembling bamboo, Dendrobium is 'shi zhu,' meaning bamboo growing among rocks." All three explanations might be somewhat far-fetched. Dendrobium is an epiphytic herb, often growing on rocks or trees, especially on rocks. The Mingyi Bielu states that it "grows on rocks by water," and Tao Hongjing's note on the "chinese star jasmine stem" entry says: "Since it is said to sometimes grow among humans, it is not a rock, just as Dendrobium is named after rocks." The character "shi" (stone) in the medicinal name might have originated from this. As for "hu," it might be due to the slightly swollen joints resembling the shape of a hu measure.

The Dendrobium used throughout the ages has generally been considered to be the Dendrobium genus of the Orchidaceae family, but the origin and varieties have varied significantly over time. A slight exception is found in the "Xin Xiu," which, in addition to the conventional Dendrobium, mentions: "Now in Jingxiang, Hanzhong, and Jiangzuo, there are two other types: one resembles barley, with clusters connected together, bearing a single leaf at the top and frigidity. The other is as large as a sparrow's thigh, called the sparrow's thigh Dendrobium, which is soaked in wine and consumed, said to be superior to the dried form, also like the barley Dendrobium, with leaves at the stem's end, while the rest of the Dendrobium has leaves growing between the bamboo-like nodes." This barley-like "barley Dendrobium" is generally believed to be the Orchidaceae genus Bulbophyllum's Bulbophyllum inconspicuum Maxim., referred to as "stone bean" in volume 16 of "Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao." The "sparrow's thigh Dendrobium" might be a plant from the Orchidaceae genus Pholidota (Chinese Pholidota herb) or the genus Ephemerantha (Golden Dendrobium).

There are dozens of species in the genus Dendrobium that are used as Dendrobium. Here, we mainly discuss the historical evolution of "Jinchai Dendrobium" and "Huoshan Dendrobium," and also touch upon other Dendrobium varieties specified in the Zhongguo Yaodian.

1. Jinchai Dendrobium

   Initially, Dendrobium was not compared to Jinchai. For example, in the "Southern Flora" volume on the auspicious grass, it is stated: "The stem of the auspicious grass is like the Jinchai gu, resembling Dendrobium in shape and Peony Root in root." The Jinchai gu is mentioned in the Bencao Shiyi, and the Bencao Gangmu incorporates it into the "Sea Materia Medica" under the Chai Zi Gu entry. Li Shi-zhen said: "Dendrobium is named Jinchai flower, and this grass resembles it, hence the name." Its original plant is the orchid Luisia morsei Rolfe, clearly indicating that the Dendrobium here is not the same as Jinchai. A later record in Sheng Hongzhi's "Jingzhou Ji" states: "In Sui County, Yongyang County, there is Longshi Mountain, where Dendrobium grows abundantly, exquisite like golden rings." (Quoted in the Taiping Yulan, volume 992, from the Sibu Congkan Sanbian edition) This also does not compare Dendrobium to Jinchai.

   The term "Jinchai Dendrobium" likely began in the Song Dynasty. The Hejiju Fang, volume 5, mentions "Jinchai Dendrobium pills," and the Boji Fang's Ding Chen Wan and Bao Sheng Wan also refer to "Jinchai Dendrobium." The Tongzhi, volume 75, states: "The stem of Dendrobium is like Jinchai, hence it is called Jinchai." However, according to the Bencao Yanyi, the so-called "Jinchai Dendrobium" at that time was actually made from "Mu Hu" due to people's curiosity. Kou Zong-shi said: "Dendrobium is as thin as small grass, three to four inches long, flexible, and when broken, it is like flesh but solid. Nowadays, many people use Mu Hu indiscriminately, and even doctors cannot clearly distinguish it. It is also called Jinchai Dendrobium, probably named by later generations based on appearance, but it is very unreliable. When Mu Hu is broken, it is hollow inside like straw, over a foot long, but deep yellow and glossy. True Dendrobium is effective in treating stomach deficiency heat." In this passage, Kou Zong-shi distinguishes between "Jinchai Dendrobium" and "true Dendrobium." The so-called "Mu Hu" mentioned here, as described by Tao Hong-jing, "grows on oak trees in Xuancheng, named Mu Hu, with long stems and light color," should be the larger Dendrobium species that grow on trees, but it is definitely not the Dendrobium nobile Lindl. used today.

   

   The "Zhenglei" Wenzhou Chinese Angelica

   

   GangmuDendrobium

   

   Illustrated Materia Medica: Jinlan Medicinal Illustrations
   The situation began to change in the Ming Dynasty. The "Pin Hui Jing Yao" did not innovate on Dendrobium, but the Gangmu added the alias "Jinchai" to Dendrobium, explaining: "Its stem resembles the Jinchai gu, hence the ancient name Jinchai Dendrobium. Nowadays, people in Sichuan cultivate it, calling it Jinchai flower. Sheng Hongzhi's 'Jingzhou Ji' states: 'In Leiyang, Longshi Mountain has abundant Dendrobium, exquisite like Jinchai,' which is correct." The Gangmu quotes the "Jingzhou Ji" describing Dendrobium as resembling Jinchai, differing from the Taiping Yulan's description of golden rings, possibly due to version differences. In the "Jijie" section, Li Shi-zhen provides a detailed description of the plant's morphology: "Dendrobium grows in clusters on rocks, its roots are very tangled, and when dried, they are white and soft. Its stems and leaves are green when alive, turning yellow when dried. It blooms Carthamus. Roots grow naturally from the nodes, and people also break them off, planting them in sand and stones or hanging them under the roof in containers, frequently watering them, and they can survive for years, commonly called Qiannian Run Dendrobium, also known as Qiannian Run." The blooming of Carthamus is an important characteristic, and combined with the illustrations (Figure 1), it can be identified as Dendrobium nobile. The Ming Dynasty poet Yang Shen's lines, "The city is filled with continuous yellow plum rain, and the Jinchai Dendrobium flowers are in full bloom," likely refer to this species.

   During the Qing Dynasty, the theory of Dendrobium, known as the "golden hairpin," was quite popular. Xu Dachun's "Shennong Bencao Jing Bai Zhong Lu" even altered Kou Zongshi's discussion on the golden hairpin Dendrobium to: "There are various theories about Dendrobium. Those from Lujiang and Liu'an are green in color, two to three inches long, resembling hairpin stems, commonly referred to as golden hairpin Dendrobium. When broken, they are fleshy and solid; when chewed, they produce a greasy saliva that sticks to the teeth, with a sweet and mild taste, making them the best. Those without flavor are all wood Dendrobium." The golden hairpin Dendrobium, which Kou dismissed as "later generations naming it based on appearance, but it is very unfounded," was embellished by Xu to become the best variety. Wu Qijun's "Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao Changbian" quotes Tan Cui's "Nong Bu Suo Lu": "Golden hairpin Dendrobium is originally a precious medicine, and those from the cliffs of Pudu River in Luquan (now Luquan County, Yunnan) are uniquely endowed with five colors, making them particularly treasured among all varieties. Generally, those with complete five colors, especially deep crimson ones, are considered the best." Furthermore, examining the second illustration of Dendrobium in "Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao" (Figure 2), "flat stems, jointed like bamboo, with broad leaves, over a foot tall, known as 'hanging bamboo' in the 'Bamboo Manual,' called 'thousand-year bamboo' by the people of Hengshan, which remains fresh in a bamboo container for a long time and revives with water," is also Dendrobium nobile.

2. Huoshan Dendrobium

   According to Mr. Xie Zongwan's opinion, Huoshan Dendrobium includes three varieties: Huoshan Dendrobium Dendrobium huoshanense G. Z. Tang et S. J. Cheng, Yellow Flower Dendrobium Dendrobium tosaense Makino, and Iron Skin Dendrobium Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl., with the first two being particularly representative. However, the "Xinhua Materia Medica Outline" defines Huoshan Dendrobium as Dendrobium moniliforme (L.) Sw., commonly known as Thin Stem Dendrobium.

   The Bencao Jing states that Dendrobium "grows in the valleys of Liu'an," and the "Fan Zi Ji Ran" also mentions, "Dendrobium comes from Liu'an." Liu'an is present-day Liu'an City in Anhui Province, which administers Huoshan County. Therefore, most researchers believe that Huoshan Dendrobium is the earliest recorded Dendrobium in literature. However, from Tao Hongjing until the Qing Dynasty, although Anhui produced Dendrobium, it was not the mainstream. For example, the Bencao Jing Jizhu states: "Nowadays, the Dendrobium used comes from Shixing, growing on rocks, fine and solid, soaked in mulberry ash water, golden in color, and shaped like a grasshopper's thigh is the best. There are also some from nearby areas, but they are inferior. The Dendrobium that grows on oak trees in Xuancheng is called Wood Dendrobium, with long and large stems and light color. Liu'an belongs to Lujiang, and now Shian also produces Wood Dendrobium, which is very long and not suitable for pills or powders, but can only be used for wine soaking or boiling in soup." Tao Hongjing praised the Dendrobium produced on rocks in Shixing, which is in present-day Guangdong, and considered the Dendrobium from Xuancheng, Anhui, to be Wood Dendrobium, which is inferior.

   As for whether the Dendrobium produced in ancient Liu'an is the later renowned "Huoshan Dendrobium," it is unknown. The concept of "Huoshan Dendrobium" was formally proposed by Zhao Xuemin. The Bencao Gangmu Shiyi states: "Huoshan Dendrobium comes from Huoshan in Jiangnan, with a shape smaller than Chai Dendrobium, yellow in color and curved, sometimes forming balls. The locals use it as a substitute for tea, claiming it is very effective in relieving heat, waking the spleen, quenching thirst, promoting diuresis, and enhancing strength. Some make it into a paste to serve guests. Initially, it was not widely used, but in recent years, it has become popular in Jiangnan and Jiangbei." It also quotes the "Baicao Jing": "Dendrobium, recently there is a kind that is only about an inch long, as thin as a lamp wick, greenish-yellow in color, with a sweet taste and slightly slippery saliva when chewed, produced in Liu'an Prefecture and Huoshan County of Yingzhou Prefecture, named Huoshan Dendrobium, which is the best. Those without saliva when chewed grow on wood and are unusable." It also quotes Fan Yaochu: "Huoshan belongs to Liu'an Prefecture, and the Dendrobium produced there is called Rice Heart Dendrobium, because its shape resembles stacked rice, with many nodes like bamboo rhizomes, and it forms balls when dried. Dendrobium from other places cannot form rice hearts or balls." According to the various opinions cited by Zhao Xuemin, this Huoshan Dendrobium should be the unique species Dendrobium huoshanense from Huoshan. Although Yellow Flower Dendrobium and Iron Skin Dendrobium also grow in Huoshan, their plant characteristics do not match.

3. Other Dendrobium Varieties

   In addition to Dendrobium, the 2005 edition of Zhongguo Yaodian also recognizes Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl. (Tiepi Dendrobium) and Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook. var. oculatum Hook. (Mabian Dendrobium) as genuine medicinal products. The fresh stems of Tiepi Dendrobium are iron-gray to gray-green in color, with small glossy black-brown nodes, which are distinctly different from other plants in the Dendrobium genus. No similar records have been found in ancient literature, and its recognition as a genuine product may be related to the recent popularity of processed Dendrobium medicinal materials, such as earring Dendrobium or Tiepi Fengdou. As for Mabian Dendrobium, the plant is relatively large and might correspond to what was referred to as "Mu Hu" in ancient times. The reason for its classification as a genuine product remains unclear. Besides these two, Dendrobium loddigesii Rolfe. (Huancao Dendrobium) and Dendrobium chrysanthum Wall. (Huangcao Dendrobium) were also listed as genuine Dendrobium medicinal products in earlier editions of Zhongguo Yaodian.

   Volume 16 of Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao not only records Dendrobium (金釵) but also describes a type of Dendrobium that "grows mostly on mountain rocks, with flowers resembling those of the orchid but smaller." According to the illustrated example (Figure 3), this is likely the slender-stemmed Dendrobium (Dendrobium moniliforme), which may well be the variety described in Bencao Yanyi as "as thin as small grass, three to four inches long, flexible, and when broken, it feels like flesh but is solid." Volume 17 of Tukao mentions the golden orchid, which, according to Wu Qijun, is also a type of Dendrobium, produced in Yunnan, and the original plant is likely the sheath Dendrobium (Dendrobium denneanum Kerr.).

bubble_chart Historical Changes in Origin

The production areas of Dendrobium have varied over time. As previously mentioned, during the Qi and Liang dynasties, the production area of Dendrobium shifted from the original Luan in Anhui to Guangdong and Guangxi. By the Tang dynasty, Dendrobium was mainly offered as tribute from the Huainan, Jiangnan, and Lingnan circuits. The specific details are as follows:

In the Huainan circuit, Dendrobium was produced in Shouzhou (now Shouzhou, Anhui), Luzhou (now the area around Hefei, Anhui), Shuzhou (now Huaining, Anhui), Guangzhou (now Huangchuan County, Henan), Qizhou (now Qichun, Hubei), and Huangzhou (now Huangzhou City, Hubei). According to Tongdian, the specific tribute amounts were: Shouchun County offered 50 catties of raw Dendrobium, now Shouzhou; Lujiang County offered 60 catties of Dendrobium, now Luzhou; Tong'an County offered 60 catties of Dendrobium, now Shuzhou; Yiyang County offered 60 catties of raw Dendrobium, now Guangzhou.

In the Jiangnan circuit, Dendrobium was produced in Jiangzhou (now Jiujiang, Jiangxi) and Tanzhou (now Changsha, Hunan). Tongdian mentions the tribute amount: Xunyang County offered 10 catties of raw Dendrobium, now Jiangzhou.

In the Lingnan circuit, Dendrobium was produced in Guangzhou, Shaozhou (now Shaoguan, Guangdong), Longzhou (now Luoding County, Guangdong), Fengzhou (now Fengkai County, Guangdong), Chunzhou (now Yangchun County, Guangdong), Qinzhou (now Yunfu, Guangdong), and Hezhou (now Hezhou, Guangxi). Tongdian mentions the tribute amounts: Nanhai County offered 20 catties of Dendrobium, now Guangzhou; Shixing County offered 20 catties of Dendrobium, now Shaozhou; Linfeng County offered 10 small catties of Dendrobium, now Fengzhou; Tongling County offered 20 small catties of Dendrobium, now Qinzhou.

The Song dynasty's Yuanfeng Jiuyu Zhi mentions the following contributions of Dendrobium: Shouzhou offered 10 catties of Dendrobium; Luzhou offered 20 catties of raw Dendrobium; Guangzhou offered 10 catties of raw Dendrobium; Jiangzhou offered 10 catties of raw Dendrobium; Guangzhou offered 2 catties of Dendrobium. Taiping Huanyu Ji records the production of Dendrobium in the following prefectures and counties: Caizhou, Nankang Army, Luzhou, Guangzhou, Shouzhou, Fengzhou, Qinzhou, Guangzhou, Chunzhou, Shaozhou, and Kangzhou. Bencao Tujing states: "Now it is also found in Jing, Hu, Chuan, and Guangzhou prefectures, as well as in Wenzhou and Taizhou, with the best coming from Guangnan." Zheng Lei specifically illustrates Dendrobium from Chunzhou and Wenzhou.

Perhaps due to the promotion of "golden hairpin Dendrobium" in the Ming Dynasty, Li Shi-zhen said: "It can be found everywhere, but the best comes from Sichuan." In Volume 20 of the Gangmu, for treating inverted eyelashes, Sichuan Dendrobium is used alongside Sichuan Lovage Rhizome. The slightly later Jiangxueyuan Gufang Xuanzhu also specifically mentions Sichuan Dendrobium, stating that "Sichuan Dendrobium enters the kidneys to clear deficiency heat." This was likely influenced by Li Shi-zhen. Most materia medica from the Ming and Qing dynasties considered Sichuan-produced Dendrobium to be superior. Representative statements include those from the "Materia Medica Chengya Banji," which states: "It grows in the valleys of Liu'an, as well as in Jingxiang, Hanzhong, Jiangzuo, Luzhou, Taizhou, and Wenzhou. Recently, those from Wenzhou and Taizhou are highly valued for their resemblance to golden hairpins, but their odor is foul and turbid. In contrast, those from Sichuan are more refined in appearance, with a clear and sparse aroma. One should not prioritize beauty over purity, choosing the turbid over the clear." The "Bencao Chongyuan" has a similar view: "One type resembles a golden hairpin, called 'hairpin Dendrobium,' which is popular among the masses. However, it is not as good as the Sichuan-produced Dendrobium, which has a refined appearance, stems one to two feet long, a clear and sparse aroma, and is yellow-white and solid, making it the best for medicinal use." The "Benjing Fengyuan" states: "There are many types of Dendrobium, but only the Sichuan variety has a sweet and mild taste, a yellow color without branching, and poses no risk of harming the stomach." The "Bencao Qiuyuan" notes: "The Sichuan-produced Dendrobium is yellow like gold, without branching, with side branches resembling hairpins, solid in the middle, and sweet in taste, making it the best." A slight exception is the "Bencao Congxin," which considers Dendrobium from Wenzhou to be the best, followed by Guangxi, and Guangdong as the lowest quality. In summary, during the Ming and Qing periods, despite the rise of Huoshan Dendrobium from Anhui and the production of Dendrobium in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Jiangnan, and even Yunnan, Sichuan Dendrobium, though famous, never established a clear regional dominance. For example, the "Medicine Trade Regulations" of the Xi'an City National Medicine Trade Association in 1940 lists the production areas of Dendrobium as Sichuan, Hunan, Hubei, and Anhui, and for hairpin Dendrobium, it notes production areas in Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, and Sichuan.