What are the effects of water putty grass

The scientific name of water putty grass is Artemisia annua, also known as Qingming grass. Its characteristics are easy to remember. Although the leaves are not very large, the small yellow flowers are still very beautiful. In daily life, Artemisia selengensis is actually considered a Chinese medicinal material. Because it has certain medicinal value, it can help people regulate their bodies and prevent and treat diseases. So the question is, what is the effect of water putty grass?

Morphological characteristics

Annual herb. The stem is erect or with branches emanating from the base obliquely ascending at the bottom, 10-40 cm high or higher, about 3 mm in diameter at the base, unbranched at the top, grooved, covered with thick white cotton wool, with internodes 8-20 mm long, and upper internodes rarely reaching 5 cm. The leaves are sessile, spatulate-oblanceolate or obovate-spoon-shaped, 5-7 cm long, 11-14 mm wide, with upper leaves 15-20 mm long, 2-5 mm wide, base gradually narrowed, slightly decurrent, apex rounded, with thorny tips, covered with white cotton wool on both sides, often thinner on the upper side, with one vein that is not obvious on the lower side. The capitula are numerous or less in number, 2-3 mm in diameter, nearly sessile, and densely packed into umbels at the branch tops, with yellow to light yellow flowers; the involucre is bell-shaped, about 2-3 mm in diameter; the involucre bracts are 2-3 layers, golden yellow or lemon yellow, membranous, shiny, the outer layer is obovate or spoon-shaped obovate, the back is covered with cotton wool at the base, the apex is round, the base is gradually narrowed, about 2 mm long, the inner layer is long spoon-shaped, the back is usually glabrous, the apex is obtuse, 2.5-3 mm long; the receptacle is slightly concave in the center and glabrous. There are many female flowers, with a tubular corolla about 2 mm long, enlarged at the top, 3-lobed, and glabrous lobes. There are fewer bisexual flowers, which are tubular, about 3 mm long, gradually expanding upwards, with 5 shallow lobes at the eaves, the lobes are triangular and acuminate, and glabrous. Achenes are obovate or obovate-cylindrical, about 0.5 mm long, with nipple-like protrusions. The pappus is rough, dirty white, easy to fall off, about 1.5 mm long, and united into 2 bundles at the base. Flowering period: January-April, August-November.

Medicinal value

The stems and leaves are used as medicine, which is commonly used to suppress cough, eliminate phlegm, treat asthma and bronchitis, as well as non-infectious ulcers and trauma. Oral administration can also lower blood pressure and uric acid.

Edible value

Folk customs

Harvesting and storage: Harvest in spring when it blooms, remove impurities, dry in the sun, and store in a dry place. Fresh products can be used as soon as they are picked.

Resource distribution: Distributed in Central China, East China, Central South, Southwest China, Hebei, Shaanxi, Taiwan and other places.

In Lishui, Taizhou and other places in Zhejiang Province, it is a supplementary ingredient for making Qingming dumplings during the Qingming Festival. It is picked in spring when it just grows and before it blooms, washed, boiled in a pot with water, taken out and drained, placed on a plate and waited for it to mold (if the weather is hot, it will mold in a few days) and it will emit a unique fragrance. Store in the sun and take out when needed. When needed, chop it into pieces and boil it with water in a pot, then mix it with flour to make Qingming dumplings, so that the white flour will turn green. It is also because of the use of such ingredients that the outer layer of the dumpling has a chewy texture.