How to Cultivate Thick-faced Flowers
The article discusses how to cultivate thick-faced flowers and provides an explanation of the green plant and flower care, with specific details as follows:
I. Introduction to Thick-faced Flowers
Thick-faced plants (also known as "Eight Precious Trees") grow on moist grasslands on slopes, beside ditches, and along roadsides. Commonly cultivated in greenhouses and gardens, this plant is native to South Africa and is a type of evergreen plant that has now become a common houseplant for ornamental purposes.
Aliases: Jade Tree, Earth Three 七, Leaf Root, Foreign Devil Peony, Leaf Explosion Bud, Sky Lantern, Spear Grass, Thick-faced, Thick Skinned, Live Medicine, Indestructible, Sun-resistant, Three-seven豆瓣, Ancient Lamp, Bride's Lamp, Large疗癀, Large Revival.
II. Morphological Characteristics of Thick-faced Flowers
Jade Flower: Ground Rooting Perennial succulent herb, 40-150 cm tall. Stalks are erect, branched, hairless, with a distinct upper part that is purplish-red, densely covered with elliptical lenticels, and the lower part sometimes slightly lignified. Leaves are opposite, single or compound, with 3-5 small leaves in compound leaves; leaves are purple, 2.5-5 cm long, base flat, semi-encircling the stem; leaf blades are succulent, elliptical or oblong, 6-10 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, apex rounded, edges with rounded teeth, and buds easily form at the base of the teeth, which can grow into a new plant when they touch the ground. The panicle is terminal, with large, bisexual, pendant flowers; bracts are two, leaf-like; the calyx is bell-shaped, membranous, inflated, 2.5-4 cm long, light green or yellowish-white; the corolla is tubular, 3-4.5 cm long, light red or purplish-red, base swollen into a spherical shape, middle constricted, apex with four lobes that extend beyond the corolla tube; there are 8 stamens, attached to the base of the corolla tube, fused with the corolla tube, filaments long, anthers purple; carpels 4, upper part separated, base fused, style slender, with a rectangular scale at the base. The capsule fruit is enclosed within the calyx and corolla. Seeds are tiny, numerous, and striated. Flowering period is from March to May, fruiting period from April to June.
III. Growth Environment and Distribution Range
They prefer sunlight but can also tolerate shade, drought, and thin soil, commonly found on moist grasslands on slopes, beside ditches, and along roadsides. They are not particular about soil but thrive in loose, fertile sandy loam. They are not cold-tolerant and fear frost, but can be kept indoors for year-round display.
Native to tropical Africa, they are widely distributed in Fujian, Taiwan, southern Zhejiang, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Yunnan in China.
IV. Main Value and Classification of Thick-faced Flowers
1. Main Value
Functions and Indications: Cooling blood and stopping bleeding; clearing heat and detoxifying. Mainly used for leaf blood, external injury bleeding, fractures, boils, carbuncles, breast abscesses, breast cancer, erysipelas, ulcers, burns, stomach pain, joint pain, sore throat, and pulmonary heat cough.
Usage and Dosage: Internally: decoction, fresh whole herb 30-60 grams; root 3-6 grams; or juice. Externally: appropriate amount, pounded and applied; or juice dried into powder and sprinkled; or juice for gargling.
Caution: According to "Quanzhou Materia Medica," those with spleen and stomach deficiency and cold should avoid using it.
The leaf and stem decoction of the Indian Ground Root (Bryophyllum pinnatum Kurz) has a very significant stimulatory effect on isolated guinea pig ileum, while the aqueous extract (after precipitation with alcohol removed) has a slightly weaker effect, but neither has a significant effect on isolated rabbit duodenum or rat uterus. The decoction inhibits the isolated rabbit heart, while the aqueous extract has a weaker effect, and in the rat hindlimb perfusion test, the aqueous extract has no significant effect. When 0.1 grams of crude drug per kilogram is injected intravenously into anesthetized dogs, both the decoction and the aqueous extract have no significant effect on blood pressure; when 1 gram of crude drug per kilogram is injected intraperitoneally in mice, all animals (2 per group) die within 24 hours.
2. Classification
From the leaves, there are two types: round and oblong; from the color, there are two types: green and yellowish-white.
V. Cultivation Methods for Thick-faced Flowers
Firstly, thick-faced flowers have a good adaptability to growth, so there are no strict requirements for the cultivation soil. A mixture of decomposed leaf soil and sandy soil can be used for cultivation. Additionally, after a period of cultivation, the pot should be changed, and some of the old soil should be retained.
Secondly, thick-faced flowers love sunlight and require plenty of sunlight every day, preferably placed on an open balcony for care. However, during the height of summer, it is important to provide shade, otherwise the leaves will be sunburned. In autumn and winter, when sunlight is weak, it can be placed in the sun all day.
Then, thick-faced flowers require water support during growth, and it is best to keep the cultivation soil moist, which is more conducive to their growth.
The above introduction on how to cultivate thick-faced flowers and the explanation of cultivation methods are provided for netizens to refer to and learn from.