珊瑚菜
Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq.
Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) 傘形科
Status in China Vulnerable (VU). Wild plant under State protection (category II). Recorded in China Plant Red Data Book and Illustration of Rare & endangered plant in Guangdong Province.

Description:

Perennial herbs, 5-20 cm tall, densely white villose; roots slender, terete, up to 40 cm long, fleshy, stem buried in sand with apical part emerged above ground. Leaves 1-2-ternate or pinnate, ovate-triangular or triangular-ovate, 6-10 cm long, 2.5-4 cm wide, margin irregular coarsely toothed; petioles c. 10 cm long, sheathed. Flowers hermaphrodite, small, white, arranged in compound umbels. Fruits ellipsoidal, 1.2-1.8 cm long, tomentose, main ridge with corky wing.

Distribution:

Sai Kung. Coastal areas of Hainan, Guangdong and Liaoning. Korea, Japan and Russia.

Habitat and Ecology:

On sandy beaches. Flowering: January; fruiting: Apr.

The root of this species is used to treat cough and other throat ailments. The natural populations are very small and vulnerable to disturbance. It has been over-collected in China for its medicinal uses. In Hong Kong, it is only found in a few sandy beaches in Sai Kung, but the locality of the major population has been listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

References:

陳忠毅,1991:廣東植物誌2:345-346。圖234。廣東科技出版社,廣州。
傅立國等,1992:中國植物紅皮書1:698-699。科學出版社,北京。
吳德鄰等,1988:廣東珍稀瀕危植物圖譜38。中國環境科學出版社,北京。
莊兆祥、李甯漢(主編), 1978: 香港中草藥1: 110-111。商務印書館,香港。