Puncturevine Caltrap Fruit

Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Shandong, Xinjiang.

Intact fruit is formed by 5 mericarps, radially arranged in 5 ridged, spherical shape, mericarp is axe-like or orange petal-like, yellowish-white or pale yellowish-green, back side is bow-shaped and raised, longitudinal ridges and numerous knotted short thorns in the middle; upper portion has one thick thorn on both sides, arranged in separate directions, base has 2 relatively short thick and hard thorns, arranged in separate directions, two sides are relatively thin, with reticular pattern or numerous oblique ridges. Woody fruit skin, very hard. Mericarp has one chamber, 3~4 seeds along the ventral side, seed is long oval shape and slightly flat, oily.

Superior medicinal material is full, firm, with a pale yellowish-green back side.

Acrid, bitter; slightly warm; slightly toxic.

Calms the liver, resolves constraint, invigorates blood, dispels wind, brighten eyes, stops itching. Apply to headache, vertigo, gastric and costal swelling pain, unsmooth lactation, spargosis, conjunctivitis and pterygium, wind rash and pruritus.