Aucklandia Costus (Yunmuxiang)
Aucklandia Costus (云木香) Identification and Information
Botanical Characteristics:
- Plant Description: Aucklandia costus, a perennial herbaceous plant from the Asteraceae family, can reach up to 2 meters in height. The main root is thick and robust. The stem is upright with ridges, and the basal leaves have long winged petioles, which are shallowly lobed with round teeth. The leaves are heart-shaped or triangular with jagged edges. The upper leaves are gradually smaller, triangular or ovate, with or without short winged petioles.
- Inflorescence: The capitulum is solitary at the end of the stem or branches, or forms dense umbels at the stem ends. The involucre is hemispherical, black, and initially covered with web-like hairs, later becoming hairless. The involucral bracts are arranged in seven layers: the outer layer is long triangular, with a short, sharp, cartilage-like tip; the middle layer is lanceolate or elliptical, with sharp tips; and the inner layer is linear-elliptical, with short, sharp, cartilage-like tips. The bracts are all erect.
- Flowers and Fruits: The small flowers are dark purple, about 1.5 cm long. The achene is light brown, three-ribbed, 8 mm long, with blackish spots and a crown with small teeth. The pappus is a single layer, light brown, feathery, and 1.3 cm long. Flowering and fruiting occur in July.
Growth Environment:
- Adaptation: Aucklandia costus thrives in fertile soils with a strong base. It prefers cool, moist climates and is a deep-rooted plant requiring thick soil layers (over 0.5 meters) with a pH of 6.5-7. It needs low groundwater levels, well-drained, fertile, and loose sandy loam or loam. It is not suitable for sandy soils, gravel soils, clay soils, or areas with thin soil layers.
- Climate: It grows well at altitudes of 2500-3200 meters, with an active temperature range of 2000-3200°C, extreme maximum temperatures below 28°C, and extreme minimum temperatures above -14°C. It requires a frost-free period of 120-200 days, annual precipitation of 800-1200 mm, and air humidity of 68%-75%. The optimal temperature range for germination is 12-20°C. Germination is inhibited at temperatures below 8°C or above 30°C. Soil moisture should be maintained between 22%-35%. If soil moisture falls below 15%, the plants may wilt.
Distribution:
- Origin: Kashmir. Cultivated in China’s Sichuan (Emei Mountain), Yunnan (Weixi, Kunming), Guangxi, and Guizhou (Guiyang, Dushan).
Propagation Methods:
- Seed Sowing: Sow seeds in spring or autumn. In moist soil areas, sow around the spring equinox; in arid areas, sow before the rainy season. Clean seeds should be soaked in 30°C water for 24 hours, then air-dried before sowing. If the soil is dry and irrigation is not possible, do not treat the seeds to avoid loss of germination capability. In early September, for autumn sowing without pre-soaking, make furrows 50 cm apart, sow seeds, cover with 3-5 cm of soil, and lightly tamp down. The seeding rate is 0.7-1 kg per mu; for point sowing, plant seeds 15 cm apart with 3-5 seeds per hole, cover with 3-5 cm of soil, and lightly tamp down. The seeding rate for point sowing is 0.5-1 kg per mu. In moist soil, cover with a thinner layer of soil. Young Aucklandia costus plants are sensitive to strong light, so it is recommended to sow in spring alongside tall crops like corn to provide shade and make full use of the land.
Main Value:
- Medicinal Use: The dried root of Aucklandia costus is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It is warm in nature, with a spicy and bitter taste, and is used for the spleen, stomach, large intestine, sanjiao, and gallbladder meridians. It helps strengthen the stomach, reduce bloating, regulate qi, relieve depression, alleviate pain, and stabilize the fetus. It is used for conditions such as abdominal distension and pain, diarrhea, indigestion, and lack of appetite. It is a common Chinese medicine and a major ingredient in many Chinese patent medicines, as listed in various editions of the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China.
