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What is rhubarb? What is it used for? Although most people think rhubarb is a fruit, it’s actually a vegetable, and one of only a handful of perennial vegetables on the planet. There are several varieties of rhubarb available. The most common type, rheum rhaponticum, is found in the U.S.…

What is rice paper pith? What is it used for? Rice paper pith comes from the stem of a deciduous shrub, Tetrapanax papyriferus ( Hook .) K. Koch , which is a member of the ginseng family, and the source of rice paper. It reaches a height of approximately 15…

What is rose? What is it used for? The rose is a perennial shrub found worldwide; over 100 species of rose are known to exist. Most rose species are native to Asia, although some are native to North America, Europe and northwest Africa. The typical wild rose has five petals,…

What is rosemary? What is it used for? Rosemary is a medium-sized evergreen shrub that grows to a height of seven feet. Native to Portugal, the plant takes its name from the Latin ” ros marinus ,” which means “sea dew.” Rosemary shrubs consist of stiff branches with long, needle-like…

What is safflower? What is it used for? Safflower is a popular component of traditional Chinese medicine. Safflowers consist of long, tubular stems, with flowers that are orange, red or yellow in appearance. In China, safflowers are grown in the Henan, Hubei, Sichuan and Zhejiang provinces. The flowers are picked…

What is saffron? What is it used for? Saffron is arguably the most expensive herb in the world, due to amount of time and energy it takes to harvest. The term saffron actually refers to the dried stigmas and top of the saffron crocus, a type of flower similar to…

What is sandalwood? What is it used for? Sandalwood is a type of tree that grows primarily in India and other parts of Asia. The wood is famous for its use in carving. From a perspective of health, however, the tree’s volatile oil is of importance, as it is used…

What is sanguisorba root? What is it used for? Also known as the burnet, sanguisorba is a perennial herb found throughout China. It can reach a height of 3 feet, with thing, upright stems and club-shaped clusters of flowers, which are typically dark red and bloom between June and October.…

What is sappan wood? What is it used for? Sappan wood, also known as East Indian redwood, comes from a tree that has both ornamental and medicinal properties. A small, thorny tree, it can reach a height of more than 30 feet. It is found in the wild throughout China…

What is sargent gloryvine? What is it used for? Sargent gloryvine is a climbing type of vine native to east Asia, especially central China. It can reach a length of approximately 25 feet, and grows best in areas that are semi-shaded or have no shade. The vine is usually harvested…

What is saw palmetto? What is it used for? The saw palmetto plant is native to the southeast United States. It grows between two and four feet in height, with fan-shaped, serrated leaves and small, ovoid berries (which range in color from green to yellow to a dark purple). Substances…

What is schefflera? What is it used for? Schefflera is a type of climbing vine found in the tropical and subtropical regions of China, Taiwan, Indonesia and Australia. It can reach a height of approximately 10 feet, with a thin, striated stem and palm-shaped leaves. The leaves, stem and roots…

What is schisandra? What is it used for? Schisandra is a vine that grows in northeast China, Russia and Korea. The vine contains tiny, red berries, which are sun-dried and used medicinally. The berries’ tastes range from sweet and sour to salty and bitter, which help give the vine its…

What is schizonepeta? What is it used for? Schizonepeta is a flowering plant that resembles a thistle in appearance. It grows in the Fiangsu, Zhejiang and Fiangxi provinces in China. The aerial parts of the plant (such as the leaves, stems and flowers) are gathered in autumn and winter, dried…

What is scirpus? What is it used for? Scirpus is a member of the sedge family, an aquatic, grass-like plant that grows in wetlands and moist soil. It is also known as the bur reed, sparganium or grass weed. Approximately 200 varieties of scirpus exist in the world, some of…

What is scopolia? What is it used for? Also known as Russian belladonna, scopolia is a perennial plant native to southern Germany, Austria and southwest Russia. The plant can reach a height of two feet, with a fleshy stem and dull green leaves. The plant’s rhizomes, or underground parts, vary…

What is scorpion? What is it used for? The scorpion is a land-based animal with an elongated body, strong claw-like appendages and a curved tail that ends in a venomous stinger. They are found throughout the world and can live in a wide range of environments, including deserts, grasslands and…

What is scrophularia? What is it used for? Also known as the Chinese figwort, scrophularia grows in the Zhejiang and Sichuan provinces of China. (Other species of scrophularia grow in Europe and parts of North America.) The plant consists of one long branch, with large, tear-shaped leaves and flowers that…

What is scutellaria? What is it used for? Also known as the Baikal skullcap, scutellaria is one of the oldest herbs in traditional Chinese medicine; writings dating from the second century AD have listed scutellaria as a component of several herbal formulas used at the time. Scutellaria is a conical,…

What is sea cucumber? What is it used for? Sea cucumber is not a plant, but actually an animal similar to a slug. It is a sea creature, resembling a cucumber in appearance, which is related to sea urchins and starfish, and resides on the ocean floor. There are hundreds…