Description
Magnolia officinalis biloba ... Large white perfumed flowers , can sometimes have some pink on the outer tepals ... A large deciduous tree all but unknown outside of China , found in some botanical garden collections ... An endangered red listed magnolia species of China , renowned for its medicinal benefits yet almost unknown outside China ... From its active ingredient , the alkaloid magnocurarine , known to be toxic in high concentrations so never self use plants at home without professional Medical advice ... Chinese Wilson the English Plant hunter talking too local Chinese was introduced too its uses ; as a cure for coughs and colds, and as a tonic and stimulant during convalescence ... More recently Harvard Botanist Lily Perry made extra research available; the drug extracted from the bark she noted as bitter, pungent, and warming and also said it can be prescribed for flatulence, nausea, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, and dysentery ... The dried flower buds , called Yu-po , can be used for intestinal problems, and are an esteemed medicine for women ... First western collection , by Augustine Henry ; Magnolia officinalis var. biloba, distinguishes itself from magnolia officinalis ( Bark also used medicinally ) variety by its deep notches at the leaf apices and a variation in its geographic range ( southeastern Chma-Hubei, Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Fujian, and HunanProvinces )