Pleuropterus multiflorus

Pleuropterus multiflorus is a herbaceous perennial vine growing to tall from a woody tuber. The leaves are long and broad, broad arrowhead-shaped, with an entire margin. The flowers are diameter, white or greenish-white, produced on short, dense panicles up to long in summer to mid-autumn. The fruit is an achene long. ==In folk belief==

In Chinese folklore, it is believed that the root of he shou wu (何首烏, Pleuropterus multiflorus) can, after a thousand years, transform into a human form, either as a child or an old person. It is also said that Zhang Guolao, one of the Eight Immortals, achieved immortality by consuming the essence of he shou wu. Two types of stories often revolve around the essence of he shou wu. In one version, a monk or Taoist acquires a human-shaped he shou wu and instructs a disciple to cook it. The disciple, tempted, secretly tastes it, becomes immortal, and disappears. In the other version, the essence of he shou wu takes on human form and accompanies a woman. Finding his behavior suspicious, the woman sews a thread into him. The following day, she traces the thread and finds it attached to a he shou wu root, from which a human shape is growing. ==Traditional medicine==

Pleuropterus multiflorus is listed in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia and is one of the most popular perennial traditional Chinese medicines. Caution must be taken, however, as overconsumption can lead to toxicity-induced hepatitis. Chemistry More than 100 chemical compounds have been isolated from Pleuropterus multiflorus, and the major components have been determined to be stilbenes, quinones, flavonoids, and others. Its extract contains a stilbene glycoside. == See also ==