“葵”的演化及其原植物考证

The evolution of "Kui" and textual research of its original plant

"葵"是我国古老的植物名称,后又衍生出落葵、蜀葵、锦葵、黄蜀葵、黄葵、龙葵、菟葵、冬葵、向日葵等植物汉名;各汉名亦有演化。故历代本草对"葵"为何物一直莫衷一是,传统中药"冬葵子"也早已失传。经对古籍记载的各种"葵"的考证,确认我国最早的蔬菜和药用植物"葵",即为落葵Basella alba L.,其演化过程为:葵→终葵→蔠葵→落葵。"冬葵子"当系该植物的种子。

＂Kui＂ was a Chinese name of plant in ancient China,and many Chinese names for plants,such as ＂Luokui＂,＂Shukui＂,＂Jinkui＂,＂Huangshukui＂,＂Longkui＂,＂Tukui＂,＂Dongkui＂,＂Xiangrikui＂,etc,were derived from it during its long history.Also,these Kui-derived names evolved greatly,which brought a confusion for ＂Kui＂＇s original plant in Chinese herbal books.Facts show that the traditional Chinese herb medicine ＂Dongkuizi＂ has been lost for a long time.Textual researches confirm that the earliest used vegetable and herbal plant ＂Kui＂ in China should be ＂Luokui＂（Basella alba L.）,and ＂Dongkuizi＂ should be its seed.