Ophiopogon

Ophiopogon is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the family Ruscaceae, formerly classified with the Liliaceae. There are about 65 species, native to warm temperate to tropical east, southeast, and south Asia. The name of the genus is derived from Greek ophis, "snake", and pogon, "beard", most probably referring to its leaves.

They grow from short rhizomes, and bear tufts of leaves, from which flowers emerge in racemes held on short stems above the leaves. Selected species

Cultivation and uses

In Chinese medicine the tuber of Ophiopogon japonicus, known as mai men dong, is the cardinal herb for yin deficiency. According to the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, the herb is sweet, slightly bitter and slightly cold, enters the heart, lung and stomach channels and nourishes the yin of the stomach, spleen, heart and lungs and clears heat and quiets irritability. It is used for hacking dry coughs, dry tongue and mouth and constipation. Liriope (genus) is used as a substitute.

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