(40) 珊瑚菜
Glehnia littoralis F. Schmidt ex Miq.
傘形科 [Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)]
Status in China: Vulnerable (VU). Wild plant under State protection (category II). Recorded in China Plant Red Data Book and Illustration of Rare & endangered plant in Guangdong Province.
Description: Perennial herbs, 5-20 cm tall, densely white villose; roots slender, terete, up to 40 cm long, fleshy, stem buried in sand with apical part emerged above ground. Leaves 1-2-ternate or pinnate, ovate-triangular or triangular-ovate, 6-10 cm long, 2.5-4 cm wide, margin irregular coarsely toothed; petioles c. 10 cm long, sheathed. Flowers hermaphrodite, small, white, arranged in compound umbels. Fruits ellipsoidal, 1.2-1.8 cm long, tomentose, main ridge with corky wing.
Distribution: Sai Kung. Coastal areas of Hainan, Guangdong and Liaoning. Korea, Japan and Russia.
Habitat and ecology: On sandy beaches. Flowering: January; fruiting: Apr.
The root of this species is used to treat cough and other throat ailments. The natural populations are very small and vulnerable to disturbance. It has been over-collected in China for its medicinal uses. In Hong Kong, it is only found in a few sandy beaches in Sai Kung, but the locality of the major population has been listed as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
References:
陳忠毅，
1991：廣東植物誌
2：345-346。圖
234。廣東科技出版社，廣州。
傅立國等，
1992：中國植物紅皮書
1：698-699。科學出版社，北京。
吳德鄰等，
1988：廣東珍稀瀕危植物圖譜
38。中國環境科學出版社，北京。
莊兆祥、李甯漢(主編),
1978: 香港中草藥
1: 110-111。商務印書館，香港。