芫花

Daphne genkwa, commonly known as 芫花 in Chinese, is a deciduous shrub native to East Asia. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine as one of the 50 fundamental herbs. The plant is part of the Thymelaeaceae family and was first described by Siebold & Zucc. in 1840. In its natural habitat, Daphne genkwa grows in forested areas and is characterized by its small, fragrant flowers. Its medicinal properties have been recognized for centuries, and it is typically used in processed forms due to its toxicity in raw form.