In rural areas, most people only know that the plants that bloom in winter are plum and camellia. However, there is another very common winter flowering plant that does not attract much attention, and that is Dongdong. Dongdong is a plant of the Asteraceae family, whose scientific name is Coltsfoot, and it is a perennial herbaceous plant. The rhizomes of Dongdong are brown and grow underground, and the leaves are heart-shaped or kidney-shaped, covered with fine white hairs. The winter blooms from December to February, and it produces yellow tongue-shaped flowers that look like large chrysanthemums. The fruit will produce oval-shaped seeds in April. Dongdong's appearance is very unique, and it is easy to identify when encountered in the wild in winter. However, Dongdong is not just an ordinary plant, it has multiple functions, and I believe it is very valuable for farmers.
The young leaves of Dongdong can be eaten as wild vegetables. In ancient times, people often picked the young leaves of winter as food to satisfy their hunger. According to the Ming Dynasty's "Materia Medica", the people picked the young leaves of winter and winter to eat. How to eat the young leaves of Dongdong?The young leaves of winter and winter are picked in spring, scalded with boiling water and the bitterness is removed, and can be mixed cold or stir-fried. The young leaves of Dongdong are very delicious, and they are a good wild vegetable. Although the material conditions are good now, people's demand for edible wild vegetables is less, but the edible value of Dongdong is still very high.
The flowers of Dongdong can be used to boil water to make tea, and this tea is called Dongdong flower tea. Dongdong flower tea picks the flowers of winter and winter in winter and spring, and is used to boil water or make tea after drying, which has the effect of moistening the lungs and lowering qi, relieving cough and reducing phlegm. In rural areas, the old people often say that "aster, fritillary, coltsfoot flowers, special treatment of cough to grasp", among which coltsfoot refers to winter flowers. When I was a child, whenever I had a non-stop cough in winter, the old people in the family would pick winter flowers to use. Dongdong flower tea not only has a mellow taste, but also has the effect of strengthening the lungs and stopping cough, which is very suitable for drinking in winter.
Dongdong can not only be eaten, but also used in medicine, which has extremely high medicinal value. Dongdong whole herb can be used to moisten the lungs, relieve cough and reduce phlegm. "Rihuazi Materia Medica" records the effects of winter flowers to moisten the heart and lungs, benefit the five organs, remove annoyance, make up for bad work, eliminate phlegm and stop cough, and pulmonary impotence**. The ancients also had a way to use aster and winter flowers for a long time. The medicinal value of Dongdong has been widely recognized and is used in many traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.
In addition to its edible and medicinal value, Dongdong also has a high ornamental value. Dongdong is a plant of the Asteraceae family, but it is different from Asteraceae plants such as chrysanthemum, Senecio, and aster. The flowers of Dongdong are self-contained, making them ideal for potted plants. Placing Dongdong as a potted plant on your desk or desk is a great choice for interior decoration. The flowers of Dongdong are beautiful and eye-catching when they bloom, giving a pleasant visual treat.
As a common winter flowering plant, Dongdong has multiple roles. When farmers encounter Dongdong in the wild, they should pay attention to its medicinal, edible and ornamental value, and treat Dongdong as a precious plant. In addition, the way to drink Dongdong flower tea is also a healthy choice, which can moisten the lungs and relieve cough. For more of Dongdong's role, you are welcome to share your insights and experiences in the comment area.