Investigation of original materials of Chinese medicine "Shihu" and "Tiepishihu".

There are two types of Chinese medicine, i.e., "Shihu" and "Tiepi shihu", using the stems of species of Dendrobium (Orchidaceae) as original materials. In order to understand species of Dendrobium using in Chinese medicine, taxonomic investigation and revision were performed. Our results indicated that about sixty species of sect. Dendrobium, sect. Formosae, and Sect. Stachyobium, are used as raw materials of "Shihu". Seven species of Dendrobium moniliforme complex and four species in Dendrobium officinale complex were recognized.