Table 1 Documented ritual plants used among the Bai in Shaxi, Soutwest China

Artemisia sp1

Asteraceae

100523-4/1

100530-1/1

Herb

Fields

bǎihāozǐ

Aerial parts,

leaves

RIT, dried and rolled to balls to ignite incense;

OTH, leaves bagged and hanged around the neck as scented sachet^3,4, shoot axis dried used as chop sticks^3,4, whole plant placed in rice field as pesticide^3,4.

Artemisia sp2

Asteraceae

100528-1/1

100530-1/2

Herb

Fields

hēihāozǐ,

qīnghāo

Shoot axis,

aerial parts

RIT, dried shoot axis used as stick for joss stick production⁴;

MED, aerial parts topically applied against inflammations^3,4 and to stop bleedings^3,4;

OTH, aerial parts steamed to clean air⁴, aerial parts rubbed to clean plates^3,4.

Basella alba L.

Basellaceae

100523-1/1

Herb

Villages

téngqī

Subterranean

parts

RIT, dried and powdered used as glue for joss stick production;

CUL, subterranean parts edible^3,4.

Bambuseae

Poaceae

100609-5/1

Shrub

Villages

zhúzi

Culm

RIT, dried, split culms used as sticks for joss stick production.

Chamaecyparis obtusa aff.

Cupressaceae

100530-1/4

Tree

Villages

biǎnbǎi

Branches,

wood

RIT, dried and powdered branches and wood used as incense³;

OTH, wood used to build coffins^3,4.

Cinnamomum glanduliferum (Wall.) Meisn.

Lauraceae

100612-3/1

100607-2/1

Tree

Villages

xiāngzhāng

Leaves,

fruits,

wood

RIT, leaves dried and powdered used as incense³;

CUL (MED), fruits edible, chewed against stomach ache³;

OTH, wood is insect repellent therefore used to build containers for clothes^3,4.

Cornus oblonga Wall.

Cornaceae

100529-3/1

100608-1/1

Shrub

Mountains

luceizi⁴,

yiguizi⁴

Leaves,

wood

RIT, leaves dried and powdered used as incense;

FUE, wood used as firewood^3,4.

Cupressus funebris Endl.

Cupressaceae

100523-3/1

100608-1/3

Tree

Villages

xiubai,

sōngbǎi,

xiāngbǎishù

Leaves,

wood

RIT, leaves dried and powdered used as incense; wood chopped to match-sized pieces used as incense⁴;

OTH, wood used to build coffins^3,4 and construct houses^3,4, branches placed in rice fields as pesticide^3,4.

Gaultheria fragrantissima Wall.

Ericaceae

100530-1/6

100619-1/1

Shrub

Mountains

fāngxiāngyóu

Leaves,

fruits,

aerial parts,

RIT, leaves dried and powdered used as incense;

CUL, fruits eaten raw^3,4;

MED, decoction of leaves used for postnatal washing^3,4;

OTH, leaves steam distilled to produce fragrant liquid⁴, aerial parts placed in rice fields as pesticide⁴.

Gonostegia hirta (Blume) Miq.

Urticaceae

100601-1/1

Herb

Villages

mùjué,

nuòmǐcǎo⁴

Subterranean parts

RIT, dried and powdered used as glue for joss stick production.

Imperata cylindrica (L.) Rausch.

Poaceae

100527-1/1

100608-1/5

100609-1/2

-

Fields,

Mountains

zǐsūncǎo

Whole plant

RIT, planted on top of graves to support prosperous family development.

Juniperus formosana Hayata

Cupressaceae

100530-1/3

Tree

Villages

cisong⁴,

cìbǎi,

shānshù⁴

Leaves

RIT, leaves dried and powdered used as incense.

Juniperus squamata Buch.-Ham.

Cupressaceae

100530-1/5

Tree

Villages

cìbǎi,

shānshù⁴

Leaves,

wood

RIT, leaves dried and powdered used as incense³, wood chopped to match-sized pieces used as incense⁴.

Ligustrum sempervirens (Franch.) Lingelsh.

Oleaceae

100529-2/1

100602-1/1

100608-1/4

100622-1/1

Shrub

Mountains

dongbuxiu,

waibeizi⁴,

dòubànxiāng,

xiāngyè

Leaves

RIT, dried and powdered used as incense.

Lyonia ovalifolia (Wall.) Drude

Ericaceae

100609-4/2

Shrub

Mountains

xiumulu⁴,

geizimeimeixi⁴

Leaves

RIT, dried and powdered used as incense^3,4.

Pinus yunnanensis Franch.

Pinaceae

100529-4/1

Tree

Mountains

sōngshù,

sōngbǎi⁴

Root

RIT, dried and powdered used as incense, used as fire powder on Torch Festival³.

Pistacia weinmanniifolia J. Poiss. ex Franch.

Anacardiaceae

100609-2/1

Shrub

Mountains

aixiang⁴

Branches

RIT, dried and powdered as incense.

Populus sp.

Salicaceae

100608-1/2

Tree

Mountains

baizou,

baizong,

báihuà⁴,

báichá⁴,

báiyángshù⁴

Branches

RIT, inserted into holes of gates and walls to prevent evil spirits and small animals from entering.

Prinsepia utilis Royle

Rosaceae

100529-1/1

Shrub

Mountains

z(h)ongdaqi,

qīngcìguǒ,

qīngpíshù⁴

Branches,

fruits,

seeds

RIT, branches inserted into holes of gates and walls to prevent evil spirits from entering;

CUL, fruits collected and pressed for oil production, young leaves edible^3,4;

MED, seed-oil rubbed on skin against-inflammations^3,4.

Ternstroemia gymnanthera (Wight & Arn.) Bedd.

Theaceae

100609-4/1

Shrub

Mountains

azijixiu⁴,

xiangye

Leaves,

aerial parts

RIT, leaves dried and powdered used as incense³;

OTH, aerial parts placed in rice fields as pesticide⁴.