馬(ma)鞭(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)草(cao)(cao)(cao)是多年生直立草(cao)(cao)(cao)本植物(wu),高可達120厘米,花果期6-10月(yue),是一種常見的中藥材(cai)。馬(ma)鞭(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)草(cao)(cao)(cao)多數(shu)生長于(yu)原野(ye),原產(chan)于(yu)歐洲,中國(guo)華(hua)(hua)東、華(hua)(hua)南(nan)和(he)西南(nan)大部(bu)地區都有分布,全草(cao)(cao)(cao)供藥用(yong),性涼(liang)(liang),味微苦,馬(ma)鞭(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)草(cao)(cao)(cao)功(gong)效有涼(liang)(liang)血、散瘀、通經、清熱、解毒(du)、止癢、驅蟲、消脹(zhang)等,馬(ma)鞭(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)草(cao)(cao)(cao)花語是正義、期待(dai),在基(ji)督(du)教(jiao)中,馬(ma)鞭(bian)(bian)(bian)(bian)草(cao)(cao)(cao)被視為是神圣的花,經常被用(yong)來(lai)裝飾在宗教(jiao)意識的祭壇上。