摘 要 ：植物学和医药在科学启蒙时期是合而不分的。东西文化相同。中国古代本草(ancient Chinese materia medica),欧洲中世纪的药物书籍(European medieval herbals),共同证明这件史实。欧洲17—18世纪经典的植物著述,是那个时代医生们业余的工作成果;19世纪亚洲美洲的植物志,以及植物地理知识,基本上是舍弃医药职业从事植物研究之先锋植物学家的成绩。现代植物学知识和方法,更是研究中草药不能缺少而且不可忽略的基础。试举三例说明,职业植物学家如何以正确鉴定和合法命名,解决国际间药物交流问题,并怎样以植物解剖知识澄清药材商品素质混乱情形。凡是能力强工作负责的药用植物学家,都是热心的环境保护者,因为他们工作的地方,既是标本馆实验室,又是野外的大自然;他们确知,自然没有任何取之不尽用之不竭的资源,更没有丰富的药物资源。加之以人们无情地挖掘,任意地采集,无数有药用价值的植物,己遭到不可挽救的毁灭,绝了种!有的也接近灭绝的危运。再看未来,植物学家除了研究植物本体之外,更加上唤起民众爱惜自然植被保护环境的重要职责,并且筛选有利于人畜保健的植物,逐一研究其生境与其成活的环境条件,和农业科学家合作引种驯化,以达成合理利用中草药植物资源的要求。
Abstract:In the beginning of the history of sciences, botany and medicine were inseparable. Both the ancient Chinese materia medica and the medieval European herbals illustrated this fact. In Europe, the botanical classics of the seventeenth and the eighteenth centuries were prepared by successful physicians. In the nineteenth century, the floristie and phytogeographie researches were conducted in America and in Asia by men who gave up their medical practices and became botanists. At present, approximately 89% of Chinese drugs are prepared from plant material. It makes botanical research an indispensible phase in the study of Chinese materia medica, because investigators working on the biological structures of the source material, on the chemical composition and/or on the practical application of the drugs are dependent on the botanists for proper identification and correct names in their communication of the results of their works. Several cases are cited to illustrate the vietal role of a professional botanist for solving problems in international trade and in researches on Chinese medicinal material.A competent botanist interested in Chinese medicinal plants is a good naturalist because he works both in the laboratories and in the field. He knows that many species with medicinal value are irrestrievably lost or on the verge of extinction because of ruthless digging and careless collection. Moreover,current population growth and technological developments encroach upon natural areas. He understands that NATURE does not have an unlimited supply of medicinal plant resources. Looking into the future, botanists have added responsibilities in alerting the public to the need of conservation of natural vegetation, protection of species containing compounds invaluable to the well-being of mankind, and the participation of programs for the cultivation of useful medicinal species.