to protect clothes from insects. Medicinal In traditional Chinese medicine, osmanthus tea has been used as an herbal tea for the treatment of irregular menstruation. The extract of dried flowers showed neuroprotective, free-radical scavenging, antioxidative effects in in vitro assays. Cultural associations From the occasion of its blossoming, the sweet osmanthus is closely associated with the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. Osmanthus wine is a traditional choice for the "reunion wine" drunk with one's family, and osmanthus-flavored confections and teas may also be consumed. Chinese mythology held that a sweet osmanthus grows on the moon and was endlessly cut by Wu Gang: some versions held that he was forced to cut it every 1000 years lest its luxuriant growth overshadow the moon itself, others that he was obliged to cut it constantly only to see it regrow an equal amount every day. In late imperial China, the osmanthus was also associated with the imperial examinations, which were held in the 8th lunar month. The chengyu "pluck osmanthus in the Toad Palace" (, Chángōng zhé guì) was a refined paraphrase for "passing the exam", in part since one would attract hangers-on as if he smelled as sweet as osmanthus thereafter. "Breaking the osmanthus twig and mounting the dragon" was another euphemism, in this case, for sex. Notes References External links line drawing of Osmanthus fragrans, Manual of Vascular Plants of the Lower Yangtze Valley China Illustration fig. 296 fragrans Flora of Guizhou Flora of Sichuan Flora of Yunnan Flora of Taiwan Flora of Japan Flora of Assam (region) Flora of Bhutan Flora of Indo-China Plants described in 1790 Medicinal plants Plants used in traditional Chinese medicine Trees of Nepal