解缙 蒲葉桃葉葡萄葉 草本木本 Leaves of the Dandelion, Peach

薬用植物巧联   明。 解缙

蒲葉桃葉葡萄葉，草本木本。

梅花桂花玫瑰花，春香秋香。

Funny Medicinal Couplet

-- by Jie Jin (Ming Dynasty)

-- Translated by Frank C Yue

Leaves of the Dandelion, Peach,

And the Grape vine

(Make medicinal teas fine);

These plants are a herb or a tree.

The Plum and Cassia Blossoms,

And the Rose (-- sweet as sweet can be --

That make soothing, healing teas)

Send out fragrance in Spring and Autumn.

from the net: a v funny n tricky couplet --

< 明朝对联大师解缙曾写过这样一副对联：
     “蒲叶桃叶葡萄叶，草本木本；
      梅花桂花玫瑰花，春香秋香。”

    上联的蒲属草本植物，桃与葡萄属木本植物。下联的梅于冬末春初开花，桂和玫瑰于夏秋时节开花，可谓对得奇巧，又充满美感。>

moreover, there are two pairs of puns involved, namely,

'蒲桃叶' and '葡萄叶'; and

'梅桂花' and '玫瑰花'

which can never be translated into English!！(Sigh.)