Lily Bulb
Lily Bulb (Spatulate triangle, white to light brown, longitudinal lines straight to the tip, base slightly thick with thin edges)
Fresh Lily Bulb
Su Lily Bulb
Vegetable Lily Bulb
Honey-processed Lily Bulb
Honey-processed Su Lily Bulb
【Naming】
【Source】
Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, Middle Grade
【Common Usage Level】
B
【Botanical Origin】
Fleshy scales of Lilium brownii F. E. Brown, Lilium lancifolium Thunb. (Tiger Lily), Lilium pumilum DC. (Coral Lily) of the Liliaceae family.
【Characteristics】
1. Lily Bulb: Consists of elongated oval-shaped petals. The scales are smaller than the following two types, approximately 2-3.5cm long and 1-1.5cm wide. The middle is about 1-5mm thick, with thin edges that are slightly curved inward. The tip is slightly pointed, and the base is wider. The outer surface is yellowish-white, translucent, and thin slices may show distinct longitudinal fine striations (i.e., vascular bundles) with 3-5 veins, some of which are not obvious. The texture is firm, easily broken, and the fracture surface is relatively flat and horn-like. It has no odor and a slightly bitter taste.
2. Tiger Lily: The scales are elongated oval, with a sharper tip, a wider base, thin, slightly wavy edges, often curled inward. It is 2-3.5cm long and 1-1.5cm wide. The surface is milky white or light yellowish-brown, smooth, translucent, with 3-8 longitudinal straight veins. The texture is hard and brittle, easily broken, and the fracture surface is relatively flat and horn-like. It is odorless and has a slightly bitter taste.
3. Coral Lily: The scales are larger, 5.5cm long, 2.5cm wide, and 3.5mm thick. The color is darker, or with a black-purple hue, and the veins are often indistinct.
【Processing】
1. Raw Lily Bulb 2. Honey Lily Bulb
【Identification】
“Fan Zi Yun: The best *Di Ti Mu* comes from the Three Auxiliary Regions, and the yellowish-white ones are good.” (From *Zheng Lei Ben Cao*).
Good quality lily bulb has uniform petals, thick flesh, yellowish-white color (ivory), firm texture, few veins, and is fine in quality. Those that have been stored for a long time and have a reddish color are second-rate.
【Category】
Rhizomes and Tubers