Fu Xiao Mai (Floating Wheat)
Fu Xiao Mai (Floating Wheat) (Caryopsis, with a deep longitudinal groove in the center of the ventral side)
Oat (Substitute)
【Naming】
【Source】
Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, Middle Grade, Wheat
【Commonly Used Degree】
D
【Botanical Origin】
The dried, light, floating, thin and weak fruits of wheat Triticum aestivum L. of the Gramineae family, those that float after being washed in water.
【Characteristics】
The dried caryopsis is round, about 2~6㎜ long and about 1.5~2.5 ㎜ in diameter. The surface is light yellowish-brown, slightly wrinkled, with a deep longitudinal groove in the center of the ventral side, and an inconspicuous embryo at the base of the dorsal side. The top has yellow villi. It is hard in texture. A few extremely shriveled ones are soft in texture. The cross-section is white or light yellow, and a few have glumes and lemmas. It has no odor and a bland taste.
【Identification】
It is best to have even grains, be light in weight and float on water, and have a shiny surface. Market products are mostly hard, solid wheat kernels.
【Category】
Fruits