Kochia Fruit (Five-pointed star shape, greyish-green, with a membranous small wing around the perimeter, a raised center on the back, mixed with broken small leaves)

(Top Left) Kochia Fruit (Top Right) Motherwort Fruit (Bottom Left) Fenugreek (Bottom Right) Radish Seed

【Name】

Kochia Fruit

 【Source】

Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, Superior Class

 【Commonly Used Level】

D

 【Botanical Origin】

The dried mature fruit of Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad. in the Chenopodiaceae family.

 【Characteristics】

It is a flat, round, five-pointed star shape, with a diameter of 1~3㎜ and a thickness of about 1㎜. The outside is the persistent perianth, membranous, with 5 lobes at the apex, and the lobes are triangular, earthy grey-green or light brown; some have 5 small triangular wings, arranged in a five-pointed star shape, with five radial ridges on the back; the base has a round dot-shaped pedicel scar. The perianth is easily peeled off, and there is a small nut inside, horizontal, the pericarp is translucent membranous, with dotted patterns, and it is also easy to peel off. The seed is brownish-brown, flat, and looks like sesame seeds. It has a slight odor and a slightly bitter taste. This product is often accompanied by many small broken leaves.

 【Identification】

The best quality is grey-green in color, clean, full, and free of branches, leaves, and impurities.

 【Category】

Fruits