Dong Kui Zi (Malva Seed) (Round, flat orange segments, pericarp covering, circular fine wrinkles, kidney-shaped brown seeds)

Dong Kui Zi (Malva Seed) (Qiong Ma – Abutilon Seed) (Triangular kidney shape, indentation with oval hilum)

Dong Kui Zi (Malva Seed), Qiong Ma Zi (Abutilon Seed), Zi Su Zi (Perilla Seed) (can be crushed), Tu Si Zi (Cuscuta Seed)

【Naming】

Dong Kui Zi (Malva Seed)

 【Source】

Xin Xiu Ben Cao (Newly Revised Materia Medica)

 【Common Use Degree】

E

 【Botanical Origin】

Dried seeds of Malva verticillata L. or Abutilon theophrasti Medicus (both in the Malvaceae family).

 【Characteristics】

(1) Dong Kui Zi (Malva Seed): The commercial product appears as round and flat orange segments, or slightly kidney-shaped, small, about 1.5~2mm in diameter. One side is thinner and concave in the center. The outer surface is a brownish-yellow pericarp (fruit peel) with many raised circular fine wrinkles. After removing the peel, the seeds are kidney-shaped, brownish-red or blackish-brown. The texture is hard. After crushing, there is a slight fragrance and a sticky and slippery feeling when chewed.
(2) Qiong (Cao Shang) Ma Zi (Abutilon Seed): Larger, triangular kidney-shaped, with a pointed end, 3.5~6mm long, 2.5~4.5mm wide, and 1~2mm thick. The surface is greyish-black or dark brown, with sparse white villi. The indentation has an oval hilum, light brown, with radiating fine lines around it. The seed coat is hard. After breaking it open, two overlapping heart-shaped cotyledons can be seen, folded over and rich in oil. It has a slight odor and a bland taste.

 【Identification】

“Good and Bad Identification”: “Those with a greyish-black luster and a slightly sweet taste, without dust and other impurities, and a heavy weight are better.”
Full and firm, mature seeds are preferred.

 【Section】

Seeds