Bletilla Rhizome (Concentric Rings) (Flat and round like a palm, yellowish-white fine lines, dense ring patterns around)
Small Bletilla Rhizome
Bletilla Rhizome Slices (Firm texture, ivory-white, corneous, sticky when wet)
【Naming】
【Source】
Shen Nong’s Classic of Materia Medica, lower grade
【Frequency of Use】
C
【Botanical Origin】
Fleshy rhizome of Bletilla striata (Thunb.) Reichb. f., family Orchidaceae.
【Characteristics】
The dried rhizome is somewhat palmately flattened, with 2-3 branches. Younger rhizomes are thicker and have shorter branches, with better quality. It is 1.5-4.5 cm long and about 0.5 cm thick. The surface is yellowish-white with fine wrinkles. There are raised stem scars on the upper surface, with brownish concentric rings around the stem scar. There are fine root scars on it. The texture is hard and not easy to break, with a slightly bitter taste.
The medicinal slices are cross-cut or very thin slices with irregular shapes. The cut surface is white or light yellow, corneous, translucent, and scattered with vascular bundle dots, with a mucilaginous texture.
【Identification】
“Lu Fu Jin Fang”: “Bletilla Rhizome, White Clove, Batryticated Silkworm, White Chalk, Tribulus terrestris, Fresh Cimicifuga (the white one is better)”. “Good and Bad Identification”: “The plump and white ones are good.”
The best quality is indicated by thick rhizomes, bright white color, translucence, tender texture, heavy gumminess, no discoloration, large and firm size, and no fibrous roots.
【Identification Terminology】
1. Ring patterns: On the upper and lower sides and the tips of the branches of the Bletilla Rhizome, there are 2-3 concentric rings centered on the stem scar (connected to another rhizome).
【Category】
Rhizomes