Lilii Rhizoma et Radix (wearing a straw raincoat)
Lilii Rhizoma et Radix slices
【Naming】
【Source】
Lower grade in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing
【Commonly Used Degree】
E
【Botanical Origin】
Root and rhizome of Veratrum nigrum L., a plant in the Liliaceae family.
【Characteristics】
The dried rhizome is cylindrical, short and thick, with a brown surface. The upper end has residual leaf bases and brownish hairy fiber bundles. Numerous fibrous roots are clustered around the rhizome, and there are many extremely thin small roots around the loose roots. It is 12~20㎝ long and about 3㎜ thick. The surface is yellowish-white or grayish-brown with fine transverse wrinkles, and the lower end has more longitudinal wrinkles. The texture is light and easy to break. The cross-section is white, with a light yellow fibrous xylem in the center, which is easily separated from the cortex. The odor is weak, and the taste is bitter and pungent. The powder has a strong sneezing effect.
【Identification】
《Illustrated Materia Medica》: “The ones growing in high mountains are the best.” 《Zheng Lei Ben Cao》: “Fan Zi said: The yellowish-white ones are good”, “The ones growing in high mountains are the best.” 《Compendium of Materia Medica》: “Fan Zi Ji Ran said: Those from Hedong, the yellowish-white ones are good.” 《Hui Zhitang’s Experienced Prescriptions》: “Lilii Rhizoma et Radix, the ones with the shape of scallion tubes are genuine.” It is best to use roots that are thick, firm, and have a powdery cross-section.
【Identification Terminology】
1. Brown hair: Harder and thicker brown hair on the surface of medicinal materials, in the form of fibers, mostly vascular bundles of petioles or leaf bases, such as Lilii Rhizoma et Radix, Bai Hua Qian Hu, Cyperi Rhizoma, and Radix et Rhizoma Leucoptyi, etc. Among them, Lilii Rhizoma et Radix is called “wearing a straw raincoat.” 2. Brown head: Refers to the above-ground stem of Lilii Rhizoma et Radix, which is covered by clasping leaf bases. The mesophyll is mostly withered, leaving behind brown leaf stems and brownish hairy vascular bundles, which vary in length and resemble a straw raincoat, such as black Lilii Rhizoma et Radix. Radix et Rhizoma Leucoptyi is called “wearing a bamboo hat”, and Bai Hua Qian Hu is called “brown bract”.
【Chapter】
Root Category