Black Soybean (Green cotyledon, Yellow cotyledon) (Oval, black, with an oblong hilum on one side, two yellowish-white cotyledons, seed coat, often rolled into irregular fragments, black outer surface)

Black Soybean (Yellow cotyledon)

Soybean

Black Soybean Seed Coat (Lüdou Yi)

【Naming】

Black Soybean

 【Source】

Ben Jing Zhong Pin‧Da Dou (Materia Medica, Middle Grade – Soybean)

 【Botanical Origin】

Black seed coat of soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. (family Leguminosae).

 【Characteristics】

(1) Seeds are nearly spherical or oval, 6-9mm long and 5-7mm in diameter. The seed coat surface is black or brownish-black, with an oblong hilum on one side. After removing the seed coat, there are two well-developed yellowish-white cotyledons inside. The radicle is located at the micropyle end. It has a slight odor, a bland taste, and a beany, greasy feeling when chewed. (2) The dried seed coat is often rolled into irregular fragments, with a brownish-black or black outer surface, often with a layer of grayish-white substance attached. In larger fragments, a long ring-shaped hilum can be seen. The inner surface is dark gray to dark brown, smooth.

 【Identification】

The best are dry, black in color, and free of impurities. The commercial Lüdou Yi (also known as Lüdou Pi or Liaodou Yi) medicinal material is this product.

 【Category】

Seeds