Inula Flower (Round spherical shape, mostly lanceolate-linear bracts, greyish-green, ligulate, receptacle hemispherical and light yellow, light in weight and easily scattered)

Guangdong Inula Flower

Honey-fried Inula Flower

Inula Flower (Authentic product on the left, Guangdong product on the right)

【Naming】

Inula Flower

 【Source】

Lower Grade in the Classic of Herbal Medicine

 【Common Usage Level】

D

 【Botanical Origin】

Dried capitulum of Inula japonica Thunb. or Inula linariaefolia Turcz. of the Compositae family.

 【Properties】

The flower head is roughly spherical, the capitulum is 1-2 cm in diameter. The involucre consists of numerous bracts arranged in an imbricate pattern in five layers. The bracts are slightly lanceolate or linear, pale yellowish-green. The outer layer of the flower head is a row of ligulate flowers, about 15-30 in number, unisexual, with a ligulate corolla, pale yellow, about 1 cm long, and three shallowly lobed at the apex. The central part of the flower head consists of about 200-300 densely arranged bisexual tubular flowers, 4-6 mm long, with a yellow corolla, about 5 mm long, and five-lobed at the apex. The ovary is oblong-cylindrical and has pappus. It is easily scattered when rubbed by hand. Each flower grows on a flat, dish-shaped receptacle, about 4-5 mm in diameter, slightly raised in the center. It is soft in texture and easily scattered when rubbed by hand. It has a faint odor, a slightly bitter taste, and a cooling sensation. After being honey-fried, it is brownish-yellow.

 【Processing】

1. Used raw. 2. Fried Inula Flower

 【Identification】

Divided into two grades according to the size and color of the flower head. First-grade products are large and yellow, while second-grade products are smaller and pale yellow. If the flower heads turn black, the flowers are lost, or the tubular flowers in the central part are damaged, they are considered substandard.

 【Category】

Flowers