Raspberry
Fù Pén Zǐ (覆盆子) – Raspberry (Mostly aggregate fruit, yellowish-green to light brown, blunt round at the top and joined at the base, hairy, with persistent calyx, small fruits are crescent-shaped and easily peeled off)
[Naming]
[Source]
Recorded in Bié Lù (別錄) as a superior grade herb
[Commonly Used Level]
D
[Botanical Origin]
The dried unripe fruit of Rubus palmatus Thunb. or Rubus chingii Hu., both belonging to the Rosaceae family.
[Characteristics]
It is an aggregate fruit composed of many small fruits. The whole fruit is conical, oblate, or spherical, with a diameter of 4~10㎜ and a height of 5~12㎜. The surface is grayish-green with grayish-white pubescence. The upper part is blunt and round, the bottom is flat, often with a pedicel, which is brittle and easily falls off. The base of the receptacle is concave inward, and the persistent calyx and filaments can still be seen. The small fruits are easily peeled off. Each small fruit is crescent-shaped, with dense grayish-white pubescence on the back, and obvious reticulate patterns on both sides, containing 1 brown seed. It has a clear and fragrant aroma and a sweet and slightly sour taste.
[Identification]
Rén Shù Biàn Lǎn (仁術便覽) says: “The raspberries from the south are better.” Běn Cǎo Xīn Biān (本草新編) says: “Meaning it is best used with Rén Shēn (人參) – Ginseng.”
It is best to have large, complete, plump, firm, yellowish-gray-green fruits, without leaves, stems, or impurities.
[Category]
Fruit Category