Codonopsis pilosula

Chinese Name: Codonopsis pilosula

Class: root

Sub global flower Asia bell root

[alias]: Codonopsis lanceolata, Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, Radix Sophorae Flavescentis.

[source]: it is the root of Codonopsis subglobosa w.w.smith.

[harvest]: dig in autumn, dry in the sun, or cut into thin slices.

[nature and taste]: the root is long spindle or cylindrical, sometimes flattened, less divided, 20-50cm long, 1-3cm in diameter, small near the head of reed, similar to the head of snake or earthworm. The surface is brown or light brown, with longitudinal groove, sparsely transverse long lenticels, and the upper part has fine and dense ring lines. The rhizome (Lutou) is long with many tiny stem and bud marks. It is hard, with light brown skin and yellowish white wood. It has special odor, pungent and slightly sweet taste. Warm in nature, pungent and slightly sweet in taste.

[plant morphology]: herbaceous Liana with yellowish milk and strong odor. The stem has many branches and sparse white bristles. Leaves alternate, leaf blade broadly ovate, smaller, apex obtuse or acute, base shallowly cordate or obtuse, margin microwavy or linear obtuse, serrate, with pubescence above and sparsely hispid below. Flower terminal or lateral; pedicel bristled; calyx attached to the top of ovary, with 10 obvious radial veins, sparsely white bristles on veins, lobes separated from each other, margin serrate, back covered with white bristles; corolla spherical broad bell shaped, 2cm long, 2-2.5cm in diameter, light yellow green, apex dark purple red, outer apex bristles. Capsule lower part hemispherical, upper part short conical or pointed beak. The flowering and fruiting period is from July to October.

[growing place]: it grows on the grass slope, beside the rubble mound, in the stone crevice or in the shrub beside the ditch. It is mainly produced in Sichuan and Yunnan.

[chemical composition]: atractylolide III and polysaccharide.

[functional indications]: the same as dangshen.

Chinese PinYin : Dang Can Qiu Hua Dang Can