Identification & Quality Standard
Herba Lophatheri
Botanical Origin
The dried stem and leaves of Lophatherum gracile Brongn.(Poaceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Hunan, Hubei.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has large leaves, green, without roots and receptacles.
Macroscopic Features
Stem is cylindrical, 25~30cm long, 1.5~2mm diameter. Externally pale yellowish-green, joints have leaf sheaths; fractured surface has a hollow center. Leaves often wrinkled, lanceolate, 5~20cm long, 1~3.5cm wide; externally pale green or yellowish-green; parallel leaf veins with horizontal small veins, forming a long square lattice-like shape, which is obvious on lower surface. Leaf sheaths are about 5cm long, cracked open, with longitudinal lines on the exterior, and with white long soft hairs on the edge of leaf sheaths. Light, soft and pliable texture; faint odor; mild taste.
