Identification & Quality Standard
Radix Saposhnikoviae
Botanical Origin
The dried root of Saposhnikovia divaricate (Turcz.) Schischk.(Apiaceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in eastern Inner Mongolia.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is thick and strong, thins and tight skin, without hairy head, fractured surface has brown rings and pale yellow center.
Macroscopic Features
Cylindrical or fusiform, slightly curved, 20~30cm long, head diameter is about 1cm, middle diameter is 1~1.5cm. Externally grayish-yellowish or grayish-brown. Root head has dense thin ring striations with thick brown hairs; apex has scars of stem; outer skin is wrinkled and rough, with irregular wrinkles and thin horizontal lines; both the scattered dirty-yellow long horizontally-oriented lenticels and the spotty raised scars of rootlets can be seen. Loose and soft texture, easily broken; fractured surface is not smooth; xylem is pale yellow, cortex is yellowish-brown with cracks and radial rays. faintly aromatic odor; slightly sweet taste.
