Identification & Quality Standard
Fructus Forsythiae
Botanical Origin
The dried fruit of Forsythia suspense (Thunb.) Vahl.(Oleaceae). The fruit harvested when still green is called Qing qiao; the fruit harvest when mature and yellow is called Lao qiao.
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has yellow color, large halves, thick shells.
Macroscopic Features
Yellow lian qiao (Lao qiao): Long oval or oval shape, with narrow and pointy ends, often cracked into 2 parts. Externally has one obvious longitudinal groove and irregular longitudinal wrinkles and raised spots, with remnants of fruit stem, external surface is brownish-yellow, inner surface is pale yellowish-brown, smooth, with one longitudinal partition inside. Hard and brittle texture. Seeds often fall off. faintly aromatic odor; bitter taste. Green lian qiao (Qing qiao): narrow oval to oval shape, with narrow and pointy ends, often not cracked. Externally green or greenish-brown, with 2 longitudinal grooves and raised small spots, with one longitudinal partition inside, or has remnants of fruit stem. Hard texture. Aromatic odor; bitter taste.
