Identification & Quality Standard
Caulis Akebiae
Botanical Origin
The dried vine of Akebia quinata (Thunb.) Decne., Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) Koidz., and Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) Koidz. var. australis (Diels) Rehd.(Lardiazabalaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the east of China.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is thick, even.
Macroscopic Features
Akebia quinata (Thunb.) Decne.: Cylindrical, slightly twisted, 0.2~0.5cm diameter. Externally grayish-brown, lustrous, with shallow longitudinal lines, lenticels round or horizontal long round, raised, about 1mm diameter, with branches. Firm and brittle texture, easily broken, fractured surface is relatively fat, cortex is easily peeled off, xylem grayish-white, ducts densely arranged and irregular, thin rays are indistinct, round center pith is obvious. faint odor, tasteless and slightly acrid taste. Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) Koidz.: cylindrical twisted, 0.2~1.5cm diameter. Externally gray, grayish-brown, or dark brown, color is uneven, very rough, with numerous irregular longitudinal cracks and horizontal cracks, sometimes has grayish-green moss, round lenticels or horizontal long round, raised, brown, unobvious, 1~2mm diameter; with stem scars. Cortex is easily peeled off from the xylem, and appears brownish-yellow; rays have dark brown longitudinal grooves. Pliable texture, not easily broken, fractured surface shows xylem that is yellowish-white, dense ducts in irregular arrangement. Akebia trifoliate (Thunb.) Koidz. var. australis (Diels) Rehd: diameter is 5~8mm. Externally yellowish-brown or dark brown. Irregular longitudinal grooves, with stem scars. Pliable texture, not easily to break, fractured surface has pale yellow sylum, dense dusts in irregular arrangement, about 13 rays, pale yellow rays, sub-spherical pith. faint odor, slightly bitter taste.
