Identification & Quality Standard
Radix Peucedani
Botanical Origin
The dried root of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn and Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim.(Apiaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Zhejiang, Sichuan, Hunan.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material has thick and strong strip, soft texture, potent aroma.
Macroscopic Features
Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn: Sub-cylindrical, conical or fusiform, slightly wrinkled, lower portion has branches, about 3~15cm long, 1~2cm diameter. Root head has stem scars and fibrous remnants of leaf sheaths; externally grayish-brown to black-brown, with irregular longitudinal grooves, longitudinal wrinkles, and horizontal lenticels; upper portion has dense rings. Relatively soft texture, the dry piece is hard, can be broken, fractured surface is uneven, loose; when examined under a magnifier, numerous tiny yellowish-brown scattered oil spots can be seen; cortex is thick, pale yellowish-white, cambium is obvious, xylem is pale yellow. Aromatic odor, slightly bitter, acrid taste. Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim.: root head is relatively thick and short, rarely has fibrous remnants of leaf sheaths. Fractured surface cortex is easily split with xylem. Aromatic odor, slightly bitter, acrid taste.
