Identification & Quality Standard
Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae Viride
Botanical Origin
The dried tender fruit or immature cericarp of Citrus reticulata Blanco and its cultivars.(Rutaceae).
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Sichuan.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material of si hua qing pi has green outer skin, white inner surface, thick skin, potent aroma. Ge qing pi has even pieces, black-green outer skin, hard texture, heavy, thick flesh, little pulp, potent aroma.
Macroscopic Features
Si hua qing pi: 4 separated lobes, the lobes are a long oval shape, 4~6cm long, 0.1~0.2cm thick. Outer surface is grayish-green or black-green, dense with numerous oil ducts; inner surface is off-white or yellowish-white, rough, with yellowish-white or yellowish-brown small veins. Slightly hard texture, easily broken, fractured surface edge has 1~2 rows of oil ducts. Aromatic odor, bitter and acrid taste. Ge qing pi: sub-spherical, 0.5~2cm diameter. Externally grayish-green or black-green, slightly rough, with dense indented oil ducts, apex has raised style base, base has round fruit stem scar. Hard texture, fractured surface is yellowish-white or pale yellowish-brown, 0.1~0.2cm thick, edge has 1~2 rows of oil ducts. 8~10 flesh pieces, pale brown. Clear aromatic odor, sour, bitter, acrid taste.
