Identification & Quality Standard
Semen Ziziphi Spinosae
Botanical Origin
The dried mature seed of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou. (Rhamnaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Hebei, Shaanxi, Liaoning, Henan.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is large, full, with purplish-red outer skin, without outer shell.
Macroscopic Features
Flat spherical or elliptical shape, externally purplish-red or purplish-brown, smooth and lustrous, sometimes has cracks. Some specimens have round bulging sides; some have one relatively flat side. Center has one bulging longitudinal line, another side is slightly raised up. One end is indented, can see linear hilum, another end has tiny raised chalaza. Seed coat is relatively brittle, milky-white. 2 cotyledons, pale yellow, oily. faint odor, tasteless.
