Identification & Quality Standard
Lycopi Herba
Botanical Origin
The dried aerial portion of Lycopus lucidus Turcz. var. hirtus Regel.(Lamiaceae)
Production Regions
Primarily produced in the Chinese provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui.
Quality Requirements
Superior medicinal material is dry, tender, green, with numerous leaves, unbroken.
Macroscopic Features
Stem is square column-like, lacking branches, four sides all have shallow longitudinal grooves, externally yellowish-green or with purple, joint is obvious and purple, with white soft hairs; brittle texture, fractured surface is yellowish-white, hollow pith. Opposing leaves, with short petiole or no petiole; leaves often wrinkled, lanceolate or long round shape after being flattened. Upper surface is black-green or dark green, lower surface is grayish-green, dense gland spots, both surfaces have short hairs; tip is sharp, base is gradually narrow, edges have saw-teeth. Flower clusters growing from leaf axils in a wheel-like shape, corolla often falls off, bracts and calyx persist, small bracts are lanceolate, with hair on the edge, calyx is bell-like shape, 5 lobes. faint odor, tasteless.
