Bamboo leaf ginseng, also known as white dragon beard, bamboo leaf seven, white hair seven, etc., is the root and rhizome of the lily family plant Ophiopogon japonicus. Let's learn about the morphological characteristics of bamboo leaf ginseng.
It is a perennial herbaceous plant that can reach a height of 1m. The rhizome is short, with numerous adventitious roots. The stem is thin and branched. The leaves are alternate, with short petioles; the leaf blades are thin, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate, measuring 5-10cm in length and 1.5-3cm in width.
The apex is short-pointed or gradually pointed, the base is rounded, with obvious parallel veins; the leaf stalk is short. Umbel inflorescence is terminal or opposite to the leaves, with 2-40 flowers; the inflorescence stalk is short, with one bract similar to the leaves at the apex;
The flowers are pendulous, white or pale purple, bell-shaped, measuring 1.5-2cm in length, with 6 tepals and basal nectaries; there are 6 stamens, hidden inside; the ovary is trilocular and elongated; the style is slender with a 3-lobed stigma. The fruit is spherical and black. There are 2-3 seeds. The flowering period is in summer.
The dried rhizome of bamboo leaf ginseng is flattened cylindrical, bent, measuring 5-10mm in length and approximately 5mm in diameter, with numerous fine roots at the bottom.
The root is cylindrical and slightly twisted, measuring 4-10mm in length and 1-2mm in diameter; the surface is yellow-brown with fine longitudinal stripes. It is hard and brittle, with a yellow-white cork layer and a light brown wood layer on the cross-section. It has a slight aroma and a sweet, slightly spicy taste. The thicker and yellow-brown roots are considered to be of better quality.
