Wild sorghum and red Corydalis are commonly used Chinese medicinal materials, both of which have the effect of promoting qi circulation, relieving pain, and invigorating blood circulation. So what are the differences in the effects of wild sorghum and red Corydalis? Today, I will help you understand the similarities and differences between these two Chinese herbs and compare their pictures.
【Morphological Differences】
1. Morphology of wild sorghum
A perennial erect herb, reaching a height of up to 1 meter. The rhizome is thick and brown. Basal leaves are palmately compound with 1-2 pinnate leaves; leaflets are ovate-heart-shaped, measuring 4-6 centimeters long and 1.5-3.5 centimeters wide, gradually pointed at the tip, nearly heart-shaped at the base, oblique, with sharp serrated edges, and covered with stiff hairs on both sides; leaf stalks are slender, densely covered with brown long soft hairs.
Large conical inflorescence at the top, covered with brown long soft hairs; flowers are pink; stamens are 5. Fruits are caryopsis; seeds are numerous. Flowering period is in spring.
2. Morphology of red Corydalis
A perennial erect herb, 45-65 cm tall. Covered with brown long soft hairs mixed with glandular hairs; rhizomes are horizontally spread, thick and chunky, covered with brown scales and dark brown long hairs, with dark brown adventitious roots. Basal leaves are 2-3 times ternately compound, with long petioles and narrow stipules.
Leaflets are ovate to elongate-ovate or inverted ovate, measuring 2.5-10 cm long and 1.5-5 cm wide, usually with short acuminate tips, rounded or broadly wedge-shaped at the base, sharp serrated edges, covered with stiff hairs on both sides, and dense veins; stem leaves are 2-3, smaller, similar to basal leaves, but with shorter petioles and lanceolate bases.
Flower axis is erect, 20-50 cm tall, with scale-like hairs at the lower end and densely covered with curled brown long soft hairs at the upper end; flowers are hermaphroditic or unisexual, occasionally monoecious or dioecious, arranged in conical inflorescences on stem leaves; bracts are ovate, longer than the sepals by 1.5 mm, calyx is shallow cup-shaped, with 5 deep lobes; petals are 5, narrow and linear, about 5 mm long, pale purple or purplish red.
Stamens are 10, with purple filaments and green anthers that turn purple when mature; carpels are 2, fused at the base, ovary is semi-superior. Capsule is orange when ripe. Seeds are numerous. Flowering period is in August to September.
