Sun-dried ginseng (that is, sun-dried whole beard): different shapes and sizes. It can be divided into straight style and horizontal style. The horizontal body is divided into eight characters, commonly known as Wu shape. The length of ginseng reed is 2~8cm, most of which is equal to the body length. There are knots on the reed, which are slightly twisted like the neck of a wild goose, commonly known as the reed with the neck of a wild goose. It is thin, dry and solid. Due to years of experience, the lower reed bowl gradually disappeared without a trace, forming a cylindrical shape, commonly known as the round reed, firmly tied at the base. The reed bowl is shaped like a horse's tooth or a circle, and it is closely formed into a ring. It can be seen all around, and there are few bamboo reeds. The Ning system of Shandong merchants alternated from left to right, drooping, plump in the middle and shaped like jujube pit, commonly known as jujube pit. The length of ginseng is 2~ 10cm. The top of the taproot is wide and round, commonly known as "broad shoulder", the bottom is thin, and the middle diameter is 1~2cm. The surface is grayish yellow, and the skin is tight with longitudinal wrinkles. There are obvious thin spirals on the upper part, commonly known as "iron lines", and longitudinal wrinkles in the middle. Legs 2~3 bifurcate. The beard is sparse and long, which is 2~3 times the length of ginseng. Very clear, not messy. Fine whiskers are like willow branches, alternating left and right, and the fibers are flexible and not easy to break. Ginseng beard is all wrapped with thread, commonly known as pimple beard. There are obvious round pearl pimples on the body, legs and whiskers of ginseng. There are cracks in the epidermis of the section, and the cambium is obvious. The gas is slightly fragrant, and the taste is slightly bitter and sweet. It can be seen that the reed, body, skin, lines, legs, whiskers and pearl bumps of ginseng are different from those of garden ginseng. China Pharmacopoeia 2000 Edition (Part I) contains two specifications of sun-dried ginseng. The price difference between the two is very big. At present, it is common to pretend to be sun-dried ginseng in the market. Their characteristics can be summarized as follows:
At first glance, the aboveground rhizome of reed is commonly known as "reed". The reed head of sun-dried ginseng is almost as long as the main root, while the reed head of sun-dried ginseng is thicker and shorter than the main root (ginseng body).
Second, look at the reed bowl. The reed bowl is a trace left by the shedding of the rhizome and petiole. Sun-dried ginseng generally grows for a long time (15 years or more), so the reed pots are dense, while the sun-dried ginseng grows for a relatively short time, so the reed pots are sparse.
Thirdly, the adventitious roots of sun-dried ginseng are in the shape of jujube pit, while the adventitious roots of sun-dried ginseng are in the shape of spindle.
Fourth, look at the length and shape of the taproot. The length of the main root of sun-dried ginseng is almost the same as that of reed head, which is herringbone and diamond-shaped, while the main root of sun-dried ginseng is longer and spindle-shaped or round.
Fifth, look at the fibrous roots. The fibrous roots of sun-dried ginseng are slender and clear, with obvious punctate protrusions on the surface, commonly known as "pearl points", while the fibrous roots of sun-dried ginseng are short and the "pearl points" are not obvious.