The difference between black gastrodia elata and gastrodia elata

There are huge differences between Chinese medicinal materials. Although some of them look similar and have similar names, they are very different. Even Gastrodia elata is divided into many varieties. There is a huge difference between black Gastrodia elata and Gastrodia elata, whether it is the rhizome, appearance, or flowers of the plant. We need to judge different varieties based on their appearance and medicinal properties, so that we can have a full understanding of Gastrodia elata.

The difference between black Tianma and Tianma

1. Plant Differences

The plant of Gastrodia elata is 150 to 200 cm tall, with rhizomes and thick tubers that are oval or dumbbell-shaped, 8 to 12 cm long and 3 to 7 cm in diameter. The stems are gray-brown with white stripes.

Gastrodia elata plant.jpg

The Gastrodia elata plant is 30 to 100 cm tall, sometimes up to 2 meters. Its rhizome is thick, tuberous, oval or nearly dumbbell-shaped, fleshy, 8 to 12 cm long, 3 to 5 cm in diameter, and sometimes larger. The stems are erect and are orange, yellow, gray-brown or blue-green in color, with no green leaves.

2. Flower Differences

The flowers of Gastrodia elata are yellow-green, nearly upright, with oblong-ovate petals, 6 to 7 mm long and 3 to 4 mm wide.

Gastrodia elata racemes, 5 to 30 cm long. The inflorescence contains 30 to 50 small flowers. The bracts of the flowers are oblong-lanceolate, 1 to 1.5 cm long, membranous, and twisted. The flowers are orange-yellow, yellow-white, blue-green or light yellow.

Common varieties

There are five varieties of Gastrodia elata, namely the original variety red Gastrodia elata f. elata, black Gastrodia elata f. glauca S. Chow (1983), green Gastrodia elata f. viridis (Makino) Makino (1940), yellow Gastrodia elata f. flavida S. Chow (1983) and loose Gastrodia elata f. alba S. Chow (1983). The division of these varieties was mainly determined by Zhou Hyun.

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