Detailed Guide to Cynomorium Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques
Cynomorium has many benefits and effects, is a traditional Chinese medicine of great value, and what is precious is that its price is not high, making it convenient for treatment. Let us take a look below at the planting methods of Cynomorium.
The reproduction process of Cynomorium is different from ordinary plants, and is extremely similar to that of humans and animals. Every year in May and June, Cynomorium begins to emerge from the ground, and by July and August it begins to mature. The male and female parts of the same plant pollinate each other and form seeds. Cynomorium seeds are extremely small; under a microscope their shape resembles a human fertilized egg, and the thousand-grain weight is only about 2 grams. Because the head of Cynomorium is covered with scales, the seeds are wrapped very tightly and cannot fall off. At this time, a small white insect emerges from the root of Cynomorium, which experts have named the Cynomorium worm. The Cynomorium worm begins from the bottom and gradually moves upward along the inside of the Cynomorium, eating it hollow bit by bit until it reaches the top. At this point a hollow cavity forms inside the Cynomorium, and the seeds fall along the cavity to the bottom of the Cynomorium. Along with the backflowing internal moisture of the Cynomorium, they pass through a channel about 2 mm thick connecting the Cynomorium and Nitraria and enter the roots of Nitraria. At the roots of Nitraria, following the flow of moisture, they enter a location suitable for their residence. At this time winter arrives, and Nitraria stops growing. The Cynomorium seeds absorb nutrients from Nitraria and rapidly grow and strengthen.
The parasitic part swells into a lump the size of a fist. After being nurtured through a winter, it begins to sprout in March of the following year, breaks through the soil in one go, and within several tens of days can grow, pollinate, and set seed, beginning a new round of the growth cycle. Cynomorium is a perennial fleshy parasitic herb. The underground stem is thick and short, with many tuberculate absorbing roots. The stem is cylindrical, dark purplish red, 20-100 cm tall, about 3-10 cm in diameter, with most of the stem buried in sandy soil.
[Harvest and Processing] It can be dug in both spring and autumn, with spring being preferable. Between March and May, when Cynomorium has just emerged from the ground or is about to push out of the sandy soil, it is harvested, and the quality is best. After harvesting, remove the inflorescence to avoid consuming nutrients and continuing to grow and flower, break it into sections, place it on the beach to sun-dry, turn it once a day, and it can be dried in about 20 days. Or half-bury it in sand and dry it with a combination of sun exposure and hot sand. There are also a few areas where it is sliced and sun-dried while fresh. Harvested in autumn, it has more moisture, is not easy to dry, and after drying is relatively hard.
[Medicinal Material Shape] It is flat-cylindrical, generally thin and slightly curved, 5-15 cm long, 1.5-5 cm in diameter. The surface is brown to brownish-brown, rough, with obvious longitudinal grooves and irregular depressions, and some have remnant triangular scales. It is heavy and hard, difficult to break, with a cross-section that is light brown or brownish-brown, and some show triangular or irregular vascular bundles, single or in groups of 2-5. The odor is slight, the taste is bland and then astringent.