What varieties and types of Polygonatum are there? Let us introduce you to the common ones

According to their different characteristics, commercial Polygonatum is divided into three categories: "chicken-head Polygonatum," "ginger-shaped Polygonatum," and "large Polygonatum."

Chicken-head Polygonatum is irregularly conical, with a large head and a thin tail, resembling a chicken's head. It is 3-10 cm long and 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter. The surface is yellowish-white to yellowish-brown, semi-transparent, with fine wrinkles over the whole body and slightly raised, wavy rings. The scar of the aboveground stem is disc-shaped, often with a concave center, and the root scars are mostly dot-like protrusions. The cut surface is light brown, slightly horny, and has numerous yellowish-white dot-like veins (vascular bundles). The odor is slight, the taste is sweet, and it is sticky, and it causes an uncomfortable prickling sensation in the throat.

Ginger-shaped Polygonatum is nodular, with short, thick branches, resembling ginger. It is 2-18 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, and 1-2.5 cm thick. The surface is relatively rough, with obvious warty protruding fibrous root scars. The stem scars are concave and disc-shaped.

Large Polygonatum is thickly block-like or bead-like, more than 10 cm long, 3-6 cm wide, and 2-3 cm thick. Each node has a stem base, which is concave and disc-shaped.

The above are the raw product characteristics of the three types of Polygonatum. The shape of processed Polygonatum is the same as that of raw Polygonatum, except that the whole body is black inside and out, or the inner color is black with dot-like vein marks, the odor is fragrant and mellow, and the taste is purely sweet without prickling the throat.