Growing at an altitude of 50 meters to 1,900 meters above sea level, mostly in the thickets, forests, wild slopes of grasslands or rock crevices, and has not yet been artificially introduced into cultivation.

Distributed in North Korea, Russia, and China, it is mainly found in Jiangsu, Hunan, Jilin, Henan, Shanxi, Zhejiang, Heilongjiang, Sichuan, Gansu, Hubei, Jiangxi, Anhui, Shaanxi, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Hebei, and other places.

The origin of atractylodes macrocephala

Traits of atractylodes macrocephala:

1) Atractylodes macrocephala

The dried rhizome of atractylodes macrocephala is cylindrical, ligulate, jointed, curved and constricted, about 3-10 centimeters in length and 1-1.5 centimeters in diameter. Surface gray-brown, with root scars and short fibrous roots, visible stem residue. The texture is solid, the fracture surface is flat, yellowish-white, with obvious brownish-red oil glands scattered, habitually called "cinnabar point". Fracture exposed a little longer, can be precipitated white mold-like micro-fine needle-like crystals, gas aroma, taste slightly sweet and hard. To a large, solid, hairless beard, inside the cinnabar point, after cutting the section of the white frost is good.

Mainly produced in Jiangsu, Hubei, Henan. In addition, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi also produced. Produced in Jiangsu Maoshan area of the best quality, so called "Maozhu" or "Maoshan Cangzhu", scattered in Nanjing, also known as "Beijing Maozhu", "Beijing Cangzhu". Hubei, Jiangxi produced, mostly scattered in Hankou, so also known as "Han Cangzhu",

② North Cangzhu

For the plant North Cangzhu dry rhizome, cylindrical, often divergent or lumpy, irregularly curved, about 4 to 10 centimeters long, 1.5 to 3 centimeters in diameter. The corky skin has mostly been removed, and more rounded stem base or stem scars can be seen, or there are furry buds attached, and there are traces of rootlets detached or short rootlets attached below. The surface is brownish-brown and rough. Texture light, easy to break, section fibrous, very uneven. Section yellow-white, with reddish-yellow or yellow oil glands scattered, and obvious bundles of woody fibers. Gas aromatic, taste slightly hard. A fat, solid, hairless, aromatic gas is preferred. This species is lighter than the South Cangzhu loose, less oil glands, cut surface does not precipitate white mold-like crystals, the aroma is also weaker. The quality is inferior to that of the Southern Cangzhu.

Mainly produced in Inner Mongolia, Hebei, Shanxi, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang. In addition, Shandong, Shaanxi, Gansu and other places also produced. Produced in Hebei, more than the collection and distribution in Tianjin, so there is a "Jin Cangzhu" called.