Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae is not ugly, but small. The smaller Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae is more expensive, while the bigger Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae is better.
Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae is divided into pine shell, green shell and furnace shell. It is characterized in that pine shells are ovoid, with uniform particle size and generally less than 1 cm in diameter. The top is slightly pointed and closed. The bottom is flat and can be "upright and stable". The two scales on the outer layer are very different in size, and the small scale is wrapped in a heart-shaped large scale, leaving a crescent-shaped part outside, commonly known as "holding the moon in your arms". The appearance is pure white and shiny. The texture is hard and crisp, and the powder is enough.
Green shellfish: oblate, with two scales on the outer layer of similar size. The top is open, and there are several small scales in it. The particles are skewed and cannot be placed upright. The appearance is pale yellow and white, and the texture is loose and powdery.
Furnace shell: mostly prismatic or conical, with large particles and shaped like horse teeth, so it is commonly known as "horse teeth mouth". Crispy and powdery. These three kinds of Fritillaria are slightly gassy and slightly bitter.
They all look better. I am a Chinese medicine practitioner, and I find all the precious herbs very beautiful.
The packaging of Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae is definitely good, and the efficacy is also good, otherwise there would not be so much price difference. But what you bought is still much more expensive.