The leaves wrapped in zongzi are called Ruoye. Wrapping zongzi with Indocalamus leaves is fragrant and smells like returning to nature. Its special antiseptic effect is also one of the reasons why zongzi is easy to preserve. Indocalamus leaves grow in the vast mountains, with developed roots and tenacious vitality. It is not only a good vegetation for soil and water conservation, but also an inexhaustible wealth and a "green bank" for people in mountainous areas.

Origin and habitat of Indocalamus leaves

Indocalamus leaves are native to Hainan Island in China and Taiwan Province area in China. It is widely seen in the southern region, especially in the vast area south of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. It grows all the year round at an altitude of 300- 1400 meters along the hillside and near the banks of streams and small rivers.

About ruoya

Indocalamus leaves are leaves of plants of Gramineae, Bambusoideae and Indocalamus. The rod is 0.75-2m high and 4-7.5mm in diameter; Internodes are about 25 cm long and the longest can reach 32 cm. Sheath is longer than internodes, and the upper part is loosely clasped. Branchlets with 2-4 leaves; Leaf sheaths tightly cling to stems, with longitudinal ribs, glabrous or slightly hairy on the back; Leafless ear; Ligule height 1-4 mm, truncated.

The leaves are slightly bent on the growing plants, broadly lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 20-46 cm long and 4- 10.8 cm wide, with a long tip, a wedge-shaped base and a grayish green lower surface. Immature panicles are10-14cm long, and the main axis and branches of inflorescence are densely brown pubescent; Spikelets are green with purple. Anthers are about1.3mm long, yellow; Ovary and lodicule are not seen. The shoot period is April-May, and the flowering period is June-July.