1. Yangchun sand: perennial herb, 1.5-3 m high. rhizome creeping ground, nodes were brown membranous scales. The stem is erect. Leaves 2 columns, sessile; leaf blade lanceolate, 25 ~ 37cm long, 3 ~ 7cm wide, apical caudate, base nearly rounded, both surfaces smooth and glabrous; ligule semiorbicular, 3 ~ 5mm long, leaf sheaths open, clasping. Flowering stems drawn from the rootstock, spikes elliptic, involucral pedicels 4-8cm long, brownish velutinous; bracts lanceolate, 18mm long; bracteoles tubular, 10mm long; calyx tubular, apically 3-lobed; corolla briefly elongated, 3-lobed at the apex, white, lobes obovate-oblong; labellum rounded-spoon-shaped, apically 2-lobed, revolute, with midvein raised, yellow tinged with purplish-red, with two purple scabby spots at the base; Stamen 1, anthers ca. 6 mm, petaloid appendages at apical part of connective 3-lobed, middle lobe semiorbicular, sides auriculate; ovary white pilose. Capsule ellipsoid, 15-20mm long, purplish red at maturity, surface covered with soft spines; seeds polygonal, strongly fragrant. Flowering period May to June, fruiting period August to September.
2. The main difference between the green sand and the spring sand is characterized by the following: the capsule is green at maturity, and the soft thorns on the pericarp are flat. Seed mass dry outside often covered with a layer of white powder.
3. Hainan sand and Yangchun sand main difference between characteristics: ligule length 20 ~ 45mm. capsule ovoid, obtuse trigonous, 15 ~ 20mm long, was flaky, split short flexible spines, spines not more than 1mm long.
2, the identification of herbs traits
1. Yangchun sand, green shell sand: ellipsoid or ovoid, with an obscure trigonous, 1.5 ~ 2cm, diameter of 1 ~ 1.5mm. The surface is brown, densely spiny, with perianth remnants at the tip and often with fruiting pedicels at the base. The pericarp is thin and soft. The seeds are clustered into a mass, with three blunt ribs, with a white septum, dividing the seed mass into three petals, with 5 to 26 seeds per petal. Seeds are irregular polyhedral, 2-3mm in diameter; the surface is brownish red or dark brown with fine wrinkles, covered with light brown membranous aril; the texture is hard, and the endosperm is grayish white. Gas aromatic and strong, taste pungent, slightly bitter.
2. Hainan sand: long elliptic or ovoid, with obvious trigonometry, 1.5-2cm long, 0.8-1.2cm in diameter, the surface of the lamellate, branched soft spines, the base with fruiting peduncle scars. The pericarp is thick and hard. Seed clusters are small, with 3 to 24 seeds per valve; seed diameter 1.5 to 2 mm. odor is slightly light.
Three, herbs microscopic identification
Yangchun sand seed cross-section: aril sometimes residual. Seed coat epidermal cells 1 column, radial extension, wall slightly thick; hypodermal cells 1 column, containing brown or reddish brown material. The oil cell layer is a column of oil cells, 76-106 μm long, 16-25 μm wide, containing yellow oil droplets. The pigment layer is several rows of brown cells, the cells are polygonal, irregularly arranged. The endosperm is 1 row of fenestrated thick-walled cells, yellowish brown, with extremely thick inner and side walls, small cells, containing siliceous masses. The outer endosperm cells contain starch grains and a few fine calcium oxalate square crystals. The endosperm cells contain fine pasty powder grains and fat oil droplets.