Studies on the Identification of Chinese Drug Material in Yams (Dioscorea spp.)
Horng-Liang Lay1*, Shiow-Mei Denq1, Sin-Yie Liu2 and Bor-Wen Sheu1
1.National Ping-Tung University of Science & Technology, Department of Plant Industry, No.1, Hseuh Fu Rd., Nei-Pu Hsiang, Ping-Tung, (912) Taiwan, R.O.C.
2. Executive Yuan, Council of Agriculture, Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute, No.189, Chung-Cheng Rd., Wan-Feng, Wu-Feng, Tai-Chung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
ABSTRACT
The botanical origins of the Chinese drug material in yams were clarified by anatomical studies of the plant materials, twelve cultivarities/species of Dioscorea. These plant materials were TNG1(Dioscorea alata L.), TNG2(D. alata L.), 70W34(D. alata L.), 70W35(D. alata L.), 70W47(D. alata L.), 80W02(D. alata L.), 70R16(D. alata L. var. purpurea (Roxb) M. Pouch), 70W41(D. batatas L.), 70W59(D. batatas L.), 70W43(D. japonica Thumb.var. pseudojaponica (Hay.) Yamamoto), 70W37(D. bulbifera L.). There were some differences found in the cork layer, cortex, scleroid, mucilage cell, raphide, resin canal, starch grain characters and powder color of the underground stems. Therefore, these twelve cultivarities/species can be clearly distinguished from each other. The results are shown in the index table given.
Key words: botanical origins, yam(Dioscorea spp.), plant anatomy.