How to distinguish between true and false Gastrodia elata

"the parrot has a mouth, a concave navel and a ring of dried ginger peel on the outside. The cross section of rosin should be kept in mind." This is the formula for distinguishing whether Gastrodia elata is true or not. In this formula, the cross section of rosin is an important basis for judging the authenticity of Gastrodia elata: long oval, slightly flat, wrinkled, and sometimes bent. There are residual stem bases or reddish-brown buds at one end (called parrot mouth) and navel-shaped marks at the other end (commonly known as concave navel). The epidermis is yellowish or khaki, slightly transparent or opaque, with a horizontal ring formed by a slight protuberance. The quality is hard, not easy to break, the cross section is slightly flat, horny. The taste is slightly pungent and sweet, and the chewing is crisp and sticky. With hard and heavy texture, parrot mouth, bright cross-section, no hollow for "winter hemp", light texture, residual stem base, dark color, hollow for "spring hemp". The main types that are easy to be confused with Gastrodia elata are as follows:

The root of Bauhinia is long conical, thick on top and thin on bottom. Some are slightly curved, some are branched, the outer skin is yellowish or grayish yellow, but there is no transverse ring; the texture is hard and the cross section forms a stratum corneum. It tastes light, irritates the throat, and has the effect of clearing away heat and promoting pharynx after taking it.

Sheep horn Gastrodia elata is oval, some have been flattened, both ends are like sheep's horn, and there are residual rhizomes at the top. The skin is grayish yellow or grayish brown with obvious links and irregular wrinkles and grooves. The texture is hard and difficult to break, and the cross section is sheep's horn-like, hollow in the middle. It tastes slightly sweet.

Dali chrysanthemum root after peeling processing, showing a long spindle shape, some slightly bent or flattened, the appearance is grayish white or yellow-white. There are wide longitudinal grooves, slightly pointed and fibrous at both ends. The texture is hard, not easy to break, with wood core or gap, white or light brownish yellow. The taste is light and the teeth are sticky when chewing. This product is sometimes called "Sichuan peeling Gastrodia elata".

After steaming, the tuber of potato is oval or long oval. Its surface is yellow, with irregular distribution of sunken teeth. There is no dotted link, the cross section is flat, light yellow, horny, slightly glossy.

The shape and size of banana root is very similar to that of Gastrodia elata, but its surface is covered with a layer of white powder, which is soft and easy to break, and the cross section is granular, pink and dull.