Atractylodes macrocephala

Species of plant

Atractylodes macrocephala

Dried roots of A. macrocephala
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Plantae
Clade:  | Tracheophytes
Clade:  | Angiosperms
Clade:  | Eudicots
Clade:  | Asterids
Order:  | Asterales
Family:  | Asteraceae
Genus:  | Atractylodes
Species:  |

A. macrocephala

Binomial name
Atractylodes macrocephala

Koidz.[1]

Atractylodes macrocephala

Traditional Chinese| 白朮
Simplified Chinese| 白术
| Transcriptions

Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyin| báizhú
IPA| [pǎɪʈʂǔ]
Yue: Cantonese
Jyutping| baak6seot6
IPA| [pak̚˨sɵt̚˨]

Atractylodes macrocephala (simplified Chinese: 白术; traditional Chinese: 白朮; pinyin: báizhú) is a species of Atractylodes that grows in central China. The roots are consumed as a Chinese herbal medicine.[2]

## Description

[edit]

Atractylodes macrocephala are herbs that reach a size of 20-60 cm in height. Thick rhizome. Stem branched from the base, glabrous. Leaves similar to paper, glabrous. The middle cauline leaves petiolate, petiole 3-6 cm; leaf blade divided almost at the base into 3-5 segments, lateral segments entire or bipartite, oblanceolate to narrowly elliptical, 4.5-7 x 1.5-2 cm, with the terminal segment being the largest. The tall cauline leaves are similar but smaller. Outer bracts sessile, elliptical/narrowly elliptical, entire margin; the inner bracts pinnatisects. Involucre broadly campanulate, 3-4 cm in diameter. Phyllaries are numerous, imbricated, with white cobwebby margin and apex obtuse; outer phyllaries ovate to triangular, 6-8 × 3-4 mm, bracts lanceolate. Corolla red-purple, 1.7 cm. Achene obconic, 7.5 mm, hairs white. Dirty white papus, 1.7 cm. Flowers and fruits from August to October. It has a chromosome number of 2n = 24 *.[3]

## Distribution

[edit]

It is found in the grasslands, forests, at an altitude of 600-2800 meters, in Anhui, Chongqing, Fujian, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi and Zhejiang in China.

## Uses

[edit]

Atractylodes macrocephala is cultivated throughout China. The rhizomes, called Bái zhú (白术) are used in traditional chinese medicine for multiple medicinal purposes, especially those concerning spleen issues and other gastrointestinal issues.[4] Modern research shows A. macrocephala contains many pharmacologically active chemical compounds.[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Atractylodes macrocephala". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2008-02-11.
2. ^ "Atractylodes macrocephala". Plants For A Future.
3. ^ "Atractylodes macrocephala in Chinese Plant Names @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org. Retrieved 2021-09-03.
4. ^ a b Zhu, Bo; Zhang, Quan-Long; Hua, Jin-wei; Cheng, Wen-Liang; Qin, Lu-Ping (2018-11-15). "The traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz.: A review". Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 226: 143–167. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2018.08.023. ISSN 0378-8741. PMID 30130541. S2CID 52058918.

Data related to Atractylodes macrocephala at Wikispecies

Taxon identifiers

Atractylodes macrocephala|

* Wikidata: Q8208640
* Wikispecies: Atractylodes macrocephala
* CoL: JK7S
* FNA: 200023528
* FoC: 200023528
* GBIF: 3122454
* GRIN: 402529
* iNaturalist: 786049
* IPNI: 182978-1
* NCBI: 265785
* Open Tree of Life: 361559
* PfaF: Atractylodes macrocephala
* Plant List: gcc-144897
* POWO: urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:182978-1
* Tropicos: 2733155
* WFO: wfo-0000046429
* WoRMS: 1114988