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Today, Ophiopogon Tuber is used as the dried tuberous root of the plant Ophiopogon japonicus (Thunb.) Ker-Gawl. from the Lily Bulb family. Ophiopogon Tuber is mainly produced in Hangzhou, Yuyao, Hushan, Kuaidun, and Xiaoshan in Zhejiang; Mianyang and Santai in Sichuan; Wuxi and Zhenjiang in Jiangsu. Additionally, it is also produced in Guangxi, Guizhou, Yunnan, Anhui, Hubei, and Fujian. Cultivated varieties are predominant, with those from Zhejiang known as Zhe Ophiopogon Tuber or Hang Ophiopogon Tuber, one of the famous "Zhe Ba Wei"; those from Sichuan are called Chuan Ophiopogon Tuber. Generally, those produced in Zhejiang and Sichuan are considered authentic.

Materia medica research suggests that Ophiopogon Tuber has been recorded in ancient materia medica, mainly derived from the genus Ophiopogon and Liriope of the Lily Bulb family. The current use of the genuine Ophiopogon japonicus may be related to cultivation practices, with Zhejiang and Sichuan being the authentic production areas. Comparatively, the cultivation around Hangzhou, Zhejiang, has a longer history.

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The Bencao Jing mentions both Asparagus Root and Ophiopogon Tuber. Xie Lingyun's "Shan Ju Fu" states, "The two winters are named together but have different natures, the three constructs differ in form but originate together," where the two winters refer to Tian and Ophiopogon Tuber. The Bielu "Wu Pu" records many aliases for Ophiopogon Tuber, stating: "In Qin, it is called Yang Jiu, in Qi, Ai Jiu, in Chu, Ma Jiu, in Yue, Yang Shi, also known as Yu Jia, and Limonite." The "Wu Pu" says: "Also known as Ma Jiu, Men Huo Dong, Honeysuckle Flower, Ren Ling, Immortality Medicine, Pu Lei, and Sui Zhi."

Due to the many aliases of Ophiopogon Tuber, ancient annotations occasionally contain errors, which are corrected here. 1. The "Er Ya" mentions "Qiang Mi, Men Dong," with Guo Pu annotating: "The Bencao Jing says, Men Dong is also called Man Dong, now written as Men, commonly as Er." Since the "Er Ya" has a specific name "Dian Ji" for Asparagus Root but not for Ophiopogon Tuber, Tang's Lu Deming in "Jing Dian Shi Wen · Er Ya Yin Yi" and Song's Luo Yuan in "Er Ya Yi" discuss Ophiopogon Tuber under "Men Dong," implying Men Dong is Ophiopogon Tuber. According to Hao Yixing's "Er Ya Yi Shu," this "Men Dong" actually refers to roses, unrelated to Tian and Ophiopogon Tuber, which is quite accurate. 2. The Bencao Gangmu's entry on Ophiopogon Tuber explains: "Mai Xu is called Men, this grass root resembles wheat with whiskers, its leaves like leeks, enduring winter without withering, hence called Mai Men Dong." However, Li Shizhen in the Asparagus Root entry of the same book states: "Grass that flourishes is called Men, commonly written as Men, this grass spreads luxuriantly and has the same efficacy as Ophiopogon Tuber, hence called Asparagus Root." Both entries explain the character "Men," yet contradict each other. In fact, both of Li Shizhen's explanations are incorrect. The "Er Ya" states: "Men, red seedlings. Qi, white seedlings." Guo annotates: "Men, today's red foxtail millet. Qi, today's white foxtail millet. Both are good grains." The "Shuo Wen" is similar, showing the original meaning of "Men" is unrelated to wheat whiskers or luxuriance. 3. Sun Xingyan's compilation of the Bencao Jing's Ophiopogon Tuber entry, based on the "Wu Pu," includes aliases like "Honeysuckle Flower, Ren Ling, Pu Lei," and thus claims the "Shuo Wen"'s "Ren, Ren Dong Cao" and the "Shan Hai Jing · Zhong Shan Jing"'s "Qing Yao Mountain, where there are many Pu Lei," all refer to Ophiopogon Tuber. The "Shan Hai Jing"'s "Pu Lei" still requires verification, but the "Shuo Wen"'s "Ren Dong Cao" refers to Honeysuckle Flower, today called Lonicera, definitely not Ophiopogon Tuber.

Judging from the name, this product must have been named because it resembles wheat. In Han Wang Fu's "Qian Fu Lun · Si Xian," it is said: "(For treating diseases) one should obtain Ophiopogon Tuber, but instead gets steamed Kuangmai." Kuangmai is mentioned in Bielu, and according to "Qi Min Yao Shu," it is a type of barley. Today, people consider it to be Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. F. Wang Fu's meaning is that steamed Kuangmai grains are used to impersonate the tuberous roots of Ophiopogon Tuber, indicating their similarity. Therefore, "Ji Zhu" states: "In winter, it bears fruit like green pearls, and its roots resemble Kuangmai, hence it is called Ophiopogon Tuber, with the larger ones being preferred." The leaves of Ophiopogon Tuber are similar to those of leeks, hence many of its alternative names are derived from leeks. Bielu states: "Its leaves are like leeks, growing throughout winter and summer." "Wu Pu" also states: "It grows in fertile valleys, with leaves like leeks, lush and clustered, harvested at any time, with green and yellow fruits." Based on these records, the ancient Ophiopogon Tuber should be a plant of the Lily Bulb family, either of the Ophiopogon or Liriope genus. If one insists on categorizing it specifically under the Ophiopogon genus, the evidence is still insufficient.

In the Tang Dynasty, Ophiopogon Tuber began to be divided into two types: large and small. Bencao Shiyi states: "Those from Jiangning are small and moist, while those from Xin'an are large and white. The larger ones have seedlings like deer onions, and the smaller ones have leaves like chives. There are three or four varieties of different sizes, with similar functions. Their seeds are round and green." This remained the case in the Song Dynasty. The Tujing states: "It is found everywhere today. Its leaves are green, resembling sedge grass, growing over a foot long, and remain evergreen throughout the year. The roots are yellow-white, with fibrous roots forming a chain-like shape, resembling grains of barley, hence the name Ophiopogon Tuber. In April, it blooms with light Carthamus-like flowers resembling red knotweed, and the seeds are green and round like pearls. Those from Jiangnan have large leaves, with seedlings resembling deer onions, while the smaller ones resemble chives. There are three or four varieties of different sizes, with similar functions. Some say those from Wu are particularly superior." Some literature考证 suggests that the "Muzhou Ophiopogon Tuber" depicted in Zheng Lei resembles Ophiopogon japonicus, while the "Suizhou Ophiopogon Tuber" has upright flowers with upward stalks and fewer tuberous roots, resembling Liriope spicata (Thunb.) Lour. In fact, due to the small differences between the Ophiopogon and Liriope genera, and the ancients' descriptions being inherently brief, coupled with their habit of following previous records, even the Jiuhuang Bencao, known for its detailed observations, can only roughly infer that the Ophiopogon Tuber entry depicts a wild variety from Henan, possibly a plant from the Ophiopogon genus.

However, a record from the Ming Dynasty's Bencao Gangmu provides a clue for the identification of Ophiopogon Tuber varieties. Li Shizhen states: "The ancients only used wild varieties, but later generations mostly used cultivated ones. The method involves harvesting the roots in early April and planting them in fertile sandy soil. Fertilizer is applied and weeding and watering are done three times a year in June, September, and November. The roots are harvested, washed, and dried the day before the Summer Solstice (10th solar term). The seeds can also be planted, but they take longer to mature. Those from Zhejiang are particularly good. Their leaves resemble chives but have more longitudinal lines and are tougher." Wild varieties may be confused, but cultivated varieties generally show less variation. Li Shizhen's statement that "those from Zhejiang are particularly good" likely refers to the modern genuine Ophiopogon japonicus.

Regarding the confusion over Ophiopogon Tuber varieties, Wu Qijun provides the most accurate discussion. In Zhiwu Mingshi Tukao, Volume 11, it states: "It is found everywhere, and in Sichuan, it is cultivated as a crop. Bencao Shiyi mentions three varieties of different sizes, but today, two sizes are used. There are several other plants resembling Ophiopogon Tuber, but their forms are not detailed in medical texts, and they are all used as herbal medicine." The depicted Ophiopogon Tuber should be the genuine variety used today. (Figure 1)

bubble_chart Historical Evolution of Authentic Sources

Although Bielu records the habitat of Ophiopogon Tuber as "growing in the valleys of Hangu Pass and on fertile soil and rocks in long-abandoned areas," it also mentions various names from Qin, Qi, Chu, and Yue, indicating that this plant was widely distributed across different regions at that time.

During the Tang and Song periods, Jiangnan was likely the main production area for Ophiopogon Tuber, with the production region gradually shifting from Jiangsu to Zhejiang. Bencao Shiyi mentions that Jiangning (Nanjing, Jiangsu) and Xin'an (She County, Anhui) produced Ophiopogon Tuber. The "Tujing" states that "some say those from Wu are especially superior," and the "Zhenglei" includes a medicinal illustration of Ophiopogon Tuber from Muzhou, which is present-day Jiande, Zhejiang. Hangzhou officially became the authentic production area for Ophiopogon Tuber, possibly related to the southward migration of the Song court. Both the "Qiandao Lin'an Zhi" Volume 2 and the "Xianchun Lin'an Zhi" Volume 58 under the category of medicinal products, as well as Wu Zimu's "Mengliang Lu" Volume 18, record that Lin'an (Hangzhou, Zhejiang) produced Ophiopogon Tuber. The local materia medica "Lyuchanyan Bencao" Volume 1, completed in the 13th year of Jiading (1220) of the Southern Song Dynasty, also records Ophiopogon Tuber. Mr. Zheng Jinsheng speculated based on the medicinal illustration that it was Ophiopogon japonicus. By the Ming Dynasty, the "Gangmu" also states: "Those from central Zhejiang are very good."

During the Qing Dynasty, Sichuan also had a large production, gradually becoming another major production area for Ophiopogon Tuber. The "Tukao" states that "in Sichuan, it is cultivated as a profession." The "Mianzhou Zhi" from the 11th year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty records: "Ophiopogon Tuber is produced both inside and outside Mianzhou city. The larger ones, about an inch long, are called Jian Dong, with a white color and relatively weak potency. The smaller ones are called Mi Dong, three to four fen long, with oily moisture inside, and have the greatest efficacy." The "Santai County Chronicle" also records: "In the 19th year of Jiaqing in the Qing Dynasty, it was widely planted in Yuanhe Baiyi Temple." Therefore, the "Yaowu Chuchan Bian" says, "Those produced in Mianzhou, Sichuan are commonly known as Gua Huang, and those produced in Hangzhou, Zhejiang are called Su Dong." In the 29th year of the Republic of China (1940), the "Medicinal Materials Regulations" of the Xi'an City Traditional Chinese Medicine Business Association in Shaanxi also listed the production areas of Ophiopogon Tuber as "Sichuan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang."

Apart from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Sichuan, the "Qianjin Yifang" records that Ophiopogon Tuber is produced in Huazhou (Huayin, Shaanxi). The "Zhenglei" depicts "Suizhou Ophiopogon Tuber," with Suizhou being present-day Sui County, Hubei. The "Jiuhuang Bencao" mentions that it is also found in the mountains and fields of Huixian, Henan. The "Tukao" also mentions, "In Yunnan, there are small gardens where Ophiopogon Tuber is used to protect the steps." Due to the uncertain varieties, these should not be considered as the authentic basis for the current use of genuine Ophiopogon Tuber.