title: [A survey on botanical origins of drug Xue Lianhua produced in China].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Based on an to investigation and identification of commercial samples to find out the original species and resources of Xue Lianhua.
  
  
  METHODS
  Botanical and macroscopical identification.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main original species of the plant are Saussurea involucrata, S. medusa, S. gossypiphora, S. polylada, S. laniceps, S. tridactyla, S. gnaphaloides, S. kingii, S. obvallata, S. tangutica, S. globosa, S. longifolia, Soroseris erysimoides, So. glomerata and So. umbrella.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The flower and stem of S. involucrata and S. polylada and the whole herb of S. medusa and S. gossypiphora are used as Xue Lianhua in most areas of China.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicinal Plant, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100094, China.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: S Q
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D019659:Asteraceae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification; D002681:China; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification; D030441:Saussurea / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification