The Chicken feet coptis

Dry rhizomes of Coptis chinensis, more branched, often 3 to 6 branches bundled, slightly curved, shaped like chicken feet, about 3 to 7 cm long, single branch diameter of 3 to 8 mm. The appearance is tan, and the cork is red-brown at the flaking; there are intermittent stripes on the branches, nodules are enlarged, and the shape is like a bead. Most of the hard and delicate roots and fibrous roots are born, and some surfaces are smooth and smooth, such as stalks. It is commonly known as "crossing the river branches" or "crossing bridges"; there are brown scales on the upper part, and there are residual stems or petioles that have not been cleaned at the top. The quality is firm and hard, the section is irregular, the skin is dark brown, the wood is golden, the rays are cracked, the central pith is red and yellow, and occasionally hollow. Odorless, very bitter taste, chewing saliva can be dyed red and yellow. It is better to use fat, beaded, solid, red-yellow, no residual stems and fibrous roots.