Objective: To compare pharmacognostic characteristics and microscopic characteristics of Radix Paeoniae Rubra (chishao) from different areas.
Method: Pharmacognostic characteristics and microscopic characteristics of Radix Paeoniae Rubra were compared by microscope count methods.
Result: Chishao in duolun was more straighter and longer, cortex with a set of closely spaced rill, peel off easily, pink section, etc. The wild chishao were different from the cultivated chishao on pharmacognostic characteristics and microscopic characteristics, such as appearance shape, smell, vessel arrangement, and number of crystal and starch in unit area.
Conclusion: Chishao in duolun were different form others, appearance shape, wood fiber, difference of appearance shape, vessel arrangement, and number of crystal and starch in unit area can be used as identificatin feature of the wild chishao and the cultivated chishao.