[Identification characters of leaf morphological and venation pattern of Houttuynia cordata with its confused herb Gymnotheca chinensis].

OBJECTIVE: To study the identification characters of Houttuynia cordata and its confused herb Gymnotheca chinensis and establish an identification method. METHODS: LMVP (leaf morphological-venation pattern for identification Chinese herbs), and QAERM (quantitatively analyze and evaluate reliability for the method of identification Chinese herbs) were applied for the study. RESULTS: Both venations were brochidodromous-acrodromous and arising from the mid-petiole or the upper section of petiole. The main characteristic of the leaf of Houttuynia cordata: surface with small gray-white stoma protuberances; Ligulate process of stipule-petiole sheath were clear; Primary veins 7 or 5; The innermost pair of primary vein closed up the top of the sinus at blade base or above sinus, and the section of closed vein was straight; Emitted a smell of fish when fresh leaf was kneaded into pieces. The main feature of the leaf of Gymnotheca chinensis: no small gray-white stoma protuberances; Ligulate process of stipule-petiole sheath were not clear; Primary veins 5; The innermost pair of primary vein closed into the sinus at blade base, and the section of closed vein was slightly curve; No smell of fish. With the mentioned key differences, the both plants could be successfully identified from each other. The accuracy of identification results (AC) was 100%, the repeatability of identification results: agreement rate for observation (ARO) was 100% and Kappa value was 1.00. CONCLUSION: The established method is simple, rapid, economic and reliable.

[Study on chemical diversity of volatile oils in Houttuynia cordata and their genetic basis].

OBJECTIVE: To reveal chemical diversify of volatile oils in Houttuynia cordata from major producing areas in China and their genetic basis, lay a foundation for breeding a quality H. cordata variety. METHOD: The volatile oils in H. cordata from 22 provenances were determined by GC. And the relationship among the peak areas of volatile oils, biological characteristics and RAPD makers were analyzed. RESULT: There were common and special volatile oils in H. cordata from different provenances. The peak areas of common volatile oils in samples were significantly different. The clustering figure based on the peak areas or the relative peak areas of common volatile oils was almost agreed with the one based on RAPD makers analysis. And the differences in chromatograms could be distinguished according to the biological characteristics. CONCLUSION: The diversity of volatile oils exists in H. cordata from different provenances which relate with biological characteristics and has genetic basis. H. cordata can be divided into 2 types according to volatile oils, biological characteristics or RAPD marker.