Sparganium stoloniferum Identity & Plant Part
The botanical entity is Sparganium stoloniferum (Buch.-Ham. ex Graebn.) Buch.-Ham. ex Juz., a perennial aquatic or marsh plant with ball-like fruiting heads. The part used is the tuber, the starchy underground storage organ. Bur-reed grows in shallow water and wet margins across eastern Asia. Leaves, stems and fruit heads are not part of this ingredient.
The Chinese trade name san leng has historically covered more than one plant, and the sedge tuber sold as jing san leng is not a Sparganium. Specification lines should therefore name the species. Sparganium stoloniferum tuber carries starch, volatile oil, flavonoids, phenylpropanoid compounds, organic acids and polysaccharides, named as families only.












