地(di)(di)黃(huang)玄參科地(di)(di)黃(huang)屬多年生草(cao)(cao)本植物,高可(ke)達30厘米,根莖(jing)肉質,鮮(xian)時(shi)(shi)黃(huang)色(se)(se),在(zai)栽培條件下(xia),莖(jing)紫(zi)紅(hong)色(se)(se);直(zhi)徑可(ke)達5.5厘米,葉片卵(luan)形至長橢圓(yuan)形,葉脈在(zai)上面凹(ao)陷,花在(zai)莖(jing)頂(ding)部略排列成(cheng)總狀花序,花冠(guan)外(wai)紫(zi)紅(hong)色(se)(se),內(nei)黃(huang)紫(zi)色(se)(se),藥(yao)(yao)(yao)室矩圓(yuan)形,蒴果卵(luan)形至長卵(luan)形,花果期4-7月;生于(yu)海拔50~1100m的山(shan)坡及路(lu)旁荒地(di)(di)等處(chu)。因其地(di)(di)下(xia)塊根為黃(huang)白色(se)(se)而得名地(di)(di)黃(huang),其根部為傳統中(zhong)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)之一,最(zui)早出典(dian)于(yu)《神農本草(cao)(cao)經》;依照(zhao)(zhao)炮(pao)制方法在(zai)藥(yao)(yao)(yao)材上分(fen)為:鮮(xian)地(di)(di)黃(huang)、干地(di)(di)黃(huang)與熟地(di)(di)黃(huang),同(tong)時(shi)(shi)其藥(yao)(yao)(yao)性(xing)和功(gong)效也有(you)(you)較大的差異(yi),按照(zhao)(zhao)《中(zhong)華本草(cao)(cao)》功(gong)效分(fen)類:鮮(xian)地(di)(di)黃(huang)為清(qing)熱(re)涼(liang)血藥(yao)(yao)(yao);熟地(di)(di)黃(huang)則為補益藥(yao)(yao)(yao);此外(wai),地(di)(di)黃(huang)初夏開(kai)花,花大數朵,淡紅(hong)紫(zi)色(se)(se),具有(you)(you)較好的觀賞性(xing)。