地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang)玄(xuan)參科地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang)屬多(duo)年生草(cao)本植(zhi)物,高可達30厘米,根莖肉質(zhi),鮮(xian)時(shi)黃(huang)(huang)色(se),在栽培條件下,莖紫(zi)(zi)紅色(se);直徑可達5.5厘米,葉片卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)至(zhi)長橢圓形(xing),葉脈在上(shang)面凹(ao)陷(xian),花(hua)(hua)在莖頂部(bu)略排列成(cheng)總狀花(hua)(hua)序,花(hua)(hua)冠外紫(zi)(zi)紅色(se),內黃(huang)(huang)紫(zi)(zi)色(se),藥室(shi)矩圓形(xing),蒴果(guo)卵(luan)(luan)形(xing)至(zhi)長卵(luan)(luan)形(xing),花(hua)(hua)果(guo)期4-7月;生于(yu)海拔50~1100m的(de)山坡及路(lu)旁荒地(di)(di)等處。因(yin)其地(di)(di)下塊(kuai)根為(wei)(wei)黃(huang)(huang)白色(se)而得(de)名(ming)地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang),其根部(bu)為(wei)(wei)傳(chuan)統中(zhong)藥之一(yi),最早出典于(yu)《神(shen)農本草(cao)經(jing)》;依照(zhao)炮(pao)制方法在藥材上(shang)分為(wei)(wei):鮮(xian)地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang)、干地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang)與(yu)熟(shu)地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang),同時(shi)其藥性(xing)和功(gong)(gong)效(xiao)也有較大的(de)差異,按照(zhao)《中(zhong)華本草(cao)》功(gong)(gong)效(xiao)分類(lei):鮮(xian)地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang)為(wei)(wei)清(qing)熱涼(liang)血(xue)藥;熟(shu)地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang)則為(wei)(wei)補益藥;此外,地(di)(di)黃(huang)(huang)初夏開花(hua)(hua),花(hua)(hua)大數朵,淡紅紫(zi)(zi)色(se),具有較好(hao)的(de)觀賞(shang)性(xing)。