芡實(shi)也(ye)叫做(zuo)雞(ji)(ji)頭米(mi) 、雞(ji)(ji)頭荷(he)、雞(ji)(ji)頭蓮、刺蓮藕(ou)等，多生于(yu)池沼湖塘淺水中(zhong)(zhong)。在廣東(dong)肇慶(qing)地區，芡實(shi)被稱為肇實(shi)。而肇慶(qing)所產之芡實(shi)顆(ke)粒大、藥力(li)強，故稱為肇實(shi)。肇實(shi)是芡實(shi)中(zhong)(zhong)最好的品(pin)種。

芡(qian)(qian)實(shi)是睡(shui)蓮科芡(qian)(qian)屬(shu)一年生大型水(shui)生草(cao)本，分(fen)布于我國(guo)大部分(fen)地(di)區。芡(qian)(qian)實(shi)的外形(xing)(xing)(xing)是沉水(shui)葉(xie)(xie)箭形(xing)(xing)(xing)或橢圓腎形(xing)(xing)(xing)，長4-10厘米，兩(liang)面無刺；葉(xie)(xie)柄無刺；浮水(shui)葉(xie)(xie)革質，橢圓腎形(xing)(xing)(xing)至圓形(xing)(xing)(xing)，直徑10-135厘米，盾狀，有(you)(you)(you)(you)或無彎缺，全緣(yuan)，下面帶紫(zi)色(se)，有(you)(you)(you)(you)短柔(rou)毛，兩(liang)面在(zai)葉(xie)(xie)脈(mo)分(fen)枝處有(you)(you)(you)(you)銳刺；芡(qian)(qian)莖三月(yue)(yue)生葉(xie)(xie)貼在(zai)水(shui)面上(shang)，比荷葉(xie)(xie)大，有(you)(you)(you)(you)皺紋(wen)，葉(xie)(xie)面呈(cheng)青色(se)而背面呈(cheng)紫(zi)色(se)，莖、葉(xie)(xie)都(dou)有(you)(you)(you)(you)刺。莖長達一丈余，中(zhong)間也(ye)(ye)有(you)(you)(you)(you)孔(kong)有(you)(you)(you)(you)絲，嫩對剝皮可食。芡(qian)(qian)實(shi)五六月(yue)(yue)開(kai)紫(zi)花(hua)，花(hua)在(zai)苞頂，也(ye)(ye)如雞喙(hui)。剝開(kai)后(hou)有(you)(you)(you)(you)軟(ruan)肉裹子，殼(ke)內有(you)(you)(you)(you)白米，形(xing)(xing)(xing)狀如魚目。芡(qian)(qian)實(shi)七八月(yue)(yue)成(cheng)熟，九月(yue)(yue)份結果。芡(qian)(qian)實(shi)全身有(you)(you)(you)(you)刺，采收(shou)困難，一般只收(shou)1～2次，采收(shou)時間為9月(yue)(yue)中(zhong)、下旬。

芡實(shi)果(guo)實(shi)是圓球形(xing)的(de)(de)，直徑5-8mm，有(you)的(de)(de)破(po)碎(sui)成塊(kuai)。完整者表面有(you)紅棕色或(huo)暗紫色的(de)(de)內種皮(pi)，可見不(bu)規則的(de)(de)脈狀網紋，質地較硬，斷(duan)面白色，粉(fen)性。沒有(you)什么特殊氣味(wei)，吃起來味(wei)道淡(dan)淡(dan)的(de)(de)。購(gou)買芡實(shi)果(guo)實(shi)以飽滿(man)、斷(duan)面白色、粉(fen)性足、無碎(sui)末者為佳。

芡(qian)實(shi)(shi)的(de)果實(shi)(shi)含淀粉，可供食用(yong)(yong)(yong)、釀(niang)酒(jiu)及(ji)制(zhi)副食品用(yong)(yong)(yong)；芡(qian)實(shi)(shi)果實(shi)(shi)還可以藥用(yong)(yong)(yong)，有收斂、滋(zi)養(yang)、強(qiang)壯之功效。芡(qian)實(shi)(shi)多用(yong)(yong)(yong)于燉(dun)肉、煲湯或入藥，能(neng)健脾止瀉、滋(zi)陰補(bu)腎、澀(se)精、清熱祛(qu)濕，是難(nan)得的(de)滋(zi)補(bu)佳品。