Tu Jing Pi

Tu Jing Pi is the root bark of Pseudolarix amabilis, the golden larch, a deciduous coniferous tree of the family Pinaceae endemic to mountainous regions of eastern China. Mature trees reach 20 to 40 metres in height with a broad, conical to spreading crown and reddish-brown, fissured bark. The needle-like leaves, 3 to 6 centimetres long and soft to the touch, are borne in two ways: spirally on long shoots and in characteristic rosette-like whorls of fifteen to thirty on short, knobby spur shoots. The foliage turns brilliant golden-yellow in autumn before falling, accounting for the common name. Erect, ovoid cones 4 to 7 centimetres long disintegrate at maturity to release winged seeds. The bark stripped from the roots and lower trunk is yellow-brown externally and yields the medicinal material.