Research for the Original Plant of Chinese Medicinal Materials Qu Aurantii Fructus

OBJECTIVE To clarify the plant origin of the Chinese medicinal materials Qu Aurantii Fructus and solve the controversy about the original plant of Qu Aurantii Fructus, determine its scientific Chinese name and Latin names from different names which used in various literature. METHODS Making an investigation of the morphology, culture history and characteristics of cold-resistant genes, and literature textual research on PCR amplification, chemical composition and gene fragment sequencing of the original plant. RESULTS The morphology, PCR amplification and ITS1 sequencing of the Qu Aurantii Fructus were same or very similar to those of Citrus grandis and Citrus aurantium. The chemical composition and cold-resistance genes were very similar to those of Citrus aurantium. CONCLUSION It is determined that the original plant of Qu Aurantii Fructus is a natural hybrid cultivated variety of Citrus grandis and Citrus aurantium, which does not have the status of independent species of plant. The original plant Latin name and Chinese name of the Qu Aurantii Fructus are Citrus aurantium ‘Changshan-huyou’ and Changshan Youcheng respectively. Changshan Huyou and Huyou can be used as synonymy.