The difference between Poria cocos and wild yam

1. Differences in roots:

The former is a fungus, not a plant, so it has no roots. It is a fungal substance that parasitizes on the roots of pine trees.

The latter is a vine with characteristics of plants such as roots and leaves, which are thick and smooth. The root is shaped like sections, with obvious nodes visible, and some small fibrous roots growing on it.

Second, the difference in shape:

The former is round or oblong in shape, spherical, and looks like a sweet potato, with a yellow-brown exterior. When cut open, you can see that the substance inside is white, similar to the color of tofu.

Although the wild yam looks slightly similar to the former, its outer color is yellowish brown, and the substance inside appears light yellow after being cut.