BOTANICAL

The AHPA Botanical Identity References Compendium is maintained by the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and was developed by AHPA with the support of many individuals and organizations with a common interest in sharing knowledge and resources relevant to accurate identification of herbal materials... The particular botanical species included in the AHPA Compendium consist of herbs that are widely available in the commercial marketplace, plant materials known to be subject to misidentification, and several species that are common in various traditional herbal disciplines. More species will be added as requested and as resources allow... The specific tests or examinations that can be applied to determine with certainty the identity of a plant-derived article of commerce depend to a large degree on the form and condition of the material. Thus, different analyses are required for a botanical that still retains its unique morphological characteristics than for material that has..