He County Stevia

He County Stevia

　　He County Stevia

　　Stevia is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Asteraceae family, genus Stevia. It grows to a height of 1–1.3 meters. The roots are thickened at the tips, with 50–60 roots that can reach up to 25 cm in length. The stem is upright, slightly woody at the base and tender at the top, densely covered with short fuzz. The base of the corolla is light purplish-red or white, while the upper part is white. The achene is linear, slightly flattened, brown, and has pappus. The flowering period is from July to September, and the fruiting period is from September to November. It is native to the highland grasslands at the border of Paraguay and Brazil in South America. It has been introduced and cultivated in various regions of China, including Beijing, Hebei, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Fujian, Hunan, and Yunnan. It thrives in warm and humid environments and is sensitive to light. Its leaves contain 6–12% stevioside, with premium quality appearing as a white powder. It is a natural sweetener that is low in calories but high in sweetness, and serves as one of the raw materials in the food and pharmaceutical industries.