Objective: To establish a TLC fingerprint for identifying Gastrodiae Rhizoma and compare fingerprint of Gastrodiae Rhizoma from different habitats. Method: A TLC method for identification of Gastrodiae Rhizoma was established with silica gel GF254 TLC plate and adding methanol for pre-deployment

methanol was evaporated to dryness

activation for 30 min at 110 ℃

with chloroform-ethyl acetate-methanol-water(2.5: 1: 1: 0.1) as developing agent

deployment temperature was 20-25 ℃

relative humidity was 60%-70%

sprayed with 10% sulfuric acid in ethanol at 105 ℃

viewing and imaging under UV light(366 nm)

fingerprint software generated a total system solution model.Differences of 30 batches of Gastrodiae Rhizoma were investigated through cluster analysis and principal component analysis. Result: This established TLC had a clear spot color.Cluster analysis of thirty batches of Gastrodiae Rhizoma was divided into five categories

principal component analysis was divided into six categories

it could distinguish Gastrodiae Rhizoma from different habitats. Conclusion: Diversity differentiation of Gastrodiae Rhizoma may be due to geography

spatial distance

temperature and humidity

in terms of chemical compositions shows some differences.This established TLC fingerprint can be used to control quality of Gastrodiae Rhizoma from different sources.