Pinellia ternata

Crow-dipper
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Araceae
Subfamily: Aroideae
Tribe: Arisaemateae
Genus: Pinellia
Species: P. ternata
Binomial name
Pinellia ternata

Pinellia ternata (Chinese: 半夏, Japanese: カラスビシャク), crow-dipper, is a plant native to China, Japan, and Korea, but also grows as an invasive weed in parts of Europe (Austria, Germany) and North America (California, Ontario, northeastern United States).[1][2] The leaves are trifoliate, while the flowers are of the spathe and spadix form typical of plants in Araceae.[3]

Characteristics

The flower of Pinellia ternata (More precisely, the Inflorescence)

The plant spreads by rhizomes, and there are also small bulblets (also known as bulbils) at the base of each leaf. Flowers are borne in spring.[4]

Traditional medicine

Plant as used in Chinese herbology (crude medicine)

This plant is toxic in raw form and must be processed. Pinellia ternata is known as the herb effective in removing dampness-phlegm, one of the causes of obesity in traditional Chinese medicine. One study found that high doses of Pinellia extract effects thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in Zucker rats.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  2. ↑ Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map
  3. ↑ Flora of China Vol. 23 Page 42, 半夏 ban xia, Pinellia ternata (Thunberg) Tenore ex Breitenbach, Bot. Zeitung. 37: 687. 1879.
  4. 1 2 Kim, YJ; Shin, YO; Ha, YW; Lee, S; Oh, JK; Kim, YS (2006). "Anti-obesity effect of Pinellia ternata extract in Zucker rats". Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 29 (6): 1278–81. doi:10.1248/bpb.29.1278. PMID 16755034.

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