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]
Crow-dipper | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Alismatales |
Family: | Araceae |
Genus: | Pinellia |
Species: | P. ternata |
Binomial name | |
Pinellia ternata | |
Characteristics
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
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.[5] One study found that high doses of Pinellia extract effects thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in Zucker rats.[4]
Gallery
- Plant as used in Chinese herbology (crude medicine)
- The flower of Pinellia ternata, the Inflorescence
- Mature pinellia ternata
- Pinellia ternata bulbil
References
- Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- Biota of North America Program, 2013 county distribution map
- Flora of China Vol. 23 Page 42, 半夏 ban xia, Pinellia ternata (Thunberg) Tenore ex Breitenbach, Bot. Zeitung. 37: 687. 1879.
- 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.
- "Pinellia (Ban Xia) | Chinese Herbs Healing". Retrieved 2020-06-21.