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 (Thunb.) Makino | |
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 plant spreads by rhizomes, and there are also small bulblets (a.k.a. bulbils) at the base of each leaf. Flowers are bourne 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. One study found that high doses of Pinellia extract effects thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in Zucker rats.[4]
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.
- 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.
