Araceae FAMILY

Arisaema ringens

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant contains calcium oxylate crystals. These cause an extremely unpleasant sensation similar to needles being stuck into the mouth and tongue if they are eaten but they are easily neutralized by thoroughly drying or cooking the plant or by steeping it in water.

Botanical Description

Arisaema ringens is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuber that is usually renewed seasonally. The plant produces 2 leaves 15 - 35cm tall and a flowering stem up to 25cm long. The tuber also produces some tubercles around its base - these become separated from the old tuber at the end of the season, growing on in subsequent years to form new plants[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. It is often grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - eastern China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea.

HabitatForests[ 178 Title Chinese Materia Medica. Publication Author Stuart. Rev. G. A. Publisher Taipei. Southern Materials Centre Year 1911 ISBN - Description A translation of an ancient Chinese herbal. Fascinating. ]. Woods near the sea, C. and S. Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. , 90 Title Bulbs Publication Author Phillips. R. and Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books Year 1989 ISBN 0-330-30253-1 Description Superbly illustrated, it gives brief details on cultivation and native habitat. ].