Practical
Plants

Arisaema tortuosum

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Araceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.6 m
Spread
0.3 m
Fertility
self sterile
Flower type
monoecious
Pollinators
Flies

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

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.

Edible uses

Tuber - it must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten[10][3]. The tubers are boiled and eaten in Nepal, mixed with lime juice (Citrus aurantifolia) or another sour substance[9]. The tubers are buried in masses in pits until acetous fermentation takes place, they are then dug up, washed and cooked, by which means their acrimonious principles are in part dispersed[4]. However, violent illness has still been known to follow a hearty meal of the tubers[4]. See also the notes above on toxicity.

Plant part
Root

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

The roots have been used as a vermifuge in cattle[6][7]. The juice of the tubers is applied to the wounds of cattle in order to kill any parasites[9]. The dried powdered tubers is applied to snake bites[9]. The seeds have been mixed with salt and used to treat colic in sheep[6][7][9].

Product or use
Vermifuge

Material uses

The tubers have insecicidal properties[9].

Product or use
Insecticide

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas from Simla to Sikkim and Bhutan.
Habitat
Forests, shrubberies and open slopes to 3000 metres[10]. Moist shady places at elevations of 1500 - 2200 metres in Nepal[9].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
permanent shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 7+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame[2]. Stored seed remains viable for at least a year and can be sown in spring in the greenhouse but it will probably require a period of cold stratification. Germination usually takes place in 1 - 6 months at 15°c[2]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse for at least a coupe of years until the corms are more than 20mm in diameter. Plant out into their permanent positions whilst they are dormant. Division of tubers when the plant dies down in late summer.

Cultivation

Prefers a cool peaty soil in the bog garden, woodland garden or a sheltered border in semi-shade[2][5]. Prefers a loamy or peaty soil and will tolerate a sunny position if the soil is moist but not water-logged and the position is not too hot or exposed[1][5]. Plants are not very hardy outdoors in Britain and are normally best if given protection[1]. However, they can succeed outdoors in the milder areas of the country if the tubers are planted about 20cm deep[5]. Plants require protection from slugs[5]. Most species in this genus are dioecious, but they are sometimes monoecious and can also change sex from year to year. This species usually bears either monoecious or all male flowers[8].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3

  3. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  4. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩1↩2

  5. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  6. Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  7. Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  8. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

  9. Manandhar. N. P. Plants and People of Nepal Timber Press. Oregon. 2002-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-527-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  10. Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00

    ↩1↩2

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