Practical
Plants

Lysichiton camtschatcense

a perennial member of the Lysichiton genus in the family Araceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Araceae
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.75 m
Spread
0.6 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects, Self
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Self

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.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant is rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young shoots - they must be thoroughly cooked otherwise they are poisonous[2].

Plant part
Leaves

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plants have very large leaves and form a slowly spreading clump. They can be grown as a ground cover, spaced about 1 metre apart each way[6].

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Soil surface

Ground cover

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Japan.
Habitat
Bogs and wet places, also by ponds and lakes[4].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
aquatic
Hardiness
Zone 6+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots in a cold frame[3]. Keep very moist, preferably by emmersing the pot in 2 -3 cm of water[5]. Germination is usually good, taking place within 1 - 2 months at 15°c[3]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in the middle of autumn or mid to late winter, but no later than this because the plant will be coming into growth.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a wet or damp humus-rich soil in full sun or semi-shade[5]. Grows well by water or in the bog garden[1]. Succeeds in shallow water. Hardy to about -15°c[5] Young plants require protection from slugs[4]. Plants are slow to establish at first, taking some years, but they can then become naturalized and self-sow[6]. The flowers are sweetly scented according to one report[4], whilst another says that the plant emits an unpleasant animal smell[7]. Hybridizes with L. americanus[5].

References

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

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

    ↩

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

    ↩1↩2

  4. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2. Pan Books 1991-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30936-9

    ↩1↩2↩3

  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. Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover J. M. Dent & Sons 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-460-12609-1

    ↩1↩2

  7. Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8

    ↩

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