Araceae FAMILY

Arisaema flavum

Edibility

2/5

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 flavum is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuber that is usually renewed seasonally. The plant produces 1 - 2leaves 11 - 35cm long with a flowering stem 15 - 30cm 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 harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food and source of a pesticide. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeNortheast Africa - Ethiopia, Somalia; through the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and China

HabitatMountain slopes, farmland edges and roadsides in sub-alpine steppe, at elevations from 3,500 - 4,300 metres in Tibet[ 91 Title Alpine Plants of China. Publication Author Zhang Jingwei. Publisher Gordon & Breach. New York. Year 1982 ISBN 0-677-60190-5 Description A lovely book with nice pictures. Gives habitats and some details of plant uses. ]. Locally common in Kashmir on humus-rich soils[ 145 Title Forest Flora of Srinagar. Publication Author Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Publisher Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Year 1976 ISBN - Description A good flora of the western Himalayas but poorly illustrated. Some information on plant uses. ].