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Arisaema dracontium - (L.)Schott.

Common Name Green-Dragon
Family Araceae
USDA hardiness 4-8
Known 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.
Habitats Rich moist woods[222]. Found mainly in wet woods and along the sides of streams, but sometimes also in dry soils[235].
Range Eastern N. America - Quebec to Florida, west to Wisconsin, Nebraska and Texas.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (1 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Arisaema dracontium Green-Dragon


©Elaine Haug. Provided by Smithsonian Institution, Department of Systematic Biology-Botany. United States, NC, University of North Carolina Botanical Gardens.
Arisaema dracontium Green-Dragon
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An illustrated flora of the northern United States, Canada and the British Possessions. Vol. 1: 443.

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Arisaema dracontium is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.5 m (1ft 8in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4. It is in flower in May. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Flies. The plant is not self-fertile.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; not Deep Shade;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Root. Considered to be edible once it has been dried, aged and elaborately processed[222]. The root contains calcium oxalate crystals - these are destroyed by drying the plant or by thorough cooking[K].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antiasthmatic  Women's complaints

The dried and aged root was used by the N. American Indians in the treatment of 'female disorders'[222, 257]. The plant (leaves?) were chewed in the treatment of asthma[213].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Prefers a cool peaty soil in the bog garden, woodland garden or a sheltered border in semi-shade[90, 134, 200]. 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, 200]. Tubers should be planted about 10cm deep[233]. Only plant out full sized tubers and mulch them with organic matter in the winter[200]. Plants need protection from slugs[200]. Most species in this genus are dioecious, but they are sometimes monoecious and can also change sex from year to year.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a shady position in a cold frame[134]. 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[134]. 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.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

NORTHERN AMERICA: Canada (Québec (south), Ontario (south)), United States (Connecticut, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (east), Minnesota (southeast), Missouri, Nebraska (east), Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, District of Columbia, Texas)

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Arisaema amurenseTian Nan XingPerennial0.5 4-8  LMFSNM23 
Arisaema consanguineumTian Nan XingPerennial1.0 6-9  LMFSNM13 
Arisaema costatum Perennial0.6 6-9  LMFSNM20 
Arisaema flavum Perennial0.4 6-9  LMFSNM211
Arisaema jacquemontii Perennial0.6 5-9  LMFSNM20 
Arisaema negishii Perennial0.0 -  LMFSNM20 
Arisaema peninsulare Perennial0.2 -  LMFSNM10 
Arisaema quinatumIndian Turnip, Jack in the pulpitPerennial1.0 0-0  LMFSNM10 
Arisaema ringens Perennial0.3 6-9  LMFSNM01 
Arisaema serratum Perennial0.9 4-8  LMFSNM21 
Arisaema thunbergii Perennial0.6 -  LMFSNM01 
Arisaema tortuosumArisaemaPerennial0.6 6-9  LMFSNM221
Arisaema triphyllumJack In The Pulpit, Dragonroot, Indian TurnipPerennial0.6 4-9 SLMFSNM322
Arisaema utile Perennial0.5 4-8  LMFSNM20 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

(L.)Schott.

Botanical References

43200274

Links / References

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Readers comment

   Jun 4 2012 12:00AM

Is this Green Dragon similar to the Sacha Jergon plant that is found in South America. Here are the more detailed, I guess "proper" names for the Sacha Jergon plant: Family: Araceae Genus: Dracontium Species: longipes, loretense, croatii, peruviuanum, asperum Synonyms: Dracontium spruceanum, D. carderi, D.costaricense, D. ornatum, Cyrtosperma spruceanum, Echidnium spruceanum Any insight would be greatly appreciated!

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