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Arisaema tortuosum - (Wall.)Schott.

Common Name Arisaema
Family Araceae
USDA hardiness 6-9
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 Forests, shrubberies and open slopes to 3000 metres[51]. Moist shady places at elevations of 1500 - 2200 metres in Nepal[272].
Range E. Asia - Himalayas from Simla to Sikkim and Bhutan.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Full shade Semi-shade Full sun
Arisaema tortuosum Arisaema


Arisaema tortuosum Arisaema
http://flickr.com/photos/dinesh_valke/1081191507

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Arisaema tortuosum is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower from May to June. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) 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

A. curvatum. (Roxb.)Kunth. Arum tortuosum.

Plant Habitats

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

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Tuber - it must be thoroughly dried or cooked before being eaten[51, 177]. The tubers are boiled and eaten in Nepal, mixed with lime juice (Citrus aurantifolia) or another sour substance[272]. 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[2]. However, violent illness has still been known to follow a hearty meal of the tubers[2]. See also the notes above on toxicity.

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.
Vermifuge

The roots have been used as a vermifuge in cattle[240, 243]. The juice of the tubers is applied to the wounds of cattle in order to kill any parasites[272]. The dried powdered tubers is applied to snake bites[272]. The seeds have been mixed with salt and used to treat colic in sheep[240, 243, 272].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Insecticide

The tubers have insecicidal properties[272].

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[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]. 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[200]. Plants require 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. This species usually bears either monoecious or all male flowers[266].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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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

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Sichuan Sheng (southwest), Yunnan Sheng (northwest), Xizang Zizhiqu (south)) TROPICAL ASIA: Bhutan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan (Himalayan region), Myanmar (north)

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 dracontiumGreen-DragonPerennial0.8 4-8  LMFSNM11 
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 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

(Wall.)Schott.

Botanical References

51200266

Links / References

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