Ban xia
Pinellia ternata

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has round tubers 1-2 cm across. There are 2-5 leaves. The leaf stalks are 15-20 cm long. They form sheaths at the base. The leaves have 3 or sometimes 5 leaflets. They are narrowly oval or sword shaped and 3-10 cm long by 1-3 cm wide and with side leaflets 4-8 cm long by 2 cm wide. The spathe is greenish.

The tuber is used in medicine. There are 6 Pinellia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in grassy land, secondary forest, wasteland and cultivated land; below 2500 m in China.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, China, Europe, Japan, Korea, North America

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The tuber is listed as poisonous.

Edible parts

Root, tuber, caution

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Synonyms

Arum ternatum Thunburgh; Pinellia tuberifera Tenore;