Common Name: Tian Nan Xing

General Information

Arisaema amurense is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuber that is usually renewed seasonally. The plant produces 2 - 3 leaves 7 - 30cm long and a flowering stem up to 25cm tall[]. 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[].
The plant is often used in Chinese herbalism and is commonly harvested from the wild. The plant is also occasionally used as a food.

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.

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Russian Far Easy, northern China, Japan, Korea.

Habitat

Virgin forests, mountains and river banks[]. Deciduous forest, mixed forest, under woods and by streams at elevations of 50 - 200 metres in China[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.50 m
Pollinators	Flies
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a cool peaty soil in the bog, woodland garden or a sheltered border in semi-shade[]. 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 exposed[, ]. This species is well suited to the front of a peat border[].
Tubers should be planted about 15cm deep[]. Only plant out full sized tubers and mulch them with organic matter in the winter[]. Plants require protection from slugs[].
Most species in this genus are dioecious, but they are sometimes monoecious and can also change sex from year to year. The plant is paradioecious. The sex depends on nutrition and is therefore variable from one year to another[]. Smaller plants produce only staminate flowers, whilst larger plants produce either staminate and pistillate flowers simultaneously or pistillate flowers only. Changes in gender expression are directly correlated with size and are also influenced by the environment in which the plants are growing. Reversions in phenotypic gender have been experimentally induced by such factors as removing leaf area or changing soil nutrient levels[].

Edible Uses

Well-soaked roots can be boiled, peeled and eaten[]. The tuber is 6 - 7cm in diameter[]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Young leaves - cooked[]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

Medicinal

Tian Nan Xing has been used in Chinese herbal medicine for thousands of years and is valued especially for its beneficial affect upon the chest[]. When prescribed internally it is always used dried and in conjunction with fresh ginger root[].

The root is an acrid irritant herb that is anodyne, antibacterial, antifungal, antiphlogistic, antirheumatic, anticancer, antispasmodic, antitumor, expectorant, sedative and stomachic[, , , , ]. The dried root is used internally in the treatment of coughs with profuse phlegm, tumours, cervical cancer, epilepsy, tetanus and complaints involving muscular spasms[, ].
The fresh root is applied externally as a poultice to ulcers and other skin complaints[].
The root is harvested when the plant is dormant in the autumn or winter and is dried for later use[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

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