Common Name: Green-Dragon

General Information

Arisaema dracontium is a herbaceous perennial plant growing 15 - 90cm tall from a tuber that is usually renewed seasonally. 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 was used as a food and medicinally by the native N. Americans, though it is little if at all used at present.

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

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Ontario to Quebec south to Oklahoma, Louisiana and Florida; also in eastern Mexico

Habitat

Rich moist woods[]. Found mainly in wet woods and along the sides of streams, but sometimes also in dry soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Flies
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a cool peaty soil in the bog garden, 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 hot or exposed[, ].
Tubers should be planted about 10cm deep[]. Only plant out full sized tubers and mulch them with organic matter in the winter[]. Plants need protection from slugs[].
This species hybridizes in the wild with Arisaema triphyllum. These plants do not produce mature fruits but do reproduce vegetatively[].
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

Root - cooked. It is considered to be edible once it has been dried, aged and elaborately processed[]. The root is up to 8cm in diameter[].
The root contains calcium oxalate crystals - these are destroyed by drying the plant or by thorough cooking[].

Medicinal

The dried and aged root was used by the N. American Indians in the treatment of 'female disorders'[, ].

The plant (leaves?) were chewed in the treatment of asthma[].

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.