Common Name:

General Information

Arisaema flavum is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from a tuber that is usually renewed seasonally. The plant produces 1 - 2leaves 11 - 35cm long with a flowering stem 15 - 30cm long. 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 harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine, food and source of a pesticide. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

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

Northeast Africa - Ethiopia, Somalia; through the Arabian Peninsula to Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and China

Habitat

Mountain slopes, farmland edges and roadsides in sub-alpine steppe, at elevations from 3,500 - 4,300 metres in Tibet[]. Locally common in Kashmir on humus-rich soils[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.35 m
Pollinators	Flies
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Arisaema flavum is a fairly cold-tolerant species, able to survive temperatures down to around -10°c when dormant. It is grown outdoors in Denmark.
Prefers a cool moist 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 the most drought tolerant member of the genus.
Only plant out full sized tubers and mulch them with organic matter in the winter[]. Plants need 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 flowers of this species are usually either monoecious or all male[].
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

Young leaves - cooked and used as a vegetable[]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

The tubers of several species in this genus are recorded as being edible after treatment. We have no specific information for this species, but the depressed-globose tuber is 15 - 25mm in diameter[, ].

Medicinal

Expectorant. It is used in the treatment of chronic tracheitis, bronchiectasis, tetanus and epilepsy[].

The tuber is used to treat fractures, traumatic injuries, and swellings[].

Other Uses

Used as a pesticide[]. No further details are given, but the report might be referring to the tubers.

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.