Pinellia ternata

Crow-dipper
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Alismatales
Family:	Araceae
Genus:	Pinellia
Species:	P. ternata
Binomial name
	Pinellia ternata; (Thunb.) Makino

Pinellia ternata (Chinese: 半夏, Japanese: カラスビシャク), crow-dipper, is a plant that is native to China, Japan, and Korea. However, it also grows as an invasive weed in parts of Europe (Austria, Germany) and in North America (California, Ontario, the northeastern United States).^[1]^[2] The leaves are trifoliate, and the flowers are of the spathe and spadix form that is typical of plants in the family Araceae.^[3]

Characteristics[]

The plant spreads by rhizomes, and there are also small bulblets (also known as bulbils) at the base of each leaf. Flowers are borne in spring.^[4]

Traditional medicine[]

This plant is toxic in raw form and must be processed.^{[citation needed]} Pinellia ternata is known as the herb effective in removing dampness-phlegm, one of the causes of obesity in traditional Chinese medicine.^{[citation needed]}^[5] One study found that high doses of Pinellia extract effects thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in Zucker rats.^[4]