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Wild, Wonderful Aroids - Part 5 - Pinellia

© Marge Talt

Of the commonly available species, Japanese native P. ternata appears to be the one most used in herbal preparations. It's also the one you want to avoid planting in your garden because it has major plans for world domination, accomplished via spreading rhizomes and dropping leaf bulbils all over the map. One source said it's theoretically capable of doubling its population in a year. It's naturalized in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland, where it has made the Maryland list of invasive exotic plants.

It will grow in sun or part shade; while preferring rich, moist soil, it will grow in woodlands, forests, on grassy banks and in fields.

P. ternata, whose common name is crowdipper, has more botanical synonyms than I found for any of the other species:

• Arisaema cochinchinense
• Arum dracontium
• Arum ternatum
• Pinellia cochinchinense
• Pinellia tuberifera
• Pinellia wawrae

While it is offered by assorted nurseries (who ought to know better), do not turn this one loose in your garden; save your money for the better species.

Pinellia Pedatisecta

Of the three species I grow, P. pedatisecta, from northern and western China and Japan, is the most vigorous. It loves the bed of rotted woodchips it's in and reproduces speedily via seed. In the soft medium, it's very easy to scoop out unwanted plants. I've put a couple in less salubrious soil to see what they do there...so far it's curbed their enthusiasm a bit.

While I enjoy this species in my woodland garden, I would not recommend it for the small garden unless a watchful eye is kept on it.

The pedate leaves with seven to eleven lanceolate leaflets are quite decorative, providing good textural contrast.

pedate Palmately divided or parted.

This is the tallest of the Pinellia species, reaching nearly fifteen inches in height (35 cm). The central leaflet is always the longest and can reach about four inches (10 cm) in length.

The inflorescence is the largest of four Pinellia species in common cultivation, reaching four to seven inches (10-18 cm) in length.

filiform (syn. thread-like) Thread-shaped; long, slender, with a circular cross section.

The yellowish spadix is filiform and extends well past the spathe. The spathe emerges before the leaves unfold, springing up like odd little soldiers at attention.

New inflorescences are formed continuously during the growing season. Each quite capable of producing a viable seed, which is why this species is an enthusiastic spreader when in a happy location.