Additional notes (click to expand)

Toxicity

All plants in Aracaeae are toxic. The main toxin is calcium oxalate, present as needle-like raphides inside specialised cells throughout the plant, called idioblasts, which when chewed fire the needles into the tongue, gums and throat of the eater. The needles cause thousands of micro-wounds, probably also introduce oxalic acid into damaged tissues, and additionally cause massive histamine release and cause extreme pain and swelling.
Neuwinger, HD. (1996). African Ethnobotany: Poisons & Drugs, Chapman & Hall page 221

Arisaema tortuosum

Family: ARACEAE
Genus: Arisaema
Species: tortuosum
Distribution summary: China, India, Nepal, Pakistan
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H5 - Hardy; cold winter
Garden status: Not currently grown


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