crowdipper

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• crowdipper
• pinellia

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Atherurus ternatus
• Alocasia ternata
• Pinellia ternata f. angustata
• Pinellia fornicata
• Arisaema macrourum
• Arisaema ternatum
• Pinellia ternata var. angustata
• Pinellia ternata f. atropurpurea
• Pinellia tuberifera var. subpandurata
• Pinellia ternata var. giraldiana
• Typhonium tuberculigerum
• Pinellia ternata f. subcuspidata
• Arum subulatum
• Arum macrourum
• Arisaema loureiroi
• Arum ternatum
• Arum bulbosum
• Pinellia koreana
• Hemicarpurus fornicatus
• Pinellia ternata var. koreana
• Pinellia angustata
• Pinellia ternata var. atropurpurea
• Pinellia ternata var. subpandurata
• Pinellia ternata var. vulgaris

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further organized into the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales, falling under the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Pinelliia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across both Europe and Asia. In Middle Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the territories of Austria and Germany. Moving towards the eastern part of the continent, the species is also found in China. Within China, it inhabits several distinct regions including South-Central China and the island of Hainan. Additionally, its range extends further north to include the Inner Mongolia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Pinellia ternata is characterized by its preference for shaded, moist, and nutrient-rich environments, typically found in deciduous or mixed forests where organic matter accumulates in the soil. It thrives in humus-rich, well-drained soils that maintain consistent moisture levels, often occupying the herbaceous layer of forest understories. This species is highly adapted to temperate climates with distinct seasonal shifts, utilizing its tuberous rhizome to survive periods of dormancy. Its distribution is vertically constrained within specific montane zones, reaching an elevational range that extends up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL. Within these altitudinal gradients, the plant relies on the filtered light provided by a forest canopy to regulate its photosynthetic activity and prevent desiccation.

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Pinnellia ternata is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it employs specialized survival strategies to endure unfavorable environmental conditions, ensuring its long-term presence in its habitat. Specifically, its life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it survives the dormant season using underground storage organs, such as tubers, which remain protected beneath the soil surface.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Pinellia ternata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. This plant is predominantly terrestrial in its habitat, though it exhibits a range of environmental tolerances including semiaquatic and aquatic tendencies. It functions as an independent organism, neither acting as a parasite nor as an epiphyte, as it maintains a terrestrial life cycle. In terms of stature, the plant is relatively diminutive, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.15 m to a maximum of 0.4 m. Furthermore, its structural habit is self-supporting, lacking the climbing mechanisms associated with vines or lianas.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height min:

0.15 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Pinellia ternata is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation mechanisms. As a C3 plant, it fixes atmospheric carbon dioxide directly through the enzyme Rubisco during the Calvin cycle, occurring primarily within the mesophyll cells. This reliance on the C3 pathway means its photosynthetic efficiency is highly sensitive to environmental factors such as temperature and light intensity, particularly because the enzyme Rubisco can also facilitate photorespiration when oxygen concentrations are high or stomatal conductance is limited. Consequently, its physiological performance and biomass accumulation are closely tied to moderate moisture levels and stable temperatures that optimize the rate of carboxylation while minimizing energy loss through photorespiratory pathways.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Pinellia ternata is closely linked to its seasonal flowering cycle, which is characterized by a relatively brief period of activity. The flowering process typically commences in May, marking the onset of its reproductive phase. Following this initiation, the flowering period continues through the late spring and early summer months, eventually reaching its conclusion in June. This specific window of flowering dictates the plant's ability to undergo pollination and subsequent seed development within its natural habitat.

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Pinellia ternata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, rhizome, root, stem.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. BMC microbiology
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
4. Pharmaceutical biology

Rhizome

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials
2. Physiologia plantarum
3. Sheng li xue bao : [Acta physiologica Sinica]
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Root

1. BMC microbiology
2. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
3. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
4. Pharmaceutical biology

Stem

1. BMC microbiology
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Chemicals

Pinellia ternata has 105 reported phytochemicals identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include guanosine, Abscisic acid (ABA), BETA-SITOSTEROL, CHLOROPHYLL, Flavonoids.

guanosine

1. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
3. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Abscisic acid (ABA)

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Frontiers in plant science

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

CHLOROPHYLL

1. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Flavonoids

1. Physiologia plantarum
2. Heliyon

POD

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines

SOD

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Chinese journal of natural medicines

glutathione

1. Physiologia plantarum
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

inosine

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

palmitic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Pinellia ternata has 273 reported activities identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antitussive, Expectorant, 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Plant physiology and biochemistry : PPB

Antitussive

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Planta medica

Expectorant

1. Heliyon
2. Planta medica

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Absorbent

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Pinellia ternata has 28 reported medicinal uses identified across 14 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cough, antitussive, vomiting, antiemetic, asthma.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations