Lysichiton camtschatcense PFAF Plant Database

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Lysichiton camtschatcense - (L.)Schott.

Common Name

Family

Araceae

Synonyms

L. album. L. japonicum.

Known Hazards

The plant is rich in calcium oxylate, this is toxic and if consumed makes the mouth and digestive tract feel as though hundreds of needles are being stuck into it. However, calcium oxylate is easily destroyed by thoroughly cooking or drying the plant.

Habitats

Bogs and wet places, also by ponds and lakes[187].

Range

E. Asia - Japan.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Lysichiton camtschatcense is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.6 m (2ft).
It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from Feb to April. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Insects, self.The plant is self-fertile.

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers wet soil and can grow in water.




http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilisateur:Bouba

Habitats
Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Shady Edge; Ground Cover; Pond; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves. Edible Uses: Young shoots - they must be thoroughly cooked otherwise they are poisonous[105].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. None known

Other Uses
The plants have very large leaves and form a slowly spreading clump. They can be grown as a ground cover, spaced about 1 metre apart each way[208].

Cultivation details

Requires a wet or damp humus-rich soil in full sun or semi-shade[200]. Grows well by water or in the bog garden[1]. Succeeds in shallow water. Hardy to about -15°c[200] Young plants require protection from slugs[187]. Plants are slow to establish at first, taking some years, but they can then become naturalized and self-sow[208]. The flowers are sweetly scented according to one report[187], whilst another says that the plant emits an unpleasant animal smell[245]. Hybridizes with L. americanus[200].

Propagation

The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots in a cold frame[134]. Keep very moist, preferably by emmersing the pot in 2 -3 cm of water[200]. Germination is usually good, taking place within 1 - 2 months at 15°c[134]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in trays of water in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in the middle of autumn or mid to late winter, but no later than this because the plant will be coming into growth.

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Expert comment

Author
(L.)Schott.

Botanical References
58200

Links / References

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956

Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).

[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.

The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[134]Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2.

Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation. An interesting article on Ensete ventricosum.

[187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.

Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[208]Thomas. G. S. Plants for Ground Cover

An excellent detailled book on the subject, very comprehensive.

[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.

An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers comment

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