Pinellia ternata aka Pinellia

Pinellia ternata is a small plant in the arum family, Araceae. People also call it ban xia and crowdipper. It grows from a tuber, a thick part below ground. Its native range spans China and temperate East Asia. Records also place it in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. It grows outside its native range in the United States. In the wild, it grows in damp, shaded grass thickets. It also grows by streams, beside roads, and in farm fields.

Plants reach about 0.7 feet (0.2 metres) tall and wide. This small size suits the edges of woodland gardens. The plant forms bulbils where leaves meet their stalks. These small growths help it spread, as do seeds and offsets. In the right site, it can spread and become invasive. Its small size can mask the risk of spread. It flowers from July to August. The flowers have both male and female parts.

Rich soil helps the plant grow well in gardens. It grows in full sun or partial shade. A sunny woodland edge or dappled shade can suit it. It grows in sand, loam, and clay soils. Soil can be slightly acid, neutral, or slightly alkaline. It likes moist ground and needs much water while growing. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 5–9. Its separate British hardiness entry uses zones with numbers. That entry does not give an RHS H rating.

Gardeners can split off offsets when spring growth starts. They can also pot up bulbils in late summer. These young plants can move outside in late spring. Seeds offer one more way to grow new plants. But the source's advice on sowing is not firm. Plants For A Future suggests shelter for seedlings through their first winter. The plant can settle and spread in woods that suit it. Keep its spread in mind when choosing a site.

China grows ban xia for use as medicine. Past uses include treating nausea, vomiting, and coughs. These uses do not make the raw plant safe. The fresh root is toxic and can cause severe irritation. The source links this risk to calcium oxalate. It notes root use as food but gives few details. It also lists ways to process it to reduce toxicity. Do not use these reports as steps for home preparation. The few reports of food use call for care. They do not mean it is safe to taste casually.