Pinellia ternata

Pinellia ternata (Chinese: 半夏, Japanese: カラスビシャク), crow-dipper, is a plant native to China, Japan, and Korea, but also grows as an invasive weed in parts of Europe (Austria, Germany) and North America (California, Ontario, northeastern United States). The leaves are trifoliate, while the flowers are of the spathe and spadix form typical of plants in Araceae. The plant spreads by rhizomes, and there are also small bulblets (also known as bulbils) at the base of each leaf. Flowers are borne in spring. This plant is toxic in raw form and must be processed. Pinellia ternata is known as the herb effective in removing dampness-phlegm, one of the causes of obesity in traditional Chinese medicine. One study found that high doses of Pinellia extract effects thermogenesis and fatty acid oxidation in Zucker rats.