| Notes |
Plukenet 1692 Tab.77 fig.5, note ‘Parseneep’ at base of stem! (also cited in Ewan p. 173.); Hariot p.17 “Habascon is a roote of hoat taste almost of the forme and bigness of a Parseneep, of it selfe it is no victual, but only a helpe being boiled together with other meates.”; [NB-VJB] There is a good chance that Habascon is ‘Jack-in-the-Pulpit’ sometimes called “Indian turnip”. ; Medsger p.172 ‘Jack-in-the-Pulpit’ Arisaema triphyllum “burning acid nature of the rootstock” “starchy bulb or corm” “turnip-shaped . . . starchy . . . most stinging, burning thing found in the woods. It is claimed that the Indians removed the burning taste by boiling, after which the roots were cooked with venison” Medsger tried this technique and stated that the acrid taste was only removed after the roots had been dried and ground.; Radford p. 259 Arisaema triphyllum (L.) Schott Indian turnip, Jack in the pulpit. Widely distributed throughout NC. ; Auteur(s) / Author(s); BRADBURY J. H. (1) ; NIXONJ R. W. (1) ; ; Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s); (1) Department of Chemistry, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, AUSTRALIE; Résumé / Abstract; The corms and leaves of most cultivars of the edible aroids, the major staple food of about 200 million people in the tropics, are acrid. This means that if eaten raw they cause swelling of the lips, mouth and throat. This effect is related to the presence of needle-like raphides of calcium oxalate. A new method was developed for the separation of raphides using petroleum ether (PE) and then purification by centrifugation. The acrid raphides were shown by X-ray powder diffraction to consist of calcium oxalate monohydrate (whewellite) and their morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Two distinct types of raphides (thick and thin) were observed and druses (rosette like structures of calcium oxalate) were found only in taro leaves. A comparative survey of raphide morphology was made over four species of aroids. The removal of the acridity of raphides by immersion in hydroxylic solvents, but not in PE, indicates the presence of an irritant on the raphides. Acridity is due to the dual action of the sharp raphides in puncturing soft skin and the irritant (a protease) in causing swelling and soreness. ; Revue / Journal Title; Journal of the science of food and agriculture ISSN 0022-5142 CODEN JSFAAE ; Source / Source; 1998, vol. 76, no4, pp. 608-616 (21 ref.); FROM: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/c/cucko122.html#othThe AMERICAN ARUM (Arum triphyllum, Limn), Dragon Root, has similar characters and properties to the above. ; ---Synonym---Wild Turnip. Jack-in-the-Pulpit. ; It is very common in eastern North America, in moist places, where it is known as Indian Turnip, Wild Turnip, Jack-in-thePulpit, Devil's Ear, Pepper Turnip, Wake Robin, etc. ; It grows 1 to 3 feet high; a green spathe, broadly striped with brown purple, arches over and encloses the spadix. The corm is smaller than the English species, 1/2 to 2 inches broad and about half as high. It is very acrid when fresh, but loses this property when cooked, or partially when dried. ; For the drug market it is collected in the early spring, transversely sliced and dried, and is employed in both herbal and homoeopathic treatment. ; It has acrid, stimulant, diaphoretic and expectorant properties, and is said to be useful when taken immediately after eating, to assist digestion and promote assimilation. It is considered a stimulant to the lungs in consumption, asthma and chronic forms of lung complaints, and to be of great value in hoarseness, coughs, asthma, rheumatism and lung diseases. ; Owing to its acrimony, it is usually given in powder in honey or syrup, or mixed with fine sugar. ; In the absolutely fresh state, both English and American Arums are violent irritants to the mucous membrane, producing when chewed, intense burning to the mouth and throat, and if taken internally, causing violent gastro-enteritis, which may end in death.; |
