石蜘蛛 shi zhi zhu

Tuber depressed globose, 1-1.3 cm in diam. Leaves 1-3; petiole 5-15 cm, slender, base sheathing; leaf blade entire, ovate, oblong, or oblong-lanceolate, 5-19 × 1.5-6 cm, base obtuse, rarely shallowly cordate, apex shortly acuminate to acute; primary lateral veins 6 or 7 per side. Inflorescence including peduncle shorter than petioles; peduncle 6-10 cm. Spathe constricted, (6-)7-9 cm; tube 0.8-1.2 cm; limb curved, lanceolate, 7-8 cm, apex long acuminate. Spadix 8-12 cm; female zone 5-10 mm, adnate to spathe; female flowers densely arranged; pistil 0.8-0.9 mm; ovary ovoid, ca. 0.6 × 0.4 mm; style distinct, ca. 0.3 mm; stigma subhemispheric, ca. 0.18 mm in diam., broader than style; sterile zone between female and male flowers 5-10 mm; male zone 5-10 mm; thecae elongate, ca. 0.7 mm, opening by a long slit; appendix pendulous, incurved, filiform, 4-9 cm. Berries pale green to whitish, ovoid. Fl. Sep.

● Slopes, moist areas by streams; below 1000 m. Chongqing, Hubei (Yichang), SE Sichuan (Xuyong).

Pinellia integrifolia is characterized by its ovate or oblong leaf blades, obtuse or shallowly cordate leaf bases, and petioles lacking bulbils.

The poisonous tubers are used for treating traumatic injuries and gonorrhea.