Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Herbs

Tiger’s                                                                                                 Paw Original: Huzhang (虎掌). Known scientifically as Pinellia pedatisecta, this plant is a larger relative of the Crowdipper. It is named for its distinctive "pedate" leaves, which fan out in a pattern resembling the splayed toes of a tiger's paw.

The illustration on this page depicts the Tiger’s Paw plant in two stages of development. It clearly shows the characteristic leaf structure and the rounded, tuberous roots which, like those of the Crowdipper, are harvested for their medicinal properties. These tubers are often used in traditional formulas to resolve phlegm and reduce swelling, though they require careful processing due to their natural toxicity.