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Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson
| Family Name: | Araceae |
| Synonyms: | Plesmonium nobile Schott., Amorphophallus giganteus Blume, Dracontium paeoniifolium Dennst., Arum campanulatum Roxb., Amorphophallus campanulatus Decne. |
| Common Name: | Elephant Foot Yam, Elephant Yam, Telingo Potato, Sweet Yam, Corpse Flower, 巨花蒟蒻 |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Umbrella |
| Maximum Height | 1.5 m to 2.5 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 3 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Indian sub-continent, China, Taiwan, Indochina, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Northern Australia |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland, Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a deciduous, herbaceous aroid, with a single leaf growing up to 2.5m tall. The leaf is often mistaken for the entire plant itself and resembles a miniature tree. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The leaf resemble a miniature tree with a petiole (leaf-stalk) reaching up to 1.5 - 2 m tall and a leaf blade reaching up to 1.5 - 3m, divided into hundred of dissected segments. The petiole is fleshy, green and patterned with paler green spots or blotches. The leaf eventually dies down, and regrow from tuber during next season. Several leaves may be produced from accessory corms at the base. |
| Stems | The stems are underground corms (thick, often round, modified stems). reaching up to 30 cm in diameter and 25 kg in weight. The corms are dark brown, hemispherical, and sometimes covered in short, rough appendages. Offsets may be borne around main corm. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is a spadix with a large bulbous knob, subtended by a funnel-shaped spathe. The spathe is dark brown to maroon on inside, pale green with white spots on exterior, with glossy wrinked margins. The spadix can reach up 40 - 50 cm tall by 30 - 40 cm across, with the female flowers found on lower part and the male flowers towards top and a transitional zone in between. The inflorescence emits foul, decaying odour, which fades after flowers are pollinated. |
| Fruit | The infrutescence are a cluster of cylindrical berries, that matures from green to bright red. |
| Associated Fauna | The flowers are pollinated by carrion flies and beetles, and the fruits are pollinated by birds and squirrels. |
| Cultivation | This species grow wells in deep, moist but well-drained, fertile soils with lots of organic matter. Avoid planting in waterlogged clayey soils, which hinder corm formation and promote rotting. Corms are susceptible to soil nematodes. It can be propagated by seeds and corms. |
| Etymology | The genus Amorphophallus means 'deformed phallus', an allusion to the shape of the inflorescence and corms (in some species). The specific epithet paeoniifolius means having leaves like Peony (Paeonia), which is named after ancient Greek physician Paeon, who was supposed to be the first to use plants medicinally. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Edible Plant Parts : Edible Storage Organs, Edible Leaves Food (Herb or Spice) (Fruit or Vegetable): The corms are edible, often found in Indian markets, and often used in curries and stews in several Asian countries, especially Indonesia. The leaves and petioles are also cooked and eaten as vegetable. (Note: All plant parts used for food should be thoroughly cooked to break down the irritant calcium oxalate crystals, which would otherwise cause stinging and burning.) Medicinal: Dried tubers used medicinally to relieve piles, digestive problems and dysentery, while fresh roots are used as expectorant. People with rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should exercise caution when consuming the tubers. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | General, Container Planting, Parks & Gardens, Focal Plant |
| Thematic Landscaping | Bird & Wildlife Garden, Economic Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Irritant - Sap, Toxic Upon Ingestion, Pungent Scent - Flowers |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Irritant Sap/ Toxic Upon Ingestion: Raw or improperly-cooked plant parts contain irritant calcium oxalate raphides, which are needle-shaped crystals that can cause irritation to skin, mouth and throat. Keep plants away from children and pets. Pungent Flowers: The inflorescence emit foul, decaying odour that resembles rotting flesh. The odour also attracts carrion flies, which may pose as a nuisance. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Carrion Insects (Carrion Fly, Carrion Beetle)) |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) (Birds & squirrels) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate to Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Fertile Loamy Soils, Well-Drained Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Pest(s) | Nematodes |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Storage Organ (Corm) |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Corms should be dusted with fungicide before being buried in ground or large deep pot. After the leaf dies down completely, the corm can be harvested by lifting carefully from soil. Avoid injuring corms, which may result in rotting. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Glossy / Shiny, Raised / Sunken Veins |
| Foliar Modification | Flower/Fruit Bract |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire - Wavy / Undulate |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Cuspidate |
| Typical Foliar Area | Mesophyll ( 45cm2 - 182.25 cm2 ) |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot) |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Stem Type & Modification | Acaulescent |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Fibrous Root) |
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Corm) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Colour(s) | Brown, Cream / Off-White, Red |
|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
| Ovary Position | Superior / Hypogynous |
| Flowering Period | Rarely |
| Flower Lifespan on Plant | Several Days |
| Flowering Habit | Polycarpic |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Red |
|---|---|
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | Fleshy Fruit , Berry |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 363 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1659 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
