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Amorphophallus prainii Hook.f.
| Family Name: | Araceae |
| Synonyms: | Amorphophallus bintangensis Ipor, Tawan & Meekiong, Amorphophallus loerzingii Alderw., Amorphophallus panomensis Gagnep. |
| Common Name: | Voodoo Lily, Devil’s Tongue |
The Voodoo Lily (Amorphophallus prainii) is a deciduous, herbaceous aroid. It can produce a single, umbrella-like leaf or a foul-smelling spadix and spathe from an underground stem called a corm. It is presumed nationally extinct in Singapore.
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 | 0.1 m to 2.1 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sumatra |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Secondary Rainforest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Extinct (EX)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a deciduous, herbaceous aroid with a single leaf (sometimes two) that grows up to 1 - 2.1 m tall. The leaf is often mistaken for the entire plant, resembling a miniature tree. |
|---|---|
| Roots | The roots are borne at the top of the corm just below the leaf. The leaf and roots usually grow simultaneously; as the leaf dies down, the roots stop growing and eventually die as well. |
| Foliage | The leaf resembles a miniature tree, with a petiole (leaf stalk) reaching up to 2.1 m tall and 2.5 m across, with a highly dissected leaf blade. The petiole can be smooth or slightly rough in texture towards the base. The petiole colouration is variable, ranging from a whitish green to reddish brown base colour and mottled with small, dark-green spots and large, circular or oval, creamy white spots, often merging into a continuous patch. The leaf eventually dies down and regrows from the corm during the following season. Several leaves may be produced from accessory corms at the base. |
| Stems | The stem is an underground corm (thick, often round, modified stem), reaching 25 cm in diameter and 15 cm in height. The corm is depressed-globose and sometimes covered in root scars. Offsets may be borne around the main corm. |
| Flowers | The inflorescence is a spadix borne on a short peduncle (central stalk on inflorescence) and subtended by a bell-shaped spathe. The spathe is white-creamy white with a wine-red or deep purple throat inside and pale green on the exterior, with pale green, wrinkled margins that curve outwards. The spadix can reach up to 37 cm tall, with a teardrop-shaped appendix (upper, infertile portion of the spadix), followed by reduced male flowers, and reduced female flowers towards the base. The inflorescence emits a foul, decaying odour in the late afternoon to night, which fades after a day. The odour attracts potential pollinators such as carrion flies and beetles. |
| Fruit | The infrutescence is a cluster of elongated berries that turns red to orange-red when ripened. The peduncle will lengthen during the fruting phase. |
| Habitat | It can be found in scrub, evergreen forests, and on limestone, growing from 0 to 850 m above sea level. |
| Similar | This species is similar in appearance to Amorphophallus paeoniifolius but can be differentiated by the white or greenish spathe colour and the shorter style. However, the variability of these species may make accurate differentiation difficult. |
| Associated Fauna | The flowers are pollinated by carrion flies and beetles, and the fruits are likely dispersed by birds. The leaves may be fed on moth caterpillars. |
| Cultivation | This species grows well in deep, moist, 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 propagate from seeds, corms, and offsets. |
| Etymology | The genus Amorphophallus means 'misshapen phallus', an allusion to the shape of the inflorescence and corms (in some species). |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: The Semangs of Peninsular Malaysia mix the juice of this plant with the latex of the 'Poison arrow tree' (Antiaris sp.) to make dart poison. |
Landscaping Features
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Flowers, Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Form |
|---|---|
| Landscape Uses | Parks & Gardens, Reforestation, Focal Plant, Container Planting |
| Thematic Landscaping | Bird & Wildlife Garden |
| Usage Hazard - Cons | Irritant - Sap, Toxic Upon Ingestion, Pungent Scent - Flowers |
| Usage Hazard - Cons Remarks | Irritant Sap/ Toxic Upon Ingestion: All plant parts contain 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
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Bird-Attracting (Fruits), Caterpillar Moth Food Plant (Leaves) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Carrion Insects (Carrion Fly, Carrion Beetle)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate to Slow |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Well-Drained Soils, Fertile Loamy Soils |
| Maintenance Requirements | Moderate |
| Pest(s) | Nematodes |
| Propagation Method | Seed, Storage Organ (Corm) |
| Propagation Method Remarks | Corms should be dusted with fungicide before being buried in the ground or a large, deep pot. After the leaf dies down completely, the corm can be harvested by carefully lifting it from the soil. Avoid injuring corms, which may result in rotting. |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green, Green - Light Green, Patterned |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Smooth, Thin, Rough |
| Foliar Modification | Flower/Fruit Bract |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical, Lanceolate) |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acuminate |
| 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) | Cream / Off-White, Yellow / Golden |
|---|
| Flower Texture(s) | Leathery |
| 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) | Orange, Red |
|---|---|
| Mature Fruit Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Fruit Classification | Simple Fruit |
| Fruit Type | |
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Brown |
| Seed Quantity Per Fruit | Few (1-5) |
References
| References | eMonocot Team Amorphophallus prainii - Hook.f. CATE Araceae https://cate-araceae.myspecies.info/taxonomy/term/7826/descriptions (accessed 4 April 2025) |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 364 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 1660 |
| 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. |
