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Typhonium trilobatum

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Typhonium trilobatum (L.) Schott

Family Name: Araceae
Synonyms: Arum trilobatum L., Arum orixense Roxburgh ex Andrews, Typhonium orixense (Andrews) Schott.
Common Name: Bengal Arum, Keladi Puyuh, 马蹄犁头尖

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Classifications and Characteristics

Plant Division Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon)
Plant Growth Form Herbaceous Plant

Biogeography

Native Distribution India to South China and Malaya
Native Habitat Terrestrial
Preferred Climate Zone Tropical
Local Conservation Status Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised))

Description and Ethnobotany

Growth Form It is an herbaceous plant with short tuberous corms, grows up to 45cm tall.
Foliage Petiole is green or various flushes of purple, 25-40cm long. Leaves are cordate-ovate, deeply trilobed, rarely 5-lobed. The central lobe is ovate in shape, pointed leaf tip (acuminate, sometimes mucronate), measuring 10-15 × 6-11cm. While the lateral lobes are slightly smaller in size.
Flowers Flowers are spadix inflorescence. The spathe of the flower is larger than the spadix. Flowers are ovoid or ellipsoid in shape, dark purple to reddish-purple on the inside, green on the outside, measuring up to 10-20cm. The spathe convolutes (roll longitudinally inwards) at the base. It has a greenish-white barrel-shaped chamber below the spathe, red streaks are occasionally observed.
Fruit Fruits are berries, green with purple spots, turns white when mature. Fruits are ellipsoid, contains 1-2 seeds. Spathe remains intact even when it fruits.
Others - Plant Morphology Corms are produced in this plant. They are white, sub-globose to cylindrical, sizes vary between 1-5cm in diameter.
Ethnobotanical Uses Others: Locals communities in the Southeast Asia region consume corms that are sliced and dried. Leaves are used as fish food.

Plant Care and Propagation

Light Preference Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference Moderate Water

Foliar

Foliage Retention Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s) Green
Foliar Attachment to Stem Petiolate
Foliar Venation Recticulate

Floral (Angiosperm)

Flower Colour(s) Purple
Flower Grouping Solitary
Inflorescence Type Spathe & Spadix

Image Repository

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Others

Master ID 33969
Species ID 8385
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.
Species record last updated on: 26 August 2021.
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