Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
Elephant Yam
a perennial member of the Amorphophallus genus in the family Araceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Amorphophallus
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.75 m
- Fertility
- Flies
- Flower type
- monoecious
- Pollinators
- Flies
Uses
Toxicity
Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a family where most of the members contain calcium oxalate crystals. This substance is toxic fresh and, if eaten, makes the mouth, tongue and throat feel as if hundreds of small needles are digging in to them. However, calcium oxalate is easily broken down either by thoroughly cooking the plant or by fully drying it and, in either of these states, it is safe to eat the plant. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet[8].
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Rhizome - cooked[6][13][2][3]. Acrid raw[6], it must be thoroughly boiled or baked[14][15]. A very large root, it can be up to 50cm in diameter[7][10][12]. Caution is advised, see notes above on probable toxicity. Leaves and petioles - they must be thoroughly cooked[3][5]. Caution is advised, see notes above on possible toxicity.
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The root is carminative, restorative, stomachic and tonic[9][10]. It is dried and used in the treatment of piles and dysentery[9][10]. The fresh root acts as an acrid stimulant and expectorant, it is much used in India in the treatment of acute rheumatism[9][10]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Expectorant
- Product or use
- Restorative
- Product or use
- Stomachic
- Product or use
- Tonic
Environment
- Range
- Tropical regions from Madagascar to Asia, Polynesia and northern Australia.
- Habitat
- Loose leafy detritus in moist shady habitats[7]. Tropical conditions in secondary forests, shrub forests and grasslands in arid valley areas at elevations below 750 metres[12].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 10+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown in a pot in a warm greenhouse as soon as it is ripe and the pot sealed in a plastic bag to retain moisture. It usually germinates in 1 - 8 months at 24°c[4]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least a couple of years. Plant them out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and give them some protection such as a cloche until they are growing away strongly.
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Requires shade and a rich soil in its native habitats, but it probably requires a position with at least moderate sun in Britain. Cultivated for its edible tuber in Asia[6], plants are not winter hardy outdoors in Britain but are sometimes grown outdoors in this country as part of a sub-tropical bedding display[1]. The tuber is harvested in the autumn after top growth has been cut back by frost and it must be kept quite dry and frost-free over winter[1][4]. It is then potted up in a warm greenhouse in spring ready to be planted out after the last expected frosts. The tubers are planted 15cm deep[1]. It is unclear from the reports that we have seen whether or not this root can be divided, it is quite possible that seed is the only means of increase[K]. The plant has one enormous leaf and one spadix annually. It requires hand pollination in Britain[1][4]. When ripe for pollination, the flowers have a foetid smell to attract carrion flies and midges. This smell disappears once the flower has been pollinated[11].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Haywood. V. H. Flowering Plants of the World. Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-217674-9
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Medicinal Plants of Nepal Dept. of Medicinal Plants. Nepal. 1993-00-00
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202