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Amorphophallus rivieri
  • Devil's Tongue

a perennial member of the Amorphophallus genus in the family Araceae.

Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • None
    None
    There are no functions defined for this plant. Do you know of some? Click the edit button to add them!
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • light shade
    Light shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Unknown
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 10
    Zone 10
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Amorphophallus rivieri has 0 edible uses listed
Amorphophallus rivieri has 0 material uses listed
Amorphophallus rivieri has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

We have one report that this plant is very toxic raw, though no more details are given[1]. 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[2].

Edible uses

Notes

Rhizome - cooked[3]. The root must be thoroughly boiled or baked, it is acrid when raw[3]. Very large, it can be up to 30cm in iameter[4]. In Japan the large brown tubers are peeled, cooked and pounded to extract their starch, which is solidified with dissolved limestone into an edible gel called 'Konnyaku'[5]. Konnyaku is a type of flour valued for its use in many dietary products[4]. The flour is valued for its ability to clean the digestive tract without being a laxative[5]. A nutritional analysis is available[6]. This root is very high in water and low in calories, so it is being promoted as a diet food in N. America[6].

Root

Unknown use

Material uses

The plant has insecticidal properties[6].

Unknown part

Insecticide

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The root is oxytoxic and sialagogue[1]. It is used in the treatment of cancer[6]. The flowers are febrifuge[6].

Unknown part

Febrifuge
Oxytoxic
Sialagogue

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Nothing listed.

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

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[7]. 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. Division of offsets[8]. These are rarely produced[8].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Amorphophallus rivieri. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires shade and a rich soil in its native habitats, but it probably requires a position with at least moderate sun in Britain.

This species is being increasingly cultivated for its edible tubers in Japan and China[5][4] The plants are not winter hardy outdoors in Britain but are sometimes grown outdoors in this country as part of a sub-tropical bedding display[8]. It is also said to make a good house plant[8]. 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[8][7]. 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[8].

The plant has one enormous leaf and one spadix annually. It requires hand pollination in Britain[8][7]. 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[9].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Amorphophallus rivieri. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Amorphophallus rivieri.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Amorphophallus rivieri
Genus
Amorphophallus
Family
Araceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6]
Medicinal uses
[1][6]
Material uses & Functions
[6]
Botanic
[3][4]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
10
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
light shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
Environmental Tolerances
    Ecosystems
    Native Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Adapted Climate Zones
    None listed.
    Native Geographical Range
    None listed.
    Native Environment
    None listed.
    Ecosystem Niche
    None listed.
    Root Zone Tendancy
    None listed.
    Life
    Deciduous or Evergreen
    ?
    Herbaceous or Woody
    ?
    Life Cycle
    perennial
    Growth Rate
    ?
    Mature Size
    0.75 x 0.6 meters
    Fertility
    ?
    Pollinators
    Flies
    Flower Colour
    ?
    Flower Type
    monoecious











    References

    1. ? 1.01.11.2 Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica. Taipei. Southern Materials Centre ()
    2. ? Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
    3. ? 3.03.13.23.3 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
    4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.4 [Flora of China] (1994-00-00)
    5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
    6. ? 6.06.16.26.36.46.56.66.7 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
    7. ? 7.07.17.2 Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
    8. ? 8.08.18.28.38.48.58.6 F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
    9. ? Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 (1994-00-00)


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    Facts about "Amorphophallus rivieri"RDF feed
    Article is incompleteYes +
    Article requires citationsNo +
    Article requires cleanupYes +
    Belongs to familyAraceae +
    Belongs to genusAmorphophallus +
    Has common nameDevil's Tongue +
    Has drought toleranceIntolerant +
    Has edible partRoot +
    Has edible useUnknown use +
    Has fertility typeFlies +
    Has flowers of typeMonoecious +
    Has hardiness zone10 +
    Has lifecycle typePerennial +
    Has material partUnknown part +
    Has material useInsecticide +
    Has mature height0.75 +
    Has mature width0.6 +
    Has medicinal partUnknown part +
    Has medicinal useFebrifuge +, Oxytoxic + and Sialagogue +
    Has search nameamorphophallus rivieri + and x +
    Has shade toleranceLight shade +
    Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
    Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
    Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
    Has sun preferenceFull sun +
    Has taxonomy nameAmorphophallus rivieri +
    Has water requirementsmoderate +
    Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
    Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
    Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +