Characteristics
A plant with a flattened root tuber which is 15 cm across. The leaf stalk is mottled green and white. The surface of the stalk is raised and roughened. It is up to 1 m long. There leaf occurs singly and is expanded to 1 m wide. It is divided into lobes about 4 cm long. The flower stem is 10 cm long. The spike of flowers is closely arranged around the central axis. Those at the base are female and those above are male. The flower spike is 20-25 cm long. The top part is a reddish-brown bladder like part. The flower produces berries which are about 1.5 cm across. The flowers give off a very strong bad smell which attracts flies to pollinate the plant.
| Life form |
perennial
|
| Growth form |
herb
|
| Growth support |
free-standing
|
| Foliage retention |
-
|
| Sexuality |
monoecy
|
| Pollination |
entomogamy
|
| Spread |
-
|
| Mature width (meter) |
0.15
|
| Mature height (meter) |
2.0
|
| Root system |
-
|
| Rooting depth (meter) |
-
|
| Root diameter (meter) |
-
|
| Flower color |
-
|
| Blooming months |
-
|
| Fruit color |
-
|
| Fruiting months |
-
|
| Nitrogen fixer |
-
|
| Photosynthetic pathway |
-
|
Environment
It is a tropical plant. It grows in teak forests and disturbed forests up to 900 m above sea level. It suits shady locations. It grows amongst limestone rocks. It is damaged by drought and frost.
| Light |
-
|
| Soil humidity |
-
|
| Soil texture |
-
|
| Soil acidity |
-
|
| Soil nutriment |
-
|
| Hardiness (USDA) |
-
|
Usage
The tubers is reported to be eaten after grating, pounding and roasting. The stems are reported to be eaten.
Cultivation
It can be grown from seed or from small tubers attached to the plant.
| Mode |
seedlings
|
| Germination duration (days) |
-
|
| Germination temperacture (C°) |
-
|
| Germination luminosity |
-
|
| Germination treatment |
-
|
| Minimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Optimum temperature (C°) |
-
|
| Size |
-
|
| Vigor |
-
|
| Productivity |
-
|
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