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Amorphophallus rivieri - Durieu.

Common Name Devil's Tongue, Umbrella Arum, Leopard Palm, Snake Palm
Family Araceae
USDA hardiness 10-11
Known Hazards We have one report that this plant is very toxic raw, though no more details are given[178]. 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[238].
Habitats Loose leafy detritus in moist shady habitats[200]. Forest margins and thickets at elevations of 830-1200 metres in western Yunnan[266].
Range E. Asia - Cochin China, East Indies.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Moist Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Amorphophallus rivieri Devil


Amorphophallus rivieri Devil

 

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Summary

Bloom Color: Pink. Main Bloom Time: Late spring. Form: Irregular or sprawling.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Amorphophallus rivieri is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.8 m (2ft 7in) by 0.6 m (2ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Flies.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Conophallus konjak.

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Dappled Shade; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Rhizome - cooked[200]. The root must be thoroughly boiled or baked, it is acrid when raw[200]. Very large, it can be up to 30cm in iameter[266]. 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'[183]. Konnyaku is a type of flour valued for its use in many dietary products[266]. The flour is valued for its ability to clean the digestive tract without being a laxative[183]. A nutritional analysis is available[218]. This root is very high in water and low in calories, so it is being promoted as a diet food in N. America[218].

References   More on Edible Uses

Composition
Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.
Leaves (Dry weight)
  • 308 Calories per 100g
  • Water : 0%
  • Protein: 3.8g; Fat: 0g; Carbohydrate: 88.5g; Fibre: 3.8g; Ash: 7.7g;
  • Minerals - Calcium: 654mg; Phosphorus: 269mg; Iron: 11.5mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
  • Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0mg; Niacin: 0mg; B6: 0mg; C: 0mg;
  • Reference: [ ]
  • Notes:

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Febrifuge  Oxytoxic  Sialagogue

The root is oxytoxic and sialagogue[178]. It is used in the treatment of cancer[218]. The flowers are febrifuge[218].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Insecticide

The plant has insecticidal properties[218].

Special Uses

Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container. 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[183, 266] 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[1]. It is also said to make a good house plant[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, 133]. 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]. The plant has one enormous leaf and one spadix annually. It requires hand pollination in Britain[1, 133]. 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[245]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Edible, Fragrant flowers, Flowers have an unpleasant odor.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant 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[133]. 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[1]. These are rarely produced[1].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: China (Yunnan Sheng) TROPICAL ASIA: Vietnam

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Amorphophallus konjacDevil's Tongue, Devil's Tongue, Snake Plant, Konjac, Konnyaku Potato, Voodoo LilyPerennial1.3 6-11 FLMFSM422
Amorphophallus paeoniifoliusElephant Yam, Whitespot giant arumPerennial0.8 11-12  LMSNM422

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Durieu.

Botanical References

200266

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

renee twine   Wed Nov 17 23:23:06 2004

l want to know where could l find it at in norfolk va

Subhamoy Bhattacharjee   Thu Aug 3 2006

Dear Sir or madam, I am Subhamoy Bhattacharjee from Kolkata, India. I am looking for some rare Indian plant. I know only their local name in Bengali only; those are Sada Makal or White Makal, Lal Makal or Red Makal and Badani. Can you tell me from where I can purchase these plants? Yours faithfully Subhamoy Bhattacharjee [email protected] 033-25688574 9339112455

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Subject : Amorphophallus rivieri  
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