Typhonium angustilobum

F. Muell.

Fire Lily, Black Arum

AraceaeRootsScore: 42/100Potential hazards — see below

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What to Eat

Edible parts: Rhizome, Root

Root - cooked. A rich source of starch but, unless it is very thoroughly cooked to destroy the toxins, it can cause severe discomfort in the mouth and digestive tract. Traditionally, the Aborigines would bake it and pound it several times before eating it.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant 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.

Where to Find It

A tropical plant. It grows seasonally in swamps and open woodlands.

Australia*,

Countries: Australia

How to Identify

An annual herb. It has an underground tuber from which it re-grows each year. The tuber is round and flattened. The leaf is shaped like a duck's foot.

Nutrition Score: 42/100

Part	Moisture	kJ	kcal	Protein	Vit A	Vit C	Iron	Zinc
Root	61.4	581	139	1.4	—	—	14.5	1.8

How to Grow

The flowering plant has a strong, unpleasant smell reminiscent of faeces.

Propagation: Seed - Division of offsets in the dormant season

Notes

There are about 50 Typhonium species.

References (9)

Checklist of NT Vascular Plant Species. January 2003.
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 201
Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 156
Jackes, B.R., 2001, Plants of the Tropics. Rainforest to Heath. An Identification Guide. James Cook University. p 41
Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 258
Lim, T. K., 2015, Edible Medicinal and Non Medicinal Plants. Volume 9, Modified Stems, Roots, Bulbs. Springer p 84
Scarth-Johnson, V., 2000, National Treasures. Flowering Plants of Cooktown and Northern Australia. Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery Association. Cooktown, Australia. p 179
Smith, N. M., 1991, Ethnobotanical Field Notes from the Northern Territory, Australia, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 14(1): 1-65
Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 982