Amorphophallus prainii

Hook.f.

AraceaeRootsPotential hazards — see below
Caution — Parts of this plant may be toxic or require specific preparation. Verify with multiple sources before consuming.
Amorphophallus prainii
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(c) margaret888, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Amorphophallus prainii
iNaturalist · cc-by-nc-sa
(c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)

What to Eat

Edible parts: Corms, Roots

The corms and roots are edible and the plant is occasionally cultivated for this purpose.

Known Hazards

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. The raw juice of the tuber is combined with the extracts of other poisonous plants, such as Rauvolfia perakensis, to increase their effectiveness and to speed up their rate of absorption.

Where to Find It

It is a tropical plant. It grows in lowland rainforest.

Asia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, SE Asia,

Countries: United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Brunei, Bhutan, China, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, India, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Cambodia, North Korea, South Korea, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mongolia, Maldives, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Philippines, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Syria, Thailand, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

How to Identify

A taro family herb. It grows up to 40 cm tall. It produces a single leaf from the tuber. The tuber is 25 cm across.

Other Information

It is occasionally cultivated for its edible corms.

Names & Synonyms
Amorphophallus loerzingii Alderw.Amorphophallus panomensis Gagnep.
References (2)
  • Mansfeld,
  • Sanchez-Monge, 1991,

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