Amorphophallus abyssinicus
(A.Rich.) N.E.Br.
Araceae
Amorphophallus anisolobus Peter
Amorphophallus barteri N.E.Br.
Amorphophallus chevalieri (Engl.) Engl. & Gehrm.
Amorphophallus coffeatus Stapf
Amorphophallus foetidus (Engl.) Engl. & Gehrm.
Amorphophallus gratus (Schott) N.E.Br.
Amorphophallus schweinfurthii (Engl.) N.E.Br.
Amorphophallus unyikae Engl. & Gehrm.
Amorphophallus warneckei (Engl.) Engl. & Gehrm.
Arum abyssinicum A.Rich.
Corynophallus gratus (Schott) Kuntze
Hansalia grata Schott
Hydrosme chevalieri Engl.
Hydrosme foetida Engl.
Hydrosme grata (Schott) Engl.
Hydrosme schweinfurthii Engl.
Hydrosme seretii De Wild.
Hydrosme warneckei Engl.
Common Name:
General Information
Amorphophallus abyssinicus is a herbaceous, perennial plant with fleshy leaves growing up to 30cm tall from a subterranean tuber[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
The tubers are sometimes gathered from the wild, mainly in times of shortage, as a local food source. The plant is sometimes cultivated as a food crop in fields and occasionally in gardens in Ethiopia[
].
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[
238- Title
- Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown. D.
- Publisher
- Dorling Kindersley, London.
- Year
- 1995
- ISBN
- 0-7513-020-31
- Description
- A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
].
Botanical References
Range
Tropical Africa - Cote D'Ivoire to Ethiopia, south to Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Habitat
Damp places in savannah[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Medicinal Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.30 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Members of this genus generally require a moist but well-drained, humus-rich, fertile soil and a position in dappled shade[
472- Title
- Aroids: Plants of the Arum Family.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Bown D.
- Publisher
- Timber Press; Portland, Oregon.
- Year
- 2000
- ISBN
- 0-88192-485-7
- Description
- An excellent treatment of the family Araceae, giving lots of information about the plants, how to grow them, their uses etc. I found it a bit disordered - if you want all the information on a specific species you have to trawl through the whole book.
].
Edible Uses
Leaves - cooked[
]. They must be thoroughly cooked[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Tuber - cooked[
]. The corm must be thoroughly boiled or baked, it is acrid when raw (see notes above on 'Known Hazards'[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
])[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Mainly used in times of shortage[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
]. The flattened tuber is up to 7cm in diameter.
Medicinal
The tuber is used in Nigeria as a cure for 'delayed birth', presumably to induce delivery[
332- Title
- The Useful Plants of West Tropical Africa.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Burkil. H. M.
- Publisher
- Royal Botanic Gardens; Kew.
- Year
- 1985 - 2004
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Brief descriptions and details of the uses of over 4,000 plants. A superb, if terse, resource, it is also available electronically on the Web - see http://www.aluka.org/
].
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed -
If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.
Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
