Amorphophallus albus
P.Y.Liu & J.F.Chen
Araceae
Closely related to Amorphophallus konjac, and maybe conspecific[
].
Common Name:
General Information
Amorphophallus albus is a herbaceous, perennial plant producing just one leaf up to 80cm in diameter on a stem that is up to 70cm long[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
]. The plant grows from an underground tuber that can be 7 - 10cm in diameter and 5 - 6cm tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
The plant is sometimes cultivated in parts of China for its edible tuber[
,
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.
].
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
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
Range
E. Asia - southern China.
Habitat
Open forests and arid thickets at elevations from 800 - 1,000 metres[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Corm |
| Height | 1.00 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of mainly subtropical zones in China, where it can also be cultivated in tropical areas.
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
Tuber - cooked[
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.
]. 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.
]. The fresh corms are turned into curd, or are chopped then dried[
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.
]. The curd is relatively tasteless, but it absorbs flavours well and so can be used as a carbohydrate element in a wide range of other foods[
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.
]. The tuber can be 7 - 10cm in diameter and 5 - 6cm tall[
266- Title
- Flora of China
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis.
- Year
- 1994
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
None known
Propagation
Seed - usually germinates easily and well[
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.
].
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.
