Amorphophallus harmandii
Engl. & Gehrm.
Araceae
Pseudodracontium harmandi Engl.
Common Name:
General Information
Amorphophallus harmandii is an unbranched herbaceous perennial plant growing about 50cm tall from a tuberous rootstock.
The plant is occasionally cultivated in Vietnam for its edible tubers and leaf buds, and is also sometimes grown as an ornamental[
].
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
E. Asia - Vietnam, Cambodia.
Habitat
Not known
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Habit | Perennial |
| Height | 0.50 m |
| Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, 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
Corms[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
]. Boiled[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
]. 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.
].
Fleshy leaf bases[
]. They need to be thoroughly cooked[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
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.
].
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
