Common Name:

General Information

Anchomanes difformis is a large herbaceous plant growing about 2 metres tall[]. Growing from a horizontal tuber that can measure up to 80 cm long by 20 cm across, the plant produces one huge, much-divided leaf with a stout prickly stem (leaf-petiole)[].
The plant is used locally for medicinal purposes, and the tuber is harvested from the wild as an emergency food in times of need[].

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[].

Botanical References

Range

Western Tropical Africa - Cameroon.

Habitat

Rainforests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Like many species in the family Araceae, this plant has the ability to heat the flowering spadix as the pollen becomes ready for fertilization. This heat greatly increases the strength of the aroma released by the plant, thus attracting more pollinating insects. It can also have the effect of making the insects more active, thus increasing the level of fertilization[].

Edible Uses

The tubers are often eaten as food during times of scarcity[, ]. The root contains saponins and raphides which cause irritation[]. It requires special preparation, usually involving prolonged washing and cooking[]. Hearth-ashes are often added to the cooking water, then the roots are left in water to macerate and ferment for several days[]. The root can then be sundried and stored[].

Medicinal

The liquid obtained after cooking the crushed leaves with other drug-plants is drunk as a cough-cure[].

Both the rhizome and the leaves are considered to be galactagogue[].
The rhizomes are used to make alteratives for internal medication, but care has to be exercised on account of the caustic nature of the sap[].
Externally, the rhizomes are used to make rubefacients and vesicants but care has to be exercised on account of the caustic nature of the sap[]. The root, pulped with potter’s clay, is applied to maturate abscesses[].

Both the root, or the leaves and stems, are considered to be a powerful purgative and used to treat oedemas, difficult child-birth, as a poison antidote, and as a strong diuretic for treating urethral discharge, jaundice and kidney-pains[].
The plant causes uterine contractions and so can be effective in treating menstrual problems, aiding child birth, or causing an abortion[].

The sap from the stem is ophthalmic[]

A strong presence of alkaloids is found in Nigerian material[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.

Name:

Email(Private):

Message:

Captcha: How many fingers does the typical human have?