If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Homalomena philippinensis

Engl.

Araceae

+ Synonyms

Homalomena rubescens latifolia Engl.

Common Name:

Homalomena philippinensis
Drawing of the leaves and flowers (Left side only)
Photograph by: Engler, H.G.A., Das Pflanzenreich, Araceae - Philodendroideae - Philodendreae - Homalomeniae
Creative Commons License

General Information

Homalomena philippinensis is a perennial plant producing clusters of large, heart-shaped leaves from an underground corm. The plant grows about 1 metre tall[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
].
The large leaves are gathered from the wild and used for wrapping food. The plant also has local medicinal uses.

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

589
Title
Leaflets of Philippine Botany Vol. 10.
Publication
 
Author
Elmer A.D.E. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1939
ISBN
 
Description
Various plant articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Southeast Asia - Taiwan to the Philippines.

Habitat

Wet, black, humus covered soil of thickets and woods at elevations around 300 metres[
589
Title
Leaflets of Philippine Botany Vol. 10.
Publication
 
Author
Elmer A.D.E. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1939
ISBN
 
Description
Various plant articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. Along small streams in primary forests at low elevations in the Philippines[
465
Title
An Enumeration of Philippine Flowering Plants
Publication
 
Author
Merrill E.D.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Bureau of Science, Manila.
Year
1925
ISBN
 
Description
Mainly a list of plant names, plus some synonyms, giving details of where the name was published. Also gives a note on the range of the plant, its habitat and local names. Unfortunately, it does not even give a brief description of the plant.
].

Properties

Medicinal Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitPerennial
Height1.00 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details



The base of the petioles, when pulled off, has a very sweet chewing-gum odour especially when the tissues are crushed[
589
Title
Leaflets of Philippine Botany Vol. 10.
Publication
 
Author
Elmer A.D.E. (Editor)
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
 
Year
1939
ISBN
 
Description
Various plant articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The rhizomes are used as an embrocation to treat rheumatism[
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.
,
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
,
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].

The leaves are vulnerary[
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].

Other Uses

The large leaves are used for wrapping food[
345
Title
Minor Products of Philippine Forests
Publication
 
Author
Brown. W. H.
Publisher
Bureau of Forestry, Manilla.
Year
1920
ISBN
 
Description
A useful guide to some of the plants of the area, though terse on details. The book is out of copyright and can be legally downloaded from the Internet.
,
360
Title
Philippine Medicinal Plants
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.stuartxchange.org/CompleteList.html
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A lovely site, giving brief details on the medicinal uses of several hundred (over 400 at the last count) plants in the Philippines, plus a picture of each plant.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-11-23. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Homalomena+philippinensis>

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.