Typhonium alismifolium

F. Muell.

Araceae Edible: Rhizome, Root, Corm

wikimedia· cc-by

Alvesgaspar (via Wikimedia Commons)

Contribute a photo Sign in required

Summary

Source: Wikipedia

Typhonium alismifolium is a species of plant in the Araceae family that is endemic to Australia.

Description

A lily like herb. It grows 30 cm high. It loses its leaves during the year. The corm is 5 cm across. The leaves are simple and have a central lobe. The leaves are 10-25 cm long by 5-10 cm wide. The leaf stalk is 2-4 cm long. The flowers are small and in a spike in the axils of leaves. The spathe around the flower spike is purple or dark red. This is 2.5-3.5 cm long.

Edible Uses

The corm or tuber is roasted and then crushed for consumption.

Traditional Uses

The tuber is roasted and then crushed.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in vine thickets. In tropical Queensland it grows between 200 and 500 m altitude.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Notes

There are about 40-50 Typhonium species.

References (5)

Checklist of NT Vascular Plant Species. January 2003.
Cherikoff V. & Isaacs, J., The Bush Food Handbook. How to gather, grow, process and cook Australian Wild Foods. Ti Tree Press, Australia p 201
Jones D, L, 1986, Ornamental Rainforest Plants in Australia, Reed Books, p 258
Smith, N. M., 1991, Ethnobotanical Field Notes from the Northern Territory, Australia, J. Adelaide Bot. Gard. 14(1): 1-65
Yunupinu Banjgul, Laklak Yunupinu-Marika, et al. 1995, Rirratjinu Ethnobotany: Aboriginal Plant Use from Yirrkala, Arnhem Land, Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin No 21. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. p 76.