Spathiphyllum phryniifolium

Schott

Guisnay, Huisnay

Araceae Edible: Leaves, Flowers 16 iNaturalist observations

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Description

A taro family plant. It grows 100 cm high and spreads 60-80 cm wide. The leaves are dark green with heavy veins. The leaves are lance shaped and 50 cm long. The flowers are on a thick stalk and change from white to yellow as they open. There is a bract 25 cm long around them. It is pale yellow-green.

Edible Uses

The young spadices are cooked with egg and eaten. Leaves and flowers are also edible portions.

Traditional Uses

The young spadices are cooked with egg and eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

A tropical plant. It grows in wet forest. It is mostly at low elevations but can be up to 1,400 m in Central America. It suits hardiness zones 11-12.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Myanmar, Nicaragua, Panama, SE Asia, South America,

Other Information

It is sold in local markets.

Notes

There are 41 Spathiphyllum species.

Also Known As

Busnay, Cuchijec, Flor de chile, Flor de chilillo, Cuchijec, Gushnay

References (9)

Chizmar Fernandez, C., et al, 2009, Plantas comestibles de Centroamerica. Instituto de Biodiversidad, Costa Rica. p 60
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 1360
de Polle, E., Plantas Silvestres Comestible de Guatemala. 1(1) Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala.
Hellmuth, N. M., 2011, Maya Ethnobotany. Complete Inventory of plants. Associacion FLAAR Mesoamerica. Tenth edition.
Kermath, B. M., et al, 2014, Food Plants in the Americas: A survey of the domesticated, cultivated and wild plants used for Human food in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. On line draft. p 831

Show all 9 references

Kew Plants of the World onLine
Martin, F.W. & Ruberte, R.M., 1979, Edible Leaves of the Tropics. Antillian College Press, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. p 176
Piedra-Malagón, E. M. et al, 2022, Edible native plants of the Gulf of Mexico Province. Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e80565 p 10
Standley, P. C. & Record, S. J., 1936, The Forests and Flora of British Honduras. (Belize). p 89