Alligator flag, Swamp lily
Thalia geniculata

Family: Marantaceae

What it is like

A plant that grows in water. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 3 m high. It forms dense clumps. The leaves are arrow shaped and 1 m long by 20 cm wide. . They are on thin stems. The flowers are purple and white. They are on zig-zag stems.

Caution: It can become a weed blocking waterways.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in water. They can survive light frosts. In Uni of Calicut BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Argentina (country/location of origin), Asia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, East Africa, Gabon, Greater Antilles, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, India, Indonesia, Mexico, North America, Paraguay, SE Asia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, South America, Sudan, Suriname, Uruguay,USA (country/location of origin), Venezuela, West Africa, Zambia

How it is used for food

Young leaves are eaten. The rhizomes are baked and eaten or made into a kind of arrowroot.

Edible parts

Leaves, rhizomes, root

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by division. They can also be grown by seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Aguape-gigante, Agutiguepo-obi, Arumarana, Aurma-kina, Bocachica, Caete, Fafa, N'txenplale, Patat cai, Peguajo, Pehuajo, Platanillo, Popal, Sirane, Thalia

Synonyms

Thalia caerulea Ridl.; Thalia welwitschii Ridl.;