Ataenidia conferta

Family: Marantaceae

What it is like

An erect herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 45-100 cm high. The leaves are turned in one direction. These are at the base and along the stem. The leaf stalk is blackish-purple. There is a swelling at the base of the leaf 3 cm long. The leaf blade is oval and without hairs. It is 35-44 cm long and 15-22 cm wide. The tip is rounded but with a point. The upper surface is dark green and it is red-brown underneath. The flowering arrangement is shaped like a top. It is reddish-brown.

There are about 20 Phrynium species. They grow in tropical Asia.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. Cairns Botanical Garden.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Australia, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Congo DR, Côte d'Ivoire, Hawaii, Ivory Coast, Pacific, Sudan, West Africa, USA

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Iyolu, Molu

Synonyms

Phrynium confertum (Bentham) K. Schumann;