Bach bo, Sessile stemona root
Stemona tuberosa

Family: Stemonaceae

What it is like

A slender herb. It is a climber. Stems can be 4 m long. The roots are 9-13 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The stems have a woody base and are often branched. The leaves are opposite and in rings. The leaf stalk is 3-10 cm long. The leaves are oval and 6-24 cm long by 5-17 cm wide. The edges are slightly wavy. The fruit is a capsule 3-6 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. There are several seeds.

It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical Asia. It grows in forests, thickets and mountain slopes between 300-2,300 m above sea level. It grows in well-drained soils and open places and can be in light shade. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Northeastern India, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

CAUTION: The roots contain alkaloids. The roots are treated with limewater then candied with sugar. They are also boiled as a vegetable.

Edible parts

Fruit, roots, tubers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Barhtlum, Basel phauk, Japanese stemona root, Kaniputeega, Kaniputiga, Ijedigadda, Simi-tauk, Stemona filipina, Thagdi, Ubi kemili hutan, Ubi kelili

Synonyms

Stemona moluccana (Blume) Wright;