Batflower
Tacca chantrieri

Family: Dioscoreaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 60 cm high. The rhizome or underground stem is cylinder shaped. It is 8-15 cm long. There are 4-14 leaves. The leaves are 10-35 cm long. The leaf blade is entire and oval. The flowering stalk is 45-80 cm long. There are 4 bracts in 2 pairs at right angles. The flowers are purple and 1-3 cm long. The fruit are shiny and purple-black. The seeds are kidney shaped. They have deep furrows.

Also put in the family Taccaceae. Presumably in a hot house in Slovenia.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows on the forest floor. It grows well in a shady spot with plenty of moisture and a humus-rich soil. It grows in valley forests and along rivers between 200-1,300 m above sea level in southern China. It needs a hardiness zone 10-12. In Yunnan. In Townsville Queens BG.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Hawaii, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tibet, USA, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves and flower shoots are eaten in curries.

Edible parts

Leaves, flowers, root, tuber

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed or by division of the tuber.

Its other names

Local names

Leik-pya-gamon, Mihuowa, Queluo-palai

Synonyms

Clerodendrum esquirolii H. Lev.; Schizocapsa itagakii Yamam.; Tacca minor Ridl.; and others