Cartonema spicatum
Family: Commelinaceae
What it is like
A slender herb which keeps growing from year to year. It is 20-30 cm high. The stems are hairy. The leaves are long, narrow and hairy. They are 15-25 cm long by 0.4-0.7 cm wide. The leaves are grass like with veins running along the leaf. The leaf is pointed at the tip and has a sheath at the base. The flowers are yellow. They are about 2 cm across. They occur in spikes at the end of the shoot. The fruit is a small capsule. It is 0.5-0.8 cm long and enclosed in hairy papery bracts. The small tubers are edible.
There are about 10 Cartonema species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows in northern Australia. It grows in open forest often on rocky outcrops. It grows on moist sandy ground. It does well in hot places.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The small tubers are cooked and eaten.
Edible parts
Tuber, corm, root
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed or tubers.
Tubers are harvested in the dry season.
Its other names
Local names
Andjambendord, Dikkala anbadjan