Common donax
Donax canniformis

Family: Marantaceae

What it is like

A half woody herb from 1 to 3 m high. It continues to grow from year to year. The bases of the branches are somewhat swollen. The stem is swollen near the nodes or joints. The stem branches 2 to 4 times. The base of the stem has cane like nodes. The leaves are usually rounded at the base and pointed at the tip. They are 15-30 cm long. The leaf bases are very long and wrap around the stem. This sheath can be 8-18 cm long. The flower spike develops in the axils of leaves. Sometimes it is unbranched can can be branched once or twice. It is 20-35 cm long. At each node of the flower stalk is an in-rolled sheath like bract. The flowers are white. The fruit are rounded and are about 1 cm across.

There are about 3 Donax species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in damp soil. They are common and widely distributed in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. In China they grow in wet places in secondary forest. In Sabah it grows up to 800-1,000 m altitude.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Cambodia, China, Guam, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fleshy portion of the fruit is eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Bamban, Kudita, Lal, Lias, Mewakal, Neene, Zhu ye jiao

Synonyms

Actoplanes canniformis (G. Forster) K. Sch.; Clinogyne grandis Hook.; Donax arundastrum Loureiro; Maranta grandis Miq.; Thalia canniformis Forst.; and others