Common susum
Hanguana malayana

Family: Hanguanaceae

What it is like

A lily like herb. It grows 2.5 m tall. It has floating stolons or runners 3 m long. The leaves are simple and in rings at the base of the stem. The leaves are 80-100 cm across and 8-15 cm wide. It does not have a leaf stalk. The flowers are in a group at the end. This can be 1.2 m long with bracts 22 cm long. The flowers have 3 petals. They are yellow or green and can be spotted with red. They are 3 mm long.

There is only one genus in the Hanguanaceae family and five species. They occur in Malesia.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in open muddy areas in rainforest.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Stems, runners

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and stolons.

Its other names

Local names

Bakung rimba

Synonyms

Hanguana anthelminthica (Blume) Masam.; Susum anthelminthicum Blume; Veratrum malayanum Jack; and others