Creeping philodendron, Dangling tapanawa
Rhaphidophora decursiva

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A creeper. It is robust and grows 20 m long. The stems are yellow at the front and green at the back. They are 3-5 cm across and form roots at the nodes. The leaves are scattered. The leaf stalk is green and 20-40 cm long. It has a shallow canal along it. The leaves are round to oval and 16 cm long by 13 cm wide. They are pale green underneath.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in monsoon rainforest and creeps over the ground and rocks and climbs trees. In southern China it grows below 2,200 m above sea level. In XTBG Yunnan. In Sichuan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, SE Asia, Sikkim, Slovenia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The stems are boiled and eaten.

Edible parts

Stem

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and cuttings.

Its other names

Local names

Kanchirna, Tapanawa jumbai, u-bal

Synonyms

Monstera decursiva (Roxb.) Schott; Monstera multijuga K. Koch ex Ender [Invalid]; Pothos decursivus Roxb.; Raphidophora decursiva (Roxb.) A. Schott; Rhaphidophora affinis Schott; Rhaphidophora eximia Schott; Rhaphidophora grandis Schott; Rhaphidophora insignis Schott; Scindapsus decursivus (Roxb.) Schott;