Dracontium asperum

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A taro family herb. It grows 1.8 m tall. It forms a tuber 8 cm across. The leaf stalk is 3 m long. There is only one leaf with irregular lobes that vary is size and shape.

There are 23 Dracontium species. It is used in medicine.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in wet lands.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Brazil, Colombia, Guianas, Guyana, Peru, SE Asia, Singapore, South America, Suriname, Venezuela

How it is used for food

The tubers are cooked and eaten. Caution: They probably contain oxalates.

Edible parts

Tuber, root, corm

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Erva-jararaca, Taruma

Synonyms

Dracontium elatum Mart.; Dracontium foecundum Hook.f.; Sauromatum asperum (K. Koch) K. Koch;