Hitchhiker elephant ear
Remusatia vivipara

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A herb which forms tubers. These are 2-4 cm across. It grows to about 30-50 cm high. It keeps growing from year to year. The leaves have long stalks. These can be 30-50 cm long. The leaves are simple and 21-40 cm long by 15-18 cm wide. The leaves are almost round and taper to the tip. The leaves can be purple underneath. The bract around the flower is pinkish. The flower is a spike. This is about 17 cm long.

There are 4 Remusatia species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in humid tropical and subtropical places. In Nepal it grows between 1000-2600 m altitude. It grows in moist, shady places. It usually grows on trees. Coffs Harbour Botanical Gardens. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Madagascar, Middle East, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pacific, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam, West Africa

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. The tubers are also cooked as a vegetable. (They need to be boiled often in a change of water to get rid of irritating crystals otherwise they are poisonous. ) They are often cooked for a long time. They are also dried and stored.

Edible parts

Leaves, tubers, root, corms, caution

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed or by splitting the rhizome. It can be grown by bulbils of the shoots.

Its other names

Local names

Aloo, Fyaksa, Jaluka, Jaluko, Kalo pidalu, Marachembu, N'pablea, Ri-bo-srong, Rukhalu, Sereng saru, Umpablea

Synonyms

Arum viviparum Roxb.;