Pendulous homalomena
Homalomena pendula

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A herb with large simple leaves and a sweet smell. It grows 1 m tall. The stem is short and stout. It is fleshy. The leaves are oval or heart shaped and dull green. They are 6-20 cm long. The leaf stalk is 25-30 cm long. The flower spathe is 6-8 cm long. The fruit are small and green.

There are 150 Homalomena species. Most are in Asia and the Pacific.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. These mostly occur in the lowland. It grows in secondary forests and along rivers up to 1,100 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bangladesh, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are stems are roasted in bamboo or cooked

Edible parts

Leaves, stems, flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds and division of the rhizome.

Its other names

Local names

Homalomena pendulum

Synonyms

Arum purpureum Thunb.; Caladium pendulum Blume; Homalomena alba Hassk.; Homalomena bancana Alderw.; Homalomena coerulescens Jungh. ex Miq.; Homalomena cordata Zoll.; Homalomena curvata Engl.; Homalomena discolor Alderw. Homalomena gigantea Engl.; Homalomena major Griff.; Homalomena pontederifolia Griff. ex Hook. f.; Homalomena purpurea (Thunb.) Backer, Backh. f. & Steenis; Homalomena rosea Alderw,; Homalomena rubra Hassk.; Zantedeschia alba K. Koch;