Vajra-kanda
Amorphophallus sylvaticus

Family: Araceae

What it is like

A taro family herb. The corm is 5 cm across. The leaf stalk is 40 cm long. It is green to purple with spots or blemishes. It produces a single leaf that is divided into leaflets. The flower is surrounded by a white spathe. This is 6 cm long. It is cream outside and red inside. The spike like flower is 10-20 cm long. It turns yellow or orange.

There are about 170-200 Amorphophallus species.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows on the Deccan in India. It grows in partly evergreen forests.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, India, Northeastern India, Sri Lanka

How it is used for food

The corms are cut into small pieces and boiled with tamarind leaves to remove the pungent taste. They are then fried, made into porridge or used in pickles. The young leaves and leaf stalks are cooked and eaten.

It is a popular food.

Edible parts

Tubers, corms, leaves, petioles, roots, vegetable

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Ban ole, Habit hensarku, Jangli suran, Kaattuchenai, Kattukarunai keerai, Olodor, Vanakanda

Synonyms

Amorphallus zeylanicus Blume; Arum sylvaticum Roxb.; Brachyspatha sylvatica (Roxb.) Schott; Brachyspatha zeylanica (Blume) Schott; Pythonium sylvaticum (Roxb.) Wight; Synantherias sylvatica Schott.;