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Accession Data:

Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch

  • Common Name: Devil's Tongue, Voodoo Lily
  • Family: Araceae Juss.

  • Country of Origin: China (Yunnan)
  • Habitat:

  • Description: [syn A. rivieri; Proteinophallus Rivieri]

    Much grown from Indonesia to Japan for edible corms.

    Tuber about 10 in. across, flattish round. l. stalk 15 to 30 in. long, brownish green spotted white; blade large, 3-sect, ultimate segs. oblong-elliptic, cuspidate. Peduncle 2 ft. long. Spathe 8-12" long, ovate, tube about 3" long, pale green with greenish white spots, margin purplish, blade 8" long, wide roundish-cordate, acute, green without, dark purple within, margin undulate.

    It is very popular in Japan as a cooking supplement for soups and stew-like dishes. The tuber are raised and then cooked (usually cooking is also done on a commercial basis) or reduced to a substance somewhat stiffer than gelatin. The resultant material is pressed into blocks and sold like tofu in the grocery stores. The Japanese pronounce it cone-yuk. The name Amorphophallus is not generally associated with the product to the lay person.

    The main substance in konjac is called Glucomannan which has a low caloric content but is rich in dietary fiber. Clinical study indicates the Glucomannan may be responsible for weight reduction and reducing cholesterol in those who have high cholesterol. It is eaten in Japan to clean the digestive tract of toxins.

  • Culture: Corm can be stored dry.
  • USDA Zone: 6a-11

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198500882
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 02-04-1997
  • Bench: 3301 - NEOB: East Bench
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 2 confirmed on 07-17-2017

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Liliopsida
  • SubClass: monocots
  • Order: Alismatales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Araceae
  • SubFamily: Aroideae
  • Tribe: Thomsonieae
  • SubTribe:

References (internal):

  • corm
  • Fly pollination (myophily and sapromyophily)
  • Plants used in EEB 3271 - Systematic Botany
  • Plants used in EEB 3203 - Developmental Plant Morphology
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: China South-Central /

References (external):

  1. RHS Dictionary of Gardening
  2. Aroid-L posting dated 2/2/97 by Tim McNinch
  3. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 21 May 2015.
  4. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 21 May 2015

data regenerated on Wed, 26 Jul 2017 09:14:47 -0400

Images:

Amorphophallus konjac

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

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Subfamily Aroideae
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Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Thomsonieae

  • Amorphophallus albus
  • Amorphophallus bulbifer
  • Amorphophallus dunnii
  • Amorphophallus konjac
  • Amorphophallus muelleri
  • Amorphophallus ongsakulii
  • Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
  • Amorphophallus prainii
  • Amorphophallus pygmaeus W/C
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  • Amorphophallus yunnanensis

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Tribe Anthurieae

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Subfamily Pothoideae
Tribe Potheae

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W/C = Wild Collected
- indicates flowering in past 10 days
- images available for this accession
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