Chinese Taro

Overview

It is native to Sri Lanka, Himalaya to S. China and Indo-China, only found in association with human disturbance, 0-900 m asl.

Vernacular Names

Jian wei yu (Chinese).

Agroecology

Grows in tropical, sub-tropical/monsoonal climates, semi-shade areas, moist soils or fertile loamy soils and lots of water/moderate water/watersides.

Morphology

• Inflorescences - rarely produced, usually solitary, sometimes paired, among the leaf bases, subtended by membranous cataphylls; peduncle 20–30 cm; spathe 9–15 cm long, green; lower spathe 4–8 × ca 2.5 cm; spathe limb narrowly cymbiform, 5–10 × 3–5 cm; spadix 8–14 cm; pistillate flower zone cylindrical, 1.5–2.5 cm × 7 mm; sterile interstice 2–3 cm × 3 mm. staminate flower zone 34 × 8 mm, yellow; appendix narrowly conical ca 35 × 5 mm, yellowish; fruit rarely produced, a subglobose berry, 6–8 mm diam., ripening red.
• Leaves - many together; petiole weakly D-shaped in cross-section, 25–30(–80) cm; petiolar sheath reaching to ca ½ way, margins membranous; leaf blade broadly ovate-cordate, 10–40 × 7–28 cm, apex acute, base shallowly cordate; primary veins 4 on each side, radiating from petiole, arching; interprimary veins not forming a collecting vein; secondary veins rather obscure.
• Stem - erect, hypogeal, basically many branches.

Cultivation

• Propagated by seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.
• Germinates best at 24 °C.
• Propagated by division of the rootstock as the plant is coming into growth.

Chemical Constituents

Steroid, iridoid (alocasgenin, tenacigenin, marsdenoside, tenacigenoside), saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, and polyphenols.

Traditional Medicinal Uses

In China all parts are used externally for the treatment of snakebites, boils, rheumatism and arthritis.