Additional notes (click to expand)
Toxicity
All plants in Aracaeae are toxic. The main toxin is calcium oxalate, present as needle-like raphides inside specialised cells throughout the plant, called idioblasts, which when chewed fire the needles into the tongue, gums and throat of the eater. The needles cause thousands of micro-wounds, probably also introduce oxalic acid into damaged tissues, and additionally cause massive histamine release and cause extreme pain and swelling.
Neuwinger, HD. (1996). African Ethnobotany: Poisons & Drugs, Chapman & Hall page 221
Geographical distribution
- Asia-Temperate, China
- Asia-Tropical, Indo-China, Vietnam
Amorphophallus konjac K.Koch
Family: ARACEAEGenus: Amorphophallus
Species: konjac K.Koch
Common names: Devil's Tongue; Umbrella Arum
Distribution summary: China, Vietnam
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: H3 - Half hardy; unheated greenhouse/mild winter
Habitat: Thickets and open forest
Garden status: Currently grown
Garden location: Far East (L)
Reason for growing: Toxic