Re: amorphophallus campanulatus and arum campanulatum

From: "NAME \"Wilbert Hetterscheid\"" <W.HETTER at pbga.agro.nl> on 1997.07.24 at 14:21:18(989) About Amorphophallus campanulatus etc. Both names refer to the same plant, of which the proper name is Amorphophallus paeoniifolius: +More >1. if they grow in Indus Valley or Punjab region of Pakistan/India or >northeast Afghanistan Most probably yes; they are introduced all over the warmer parts of India as food crop and escaped from there. >2. if they grow in South India Yes. >3. their height Leaf up to 2 meter high, inflorescence to 70 cm. >4. diameter of their stem Petiole to 20 cm in diam. >5. how many leaves/branches it develops at the top One or two leaves on a tuber: numerous leaflets per lamina >6. how the tuber looks and how big it gets to be Depressed globose; dark brown, with conspicuous annular root scars and several fusiform offsets; weighing to some 25 K. >7. the etymology of the names amorphophallus campanulatus and arum >campanulatum "campanulatus" = bell-shaped, referring to the shape of the spathe. Paeoniifolius = "with a Paeonia like leaf" >8. if it is used in any rituals by people Mostly food. In the Fiji Islands criminals may be forced to take a bite from a fresh tuber. Rather cruel ritual. >Regards. >S. Palaniappan Regards too, Wilbert Hetterscheid (w.hetter@pbga.agro.nl)

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