>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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