Amorphophallus paeoniifolius / Dracontium polyphyllum / Amorphophallus sativus

Botanical nomenclature: Amorphophallus paeoniifolius / Dracontium polyphyllum / Amorphophallus sativus
Common name: Elephant Foot Yam, Whitespot Giant Arum, Suran, Pongapong, Chena
Family: Araceae

A giant aroid that grows an enormous, single pinnate leaf on a thick, fleshy stalk from a huge, bowl-shaped tuber, about 30 cm (1 ft.) in diameter. When the leaf wilts in Winter or the dry season and the plant goes into dormancy, the tuber can be dug up and stored dry.

Before a new leaf is produced, mature plants can sprout a giant, maroon inflorescence that is truly a spectacular sight, but emits a rather unpleasant smell. This giant aroid has been cultivated for centuries in the Indopacific region for the edible tuber and its native origins are obscured today.

Pros and cons

• Flowering
• Edible