Tacca chantrieri
Content
Description
Leaves 3-12, rosulate, variable, elliptic, ovate, oblong-(ob)ovate, or (ovate-)lanceolate, 17-55 by 4.4-22 cm, deep green, paler beneath, base cuneately attenuate but not decurrent, sometimes unequal, apex acuminate;
Inflorescences 1-2, up to 25-flowered;
Flowers 1-2.5 by 0.6-2 cm, buds green, flowers greenish white when young, when older red, violet, purple, or blackish;
Stamens:
Ovary 2-7 by 3-5 mm;
Fruit triangular to round on cross-section, 2-4 by 1-2 cm, (lustrous) green, deep orange-red, or purple.
Seeds reniform, 3-4 by 2-3 by 1-1.5 mm, glabrous, brown, 9-14-ribbed.
Distribution
Asia-Temperate: China South-Central (Yunnan present); Hainan (Hainan present), Asia-Tropical: Assam (Assam present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Thailand (Thailand present), Bangla Desh present, Burma present, Continental SE. Asia present, Kwangsi present, Kwantung present, Kweichow present, Penang present, Perak present, Perlis present
Continental SE. Asia: Assam, Bangla Desh, Burma, Thailand, China (Yunnan, Kweichow, Kwangsi, Kwantung, Hainan), Indo-China, in Malesia: Malay Peninsula (Perlis, Penang, Perak). .
Uses
Tender leaves and inflorescences eaten in curries; in Thailand the bitter rhizome is used for medicinal purpose.
Notes
From T. integrifolia distinguished by the nearly always decussate involucral bracts and the reniform seeds.
Citation
GAGNEP. 1934 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 694
LIMPR. 1928 – In: Pfl. R.: 18
LIMPR. 1902: Inaug. Diss. Breslau: 45
HAYWARD 1957 – In: Baileya: 85
SMITINAND 1961 – In: Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc.: 61
LIMPR. 1928 – In: Pfl. R.: 14
GAGNEP. 1934 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 693
DRENTH 1972: p. 393. – In: Blumea: f. le, pl. 3, f. 22-24
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 311
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1968 – In: Fl. Java: 212
METCALF 1945 – In: J. Arn. Arb.: 198
GAGNEP. 1934 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 694
Ridl. 1907 – In: Mat. Fl. Mal. Pen.: 77
non RIDL. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 309
cf. P’EI 1932 – In: Mem. Sc. Soc. China: 162