Tacca palmata

Primary tabs

Tacca palmata

Description

Leaves 1-3(-5), broadly reniform or semi-orbicular in outline, 3-13, usually 4-8-palmatipartite, 7-36 by 7.5-40 cm; Inflorescences 1 or 2 (or 3), up to 30-flowered; Flowers 6-17 by 5-10 mm, green, tinged violet brown, brown violet, or dark violet; Stamens: Ovary 2-5 by 1-4 mm; Fruit globose, up to 1 cm ø, mostly with 3 distinct and 3 indistinct ribs, bright red, pericarp up to 1 mm thick. Seeds up to 11 in each fruit, more or less pyramidal with a rounded base, 3-5 by 2-4 by 2-3 mm, 15-20-ribbed.

Distribution

Ambon present, Anambas present, Asia-Tropical: Borneo present; Jawa (Jawa present); Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia present); Maluku (Maluku present); Philippines (Philippines present); Sulawesi (Sulawesi present); Sumatera (Sumatera present); Thailand (Thailand present), Balabac present, Banguey present, Banka present, Bawean present, Buton present, Calamianes present, Ceram present, Continental SE. Asia present, Enggano present, Flores present, Halmaheira present, Johore present, Kangean present, Karimata present, Karimondjawa present, Kelantan present, Key present, Krakatao present, Lesser Sunda Is present, Leyte present, Lingga present, Luzon present, Madura present, Mindanao present, Mindoro present, Misool I present, Muna present, Natuna Is present, P. Tioman present, Palawan present, Panay present, Penang present, Saleyer present, Saparua present, Sulu present, Sumba present, Talaud present, Tambelan Is present, Tenimber Is present, Timor present, West New Guinea present
Continental SE. Asia (Indo-China, Thailand), in Malesia: Malay Peninsula (Kelantan, Johore, Penang, P. Tioman), Sumatra (throughout, incl. Enggano, Krakatao, Banka, Lingga), throughout Java (incl. Madura, Kangean, Bawean, Karimondjawa), Lesser Sunda Is. (Sumba, Flores, Timor), Borneo (incl. Tambelan Is., Karimata, Anambas&Natuna Is., Banguey), Philippines (Balabac, Palawan, Calamianes, Mindoro, Luzon, Leyte, Panay, Mindanao, Sulu), Celebes (incl. Saleyer, Muna, Buton), Moluccas (Talaud, Halmaheira, Ceram, Ambon, Saparua, Key, Tenimber Is.), West New Guinea (only Misool I.). .

Uses

In Malesia in different places used as a drug, generally in the form of scrapings of the tuberous rhizome, which are of a bitter taste. These scrapings are laid on wounds, e.g. caused by snake bites. Crushed petioles and scrapings are blaid on the stomach to prevent aches. In the Philippines the drug is also taken by women against menstrual disorders.

Citation

BACK. 1924 – In: Handb. Fl. Java: 107
SCHEFFER 1870 – In: Nat. Tijd. N. I.: 375
GAGNEP. 1934 – In: Fl. Gén. I.-C.: 696
Merr. 1926 – In: Philip. J. Sc.: 357
Merr. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 100
HEYNE 1927: Nutt. Pl.: 454
HOSOKAWA 1937 – In: J. Jap. Bot.: 197
STEEN. 1949: Fl. Scholen Indon.: 144
Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 577
Elmer 1939 – In: Leafl. Philip. Bot.: 3795
BEUMÉE 1919 – In: Trop. Natuur: 48
HASSK. 1844 – In: Cat. Hort. Bog.: 34
LIMPR. 1928 – In: Pfl. R.: 25
BACK. & BAKH.f. 1968 – In: Fl. Java: 212
ex SCHULTES 1829 – In: Syst. Veg.: 168
Elmer 1914 – In: Leafl. Philip. Bot.: 2284
Merr. 1912: Fl. Manila: 150
Bl. 1918: Sp. Blanc.: 100
ZOLL. 1854 – In: Syst. Verz.: 69
BACK. 1928 – In: Onkr. Suiker.: 190
LIMPR. 1928 – In: Pfl. R.: 24
LIMPR. 1928 – In: Pfl. R.: 24
Ridl. 1924 – In: Fl. Mal. Pen.: 309
DRENTH 1972: p. 397. – In: Blumea: pl. 2, f. 10-15
Bl. 1917: Int. Rumph.: 145
LIMPR. 1902: Inaug. Diss. Breslau: 49
SMITINAND 1961 – In: Nat. Hist. Bull. Siam Soc.: 61
M.E.J. 1920: p. 70. – In: Trop. Natuur: f. 1
Miq. 1859 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat.: 577
LIMPR. 1902: Inaug. Diss. Breslau: 49
SCHAUER 1843 – In: Nov. Act. Nat. Cur.: Suppl. 1, 444
Ridl. 1907 – In: Mat. Fl. Mal. Pen.: 76
Quis. 1951: Medic. Pl. Philip.: 177
HOLTHUIS & LAM 1942 – In: Blumea: 168