Taccaceae FAMILY

Tacca leontopetaloides

Edibility

4/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

The untreated root is considered to be toxic in some areas[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. , 451 Title Flora Malesiana Series 1 Publication Author Various Website http://www.archive.org Publisher Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch Year 0 ISBN Description A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet ].

Botanical Description

Tacca leontopetaloides is a herbaceous perennial plant producing a cluster of 1 - 3, leaves on long petioles from a tuberous rootstock. The plant was at one time widely cultivated for its edible root, which was used as a staple food in many areas of the tropics, especially in the Pacific Islands[ 317 Title Mansfeld's Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Plants Publication Author Website http://mansfeld.ipk-gatersleben.de/pls/htmldb_pgrc/f?p=185:3:4292127278597336 Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description Terse details of a huge range of useful plants. , 451 Title Flora Malesiana Series 1 Publication Author Various Website http://www.archive.org Publisher Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch Year 0 ISBN Description A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet ]. The starch was extracted and sold in quantity to Europe, where it was used in bread making[ 429 Title Root Crops Publication Author Kay. D.E. Revised by Gooding. E.G.B. Publisher Tropical Development and Crop Research: London. Year 1987 ISBN Description Detailed information on about 40 species of tropical root crops. ]. Its importance has declined, though it is still cultivated for local use in many areas[ 429 Title Root Crops Publication Author Kay. D.E. Revised by Gooding. E.G.B. Publisher Tropical Development and Crop Research: London. Year 1987 ISBN Description Detailed information on about 40 species of tropical root crops. ]. The plant also has various local medicinal uses and is grown as an ornamental[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeWidely spread in tropical areas, either as a native plant or naturalized, from Africa, through Asia to Australia and the Pacific..

HabitatSecondary forest and thickets, and many open situations, clearings, grassland, savannah, coconut groves, and beach vegetation {Barringtonia formation), not shunning seasonally dry areas, such as teak and eucalypt woodland[ 451 Title Flora Malesiana Series 1 Publication Author Various Website http://www.archive.org Publisher Nationaal Herbarium Nederiand, Universiteit Leiden branch Year 0 ISBN Description A massive treatment of the plants of the Malaysian Archipelago. Much of it has been made available to download from the Internet ].