Amorphophallus paeoniifolius

The Araceae familyof plants

What is an Aroid?Aroid is the common name for members of

the Araceae family of plants, sometimes known as the Philodendron or Arum family. The occasionally beautiful and often bizarre combination of spathe and spadix called the

inflorescence, sometimes referred to as a "flower", is a distinguishing feature of all

aroids.

Edible tuber sprouts in May

Amorphophallus paeoniifoliusSprouting tuber

Amorphophallus paeoniifoliusStarting May to December

In Palawan

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius

Unfolding spadix

Expanding spathe


Unfolding Single Leaf


Emerging spadix


Unfolding spadix


Unfolding Single Leaf



Amorphophallus albus


Amorphophallus paeoniifoliusInflorescence





Note the withered appendix at the top of the infructescence. The berries ripen from the top downward. Amorphophallus seed should be planted very shortly after ripening as they lose their viability very quickly if stored dry.

Amorphophallus paeoniifoliusinfructescence

The berries ripen from the top downward. Amorphophallus seed should be planted very shortly after ripening as they lose their viability very quickly if stored dry.







Amorphophallus paeoniifolius may be seen growing in full sun where surrounding vegetation has been cleared but is usually found in semi-shade where vegetation has a relatively open under-story. It tolerates less drainage than most other Amorphophallus. In cultivation it can grow in any fertile soil and grows well in mixes of sand, rice husks or wood shavings. In Bali it often grows beneath coconut palms or stands of bamboo in clay that dries and cracks for 8 months of the year so that the plant completely disappears for the dry season. In the wet season from early December to April A. paeoniifolius appears and flowers late October to early November, producing a leaf directly afterward. By late April as rains cease the leaf turns yellow with only a few hardy plants seen in leaf by June.A. paeoniifolius is a “classic” Group I Amorphophallus and tubers should be stored dry when dormant.

Tuber the size of dog

Amorphophallus paeoniifoliusTuber

Beyond Amorphophallus

Food

Amorphophallus paeoniifolius