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Re: amorphophallus campanulatus and arum campanulatum

About Amorphophallus campanulatus etc.

Both names refer to the same plant, of which the proper name is
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius:

>1. if they grow in Indus Valley or Punjab region of Pakistan/India or
>northeast Afghanistan

Most probably yes; they are introduced all over the warmer parts of
India as food crop and escaped from there.

>2. if they grow in South India

Yes.

>3. their height

Leaf up to 2 meter high, inflorescence to 70 cm.

>4. diameter of their stem

Petiole to 20 cm in diam. 

>5. how many leaves/branches it develops at the top

One or two leaves on a tuber: numerous leaflets per lamina

>6. how the tuber looks and how big it gets to be

Depressed globose; dark brown, with conspicuous annular root scars and
several fusiform offsets; weighing to some 25 K.

>7. the etymology of the names amorphophallus campanulatus and arum
>campanulatum 

"campanulatus" = bell-shaped, referring to the shape of the spathe.
Paeoniifolius = "with a Paeonia like leaf"

>8. if it is used in any rituals by people

Mostly food. In the Fiji Islands criminals may be forced to take a
bite from a fresh tuber. Rather cruel ritual.

>Regards.

>S. Palaniappan

Regards too,

Wilbert Hetterscheid (w.hetter@pbga.agro.nl)
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