Voodoo Lily, Snakeplant

Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch

ay-morph-oh-FAL-us CON-jack

Araceae

Explanation of name: Generic name means, more or less, amorphous phallus. Konjac comes from an Asian name for the plant and its starch. Specific epithet of synonym for Marie Aug. Riviera (1821-1877), French horticulturist (BA1).

Synonyms: Amorphophallus rivieri Durieu, Hydrsome rivieri (Durieu) Engler

Natural range: Eastern Asia

Recognition (BA1, BA2): Tuber-bearing Aroid with complex, irregularly decompound (more than simply compound), solitary leaf blades rising 4’ above the ground and up to 4’ across, the petiole and blade mottled. The inflorescence produced before the leaves, about as tall as the leaves, with the spathe to 16” long and undulating at the margins, variably reddish and mottled, the reddish spadix longer than the spathe. Inflorescence foul-smelling.

Landscape uses: A novelty plant. Seasonally dormant. May be grown in large container. Propagation by division or seeds (DAV, BA2). This species is cultivated in Asia as a starch source. The giant Titan-Lily of botanical gardens and newspaper articles (falsely) reporting “the world’s largest flower” is A. titanum Becc.

Internet source: www.aroid.org/genera/amorphophallus/amintro.html