AMORPHOPHALLUS PAEONIIFOLIUS

This member of the Araceae family was given this name by Dan Henry Nicolson in 1977. It is found in Andaman Islands, Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, East Himalaya, Hainan, India, Indonesia, Laos, Lesser Sunda Islands, Malaya, Maluku, Myanmar, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It might have been introduced to some of these, and for sure to Comoros, Cook Islands, Fiji, Madagascar, Marquesas, New Caledonia, Niue, Samoa, Seychelles, Society Islands, Trinidad-Tobago, Vanuatu. It is growing in a rich soil with plenty of water and not that much sun if any. The corm can grow to 20-30 centimetres in diameter and 25 Kg, the entire plant to 200 centimetres in height. The flowers are deep purple and smelly for a short period. The female flowers open at first. An interesting technique used in Indonesia is to dig up the tuber after one year and then replant it upside down. This stimulates the lateral buds into growth and increases the overall size of the tuber

The genera name from ancient Greek amorphos, 'without form, misshapen' and phallos, 'penis', referring to the shape of the prominent spadix. The species name from Latin: paeonii; 'Peony-like' (genus Paeonia) and folius; 'foliage'. Amorphophallus giganteus, Blume 1837. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius var. campanulatus Sivad., 1983. Arum campanulatum Roxb., 1820. Arum rumphii Gaudich., 1826. Candarum hookeri, Schott, 1832. Candarum roxburghii, Schott, 1832. Candarum rumphii, Schott, 1832. Conophallus giganteus, Schott ex Miq., 1856. Dracontium paeoniifolium, Dennst., 1818. Kunda verrucosa, Raf., 1837. Pythion campanulatum, Mart., 1831. Amorphophallus campanulatus Decne., 1834. Amorphophallus campanulatus var. blumei, Prain, 1903. Amorphophallus campanulatus f. darnleyensis, F.M.Bailey, 1914. Amorphophallus chatty, Andrews, 1872. Amorphophallus decurrens, Kunth 1841. Amorphophallus dixenii, K.Larsen & S.S.Larsen, 1974. Amorphophallus dubius, Blume, 1837. Amorphophallus gigantiflorus, Hayata, 1916. Amorphophallus malaccensis, Ridl., 1904. Amorphophallus microappendiculatus, Engl., 1923. Amorphophallus rex, Prain, 1893. Amorphophallus sativus, Blume,1837. Amorphophallus virosus, N.E.Br., 1885. Arum decurrens, Blanco, 1837. Arum phalliferum, 1841. Arum rumphii, Oken, 1841. Conophallus sativus, Schott,1860. Dracontium polyphyllum, G.Forst., 1786. Dracontium polyphyllum, Dennst. 1818. Dunalia artensis, Montrouz., 1866. Hydrosme gigantiflora, S.S.Ying, 1991. Plesmonium nobile, Schott, 1864. The fruits by Obsidian Soul, Wikipedia.org. The seeds from Apieceofnature.dk. I did find quite some plants on Bali.