Amorphophallus konjac: Uses (Ethnobotany)
Used as a food source and traditional medicine in Asia. In Japan, the corm is known as a great source of Konnyaku, a type of flour used in many dietary products, and jelly.
Plant Profile: Amorphophallus konjac
Taxonomy: Amorphophallus konjacNames
Devil's Tongue, Elephant Yam, Konjac, Konnyaku Potato, Snake Palm, Voodoo lily
Phonetic Spelling:a-mor-fo-FAL-us KON-jak
Genus:Amorphophallus
Species:konjac
Family:Araceae
Amorphophallus konjac, commonly referred to as Voodoo Lily, is a perennial herbaceous plant characterized by its corms and is typically found in the thickets and forest edges of China. This plant produces glossy brown edible corms, known as bobo-tubers, which generate rhizomatous offsets annually. It is extensively cultivated in both Japan and China, valued for its culinary uses and ornamental appeal. While the corm is edible, it contains calcium oxalate, rendering it toxic if consumed raw. In spring, the plant showcases large, striking purple flowers.
Voodoo Lily thrives in temperatures no lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit during its growing season, with an ideal range between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. It prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil rich in humus and partial shade, and it does not fare well in clay soil. It is important to shield the plant from the intense afternoon sun, particularly when the leaves first emerge, as they are particularly vulnerable to scorching. Regular fertilization is recommended, and watering should be reduced during the winter dormancy period. While the leaf and flower stem are sensitive to frost, the corm itself is resilient. Each year, the plant produces a single large leaf and one flowering stem. When the flowers are ready for pollination, they emit a scent reminiscent of decaying flesh, which attracts carrion flies and midges; this odor dissipates once pollination occurs. Additionally, the plant generates heat in the flowering spadix as the pollen matures, intensifying the aroma and drawing in more pollinators.
Regarding plant health, there are currently no known issues with diseases or insect pests.
Amorphophallus konjac Feature Summary
Amorphophallus konjac Image Gallery
Tags
#bulb
#poisonous
#colorful leaves
#spadix
#vegetable
#malodorous
Similar Plants
Amorphophallus konjac Feature Summary
Attributes
Used as a food source and traditional medicine in Asia. In Japan, the corm is known as a great source of Konnyaku, a type of flour used in many dietary products, and jelly.
East Asia and southwest China
Primarily Asia
The tubers are starchy and edible when cooked like a potato. It is commonly dried and ground into a flour and used in noodles and tofu. Can be toxic if eaten raw.
Perennial
Flowers
When the corms reach maturity they produce an inflorescence before the leaf emerges. The aroid-type infloresence is made up of a dense, spike-like spadix which bears numerous, small, male and female flowers and a leafy, dark maroon to purple-brown spathe with ruffled margins. The 3 to 4 foot tall bloom emits a strong odor of rotten flesh to attract pollinators.
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Spadix
Fragrant
Showy
> 6 inches
Leaves
A bipinnate, highly divided, single leaf with a pink leaf stem grows from a corm. The leaf grows up to 39 inches long while the corm grows up to 1 foot in diameter. The stem can reach 4 to 5 feet tall.
Green
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
> 6 inches
> 6 inches
Poisonous to Humans
Toxic if eaten raw. This plant belongs to a family where members contain calcium oxalate crystals which, if eaten, makes the mouth, tongue and throat feel as if small needles are digging in to them. Calcium oxalate is broken down by thoroughly cooking the plant or by fully drying it, rendering it safe to eat. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet.
Needle-like, calcium oxalate crystals; possible proteins.
Leaves
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Cultural Conditions
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
6a
6b
7a
7b
8b
8a
9a
9b
10a
10b
11a
11b
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Amorphophallus konjac Image Gallery
Amorphophallus konjac Attributes
Amorphophallus konjac: Country Or Region Of Origin
East Asia and southwest China
Amorphophallus konjac: Distribution
Primarily Asia
Amorphophallus konjac: Edibility
The tubers are starchy and edible when cooked like a potato. It is commonly dried and ground into a flour and used in noodles and tofu. Can be toxic if eaten raw.
Amorphophallus konjac: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Amorphophallus konjac: Recommended Propagation Strategy
Division
Grafting
Layering
Leaf Cutting
Root Cutting
Seed
Stem Cutting
Amorphophallus konjac Flowers
Amorphophallus konjac: Flower Description
When the corms reach maturity they produce an inflorescence before the leaf emerges. The aroid-type infloresence is made up of a dense, spike-like spadix which bears numerous, small, male and female flowers and a leafy, dark maroon to purple-brown spathe with ruffled margins. The 3 to 4 foot tall bloom emits a strong odor of rotten flesh to attract pollinators.
Amorphophallus konjac: Flower Color
Brown/Copper
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
Amorphophallus konjac: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Amorphophallus konjac: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Amorphophallus konjac: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Amorphophallus konjac Leaves
Amorphophallus konjac: Leaf Description
A bipinnate, highly divided, single leaf with a pink leaf stem grows from a corm. The leaf grows up to 39 inches long while the corm grows up to 1 foot in diameter. The stem can reach 4 to 5 feet tall.
Amorphophallus konjac: Leaf Color
Green
Amorphophallus konjac: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Amorphophallus konjac: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Amorphophallus konjac: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Amorphophallus konjac: Leaf Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy
Amorphophallus konjac: Leaf Width
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Amorphophallus konjac Poisonous to Humans
Amorphophallus konjac: Poison Symptoms
Toxic if eaten raw. This plant belongs to a family where members contain calcium oxalate crystals which, if eaten, makes the mouth, tongue and throat feel as if small needles are digging in to them. Calcium oxalate is broken down by thoroughly cooking the plant or by fully drying it, rendering it safe to eat. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones and hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet.
Amorphophallus konjac: Poison Toxic Principle
Needle-like, calcium oxalate crystals; possible proteins.
Amorphophallus konjac: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Amorphophallus konjac: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Amorphophallus konjac: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Amorphophallus konjac Whole Plant Traits
Amorphophallus konjac: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Amorphophallus konjac: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Amorphophallus konjac: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Amorphophallus konjac: Maintenance
Low
Medium
High
Amorphophallus konjac Cultural Conditions
Amorphophallus konjac: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Amorphophallus konjac: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Amorphophallus konjac: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Amorphophallus konjac: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
10a
10b
11a
11b
6a
6b
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
Amorphophallus konjac: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Amorphophallus konjac Stem
Amorphophallus konjac: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Amorphophallus konjac Landscape
Amorphophallus konjac: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Amorphophallus konjac: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Amorphophallus konjac: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Amorphophallus konjac: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
