Group:
2 Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) - II - Monocotyledons
Family:
Dioscoreaceae
Genus:
Tacca
Common sinhala name:
Garandi-kidaran
Habit:
Herb
Origin:
Native
National conservation status:
Vulnerable
Legal status:
Protected
Similar species:
All vernacular names:
Indian arrow root (E), Karachunai (T)
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Contributors for Images:
Rajitha Welithara (RI), Jecob de Vlas (ID-JdV) - IDA 100%
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Tuber depressed-globose or ellipsoid, smooth, succulent. Leaves 1¬3, compound, 40-150 cm in diameter, composed of 3 widely patent, stalked, primary segments, each segment divided into numerous acutely acuminate secondary segments. Petiole 60-100 cm long, ribbed, fistular. Inflorescences 1 or 2, with c. 15 flowers; scape 20-80 cm long, hollow. bracts numerous, 15-25 cm long, dark purple. Flowers blackish or purplish green, drooping. Pedicels during anthesis 2.5-3.5 cm, accrescent to 4-8 cm at fruiting. Perianth fleshy, persistent, entirely green, or purplenmargined, 3 outer segments ovate-oblong, 4-7 x 2-3 mm, 3 inner ovatenor oblong-ovate, 5-7 x 2.5-5 mm, not or hardly narrowed below. Stamens 6, purple; adnate portion of filaments 1-5 x 2-2.5 mm, free apical portion 1.5-2 x 1.5-2 mm; anther thecae up to c. 2 jnm long. Ovary 2¬5 x 2-4 mm with numerous, pellucid, glandular hairs. Berry mostly globose, c. 1.5-2.5 cm diameter, 2.5-3.5 cm long, yellow, ribbed. Seeds many, flattened, ovoid to ellipsoid, with slimy, white aril. (FOC)
Tacca pinnatifida J.R. & G. Forst.
