CLASSIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Compact |
| Maximum Height | 1 m to 1.5 m |
DESCRIPTION AND ETHNOBOTANY
| Growth Form | It is a large evergreen herb that grows up to 1 – 2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Its leaves are large, smooth, heart-shaped to arrow-shaped, drooping downwards. The thick fleshy petiole is green, sometimes purple. It is attached near the centre of the leaf (peltate), measuring 25 – 80 cm long. |
| Stems | It produces a short thick tuber that is round, elongated or cylindrical of up to 35 cm long and 15 cm wide. The skin of the tuber appears rough, fibrous with presence of ring-like scars. |
PLANT CARE AND PROPAGATION
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water, Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
