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Accession Data:

Amorphophallus konjac K. Koch

  • Common Name: Devil's Tongue
  • Family: Araceae Juss.
  • Synonym(s): Amorphophallus rivieri Durand ex Carrière, Proteinophallus rivieri (Durand ex Carrière) Hook.f.

  • Country of Origin: China (Yunnan)

  • Description: Much grown from Indonesia to Japan for edible corms.

    Tuber about 10 in. across, flattish round. l. stalk 15 to 30 in. long, brownish green spotted white; blade large, 3-sect, ultimate segs. oblong-elliptic, cuspidate. Peduncle 2 ft. long. Spathe 8-12" long, ovate, tube about 3" long, pale green with greenish white spots, margin purplish, blade 8" long, wide roundish-cordate, acute, green without, dark purple within, margin undulate.

  • Uses: It is very popular in Japan as a cooking supplement for soups and stew-like dishes. The tuber are raised and then cooked (usually cooking is also done on a commercial basis) or reduced to a substance somewhat stiffer than gelatin. The resultant material is pressed into blocks and sold like tofu in the grocery stores. The Japanese pronounce it cone-yuk. The name Amorphophallus is not generally associated with the product to the lay person.

    The main substance in konjac is called Glucomannan which has a low caloric content but is rich in dietary fiber. Clinical study indicates the Glucomannan may be responsible for weight reduction and reducing cholesterol in those who have high cholesterol. It is eaten in Japan to clean the digestive tract of toxins.

  • Culture: Corm can be stored dry.
  • USDA Zone: 6a-11

Accession Data:

  • Accession # 198500882
  • Source: Unknown
  • Accession Date: 02-04-1997
  • Bench: 2201 - XER:Madagascar Spiny Thicket A
    • Currently: active - healthy
    • Qty: 4 confirmed on 04-24-2025

Classification:

  • Division: Magnoliophyta
  • Class: Liliopsida
  • SubClass: monocots
  • Order: Alismatales
  • SubOrder:
  • Family: Araceae
  • SubFamily: Aroideae
  • Tribe: Thomsonieae
  • SubTribe:

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

References (internal):

  • Root Vegetables - Corms
  • EEB Greenhouse Holdings native to: China South-Central /

References (external):

  1. RHS Dictionary of Gardening
  2. Aroid-L posting dated 2/2/97 by Tim McNinch
  3. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 21 May 2015.
  4. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 21 May 2015

data regenerated on Fri, 25 Apr 2025 15:30:15 -0400 [bcm v4.0]

Images:

Amorphophallus konjac

Additional images for this accession:

Click on thumbnails to enlarge

Current Accessions in the Araceae

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Subfamily Aroideae
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Subfamily Aroideae
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Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Colocasieae

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Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Culcasieae

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Subfamily Aroideae
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Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Philodendreae

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  • Philodendron imbe
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Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Pisteae

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Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Spathicarpeae

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Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Thomsonieae

  • Amorphophallus albus
  • Amorphophallus bulbifer
  • Amorphophallus dunnii
  • Amorphophallus henryi
  • Amorphophallus impressus
  • Amorphophallus konjac
  • Amorphophallus muelleri
  • Amorphophallus paeoniifolius
  • Amorphophallus pygmaeus W/C
  • Amorphophallus titanum
  • Amorphophallus titanum
  • Amorphophallus titanum
  • Amorphophallus titanum
  • Amorphophallus variabilis
  • Amorphophallus yunnanensis
  • Amorphophallus yunnanensis

Subfamily Aroideae
Tribe Zantedeschieae

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Subfamily Lasioideae

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  • Lasia spinosa W/C
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Subfamily Lemnoideae

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Subfamily Monsteroideae
Tribe Monstereae

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  • Stenospermation sp.

Subfamily Monsteroideae
Tribe Spathiphylleae

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Subfamily Pothoideae
Tribe Anthurieae

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  • Anthurium forgetii
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Subfamily Pothoideae
Tribe Potheae

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Subfamily Zamioculcadoideae

  • Gonatopus boivinii
  • Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven
W/C = Wild Collected
= indicates flowering in past 14 days
= images available for this accession
= map available for this accession
= accession added within past 90 days
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