Rhaphidophora pertusa (Roxb.) Schott

R. laciniata sensu Alston non (Burm.f.) Merr. 

ARACEAE                                      

 

Vernacular names:

Kannada         - Dodda thippali

Malayalam      - Anai thippili, Gaja thippili, Elithadi

Marathi          - Ganeshkanda

Sanskrit         - Sphotya bhujangam

Tamil                - Anai pirandai, Anai thippili, /laW mara vazhai

Telugu           - Enugan a/leru

 

Threat status:

Vulnerable (A 1 c) - KA

Lower Risk least concern - KL

Lower Risk near threatened - TN

 

Habit: Large semi-epiphytic climbing shrub

 

Habitat: Wet lowland forests from deciduous to evergreen

 

Altitude: 500 - 1700 m

 

Distribution: Global: Southern India and Sri Lanka. National: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Regional: Commc;>n in moist forests of Eastern and Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Introduced in many gardens as an ornament.

 

Description: A lofty semi-epiphytic climbing shrub, with stout clinging roots. Stems cylindrical, dark green, sub-fleshy, about 10 cm girth, shiny, smooth, hairless, rooting at nodal regions. Leaves alternate, arranged in two rows, broadly elliptic to oblong, 18-45 x 12-26 cm, base rounded and unequal, apex shortly cuspidate, unlobed, or perforate or pinnately lobed, with many parallel nerves; leaf stalks 15­40 cm long, swollen and with a sheath at base, deeply grooved on the upper surface. Flowers bisexual, minute, greenish yellow, numerous, compactly packed in a special structure called 'spadix', which is cylindrical and about 8 x 2 cm. Spadix is partially covered by a hood­like structure known as 'spathe'. Spathe oblong, twisted, 7-14 x 4-6 cm, apex acuminate, greenish yellow. Berries numerous, small, many­seeded, red when ripe.

 

Phenology: Flowering: August to November; Fruiting: January onwards

 

Medicinal uses: Used for treatment of snakebites and scorpion stings. Stems used for treating ulcers, pain in the colon, abdominal tumours and also in bronchiopathy. Kani tribes in Kerala orally administer the stem juice to cure ascites, inflammation of spleen and liver.

 

Trade information: Local and regional. The whole plant was priced at Rs.1.05/Kg. (Kerala, 1993).

 

Mode of propagation: By stem cuttings, roots and air-layers

 

Special characters: Predominantly seen climbing on large trees found along watercourses. The robust sub-fleshy stems, giant dissected leaves, numerous minute flowers seated on erect sub-fleshy rod-like structures (spadix) covered by prominent spathes are notable field characters.