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Lasia spinosa (L.) Thwaites

Family Name:	Araceae
Synonyms:	Dracontium spinosum L., Lasia aculeata Lour.
Common Name:	Geli-geli, Bekil, Spiny Lasia, 刺芋

Full Sun

Semi Shade

Lots of Water

Native to Singapore

Fruit or Vegetable

Ornamental Flowers

Ornamental Leaves

Aquatic

Herbaceous Plant

Plant Division	Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants)
Plant Growth Form	Aquatic & Hydrophyte, Herbaceous Plant
Lifespan (in Singapore)	Perennial

Mode of Nutrition	Autotrophic
Maximum Height	1.5 m

Native Distribution	India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Native Habitat	Terrestrial (Primary Rainforest, Freshwater Swamp Forest, Riverine), Aquatic (Freshwater Pond / Lake / River)
Preferred Climate Zone	Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal

Local Conservation Status

Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN))

Growth Form	It is a large, spiny, marsh plant, up to 1.5 m tall.
Foliage	Its alternate, long- and spiky-stalked leaves have broad leaf blades that are arrow-shaped and 20-30 cm long when young. The leaves are divided into 4-8 pairs of lance-shaped lobes up to 4 cm wide when mature.
Flowers	Its flowers are borne on a yellow or brown, up to 4 cm long, flowering shoot that is enclosed by a 35-40 cm long, modified leaf (spathe) that is purplish on the outside and greenish inside.

Fruit	Its hard, rough surfaced fruits are borne on the axis of the inflorescence.
Habitat	It grows along tidal rivers, and in open wet places, and swamp forests. It occurs locally in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Associated Fauna	Its flowers are pollinated by insects.
Cultivation	It can be propagated by seed or division of the underground stem. Grows best in waterlogged soils that is rich in nutrients.
Ethnobotanical Uses	Edible Plant Parts : Edible Leaves Food (Fruit or Vegetable): The peeled leaf stalks (to remove spines) are edible and utilised as a curry flavouring. Medicinal: The leaves are used for treating coughs, stomachaches, and other pains.

Landscaping	It is suitable for planting on the edges of ponds and water bodies for its attractive inflorescence and leaves.
Desirable Plant Features	Ornamental Foliage, Ornamental Flowers
Landscape Uses	Riverine, Pond / Lake / River, Marsh / Bog

Pollination Method(s)	Biotic (Fauna)
Seed or Spore Dispersal	Abiotic

Light Preference	Semi-Shade, Full Sun
Water Preference	Lots of Water
Rootzone Tolerance	Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils (Drains Site, Does not Drain Site), Fertile Loamy Soils, Heavy Clay Soils

Propagation Method

Seed, Division

Foliage Retention	Evergreen
Mature Foliage Colour(s)	Green
Mature Foliage Texture(s)	Leathery, Spiny / Bristly / Stinging

Foliar Type	Simple / Unifoliate
Foliar Arrangement Along Stem	Alternate, Rosulate / Rosette
Foliar Attachment to Stem	Petiolate
Foliar Shape(s)	Non-Palm Foliage
Foliar Margin	Palmately Lobed
Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio	3.5 (Shrub & Groundcover - Monocot)

Flower & Plant Sexuality	Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious
Flower Colour(s)	Cream / Off-White, Green, Purple

Fruit Type

Images

Master ID	892
Species ID	2186
Flora Disclaimer	The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes.

Species record last updated on: 27 March 2025.