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Typhonium trilobatum (L.) Schott
| Family Name: | Araceae |
| Synonyms: | Arum trilobatum L., Arum orixense Roxburgh ex Andrews, Typhonium orixense (Andrews) Schott. |
| Common Name: | Bengal Arum, Keladi Puyuh, 马蹄犁头尖 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, southern China, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand & Peninsular Malaysia, |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Disturbed Area / Open Ground, Secondary Rainforest, Grassland / Savannah/ Scrubland) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Spontaneous (Naturalised)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is an herbaceous plant with short tuberous corms, grows up to 45cm tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Petiole is green or various flushes of purple, 25-40cm long. Leaves are cordate-ovate, deeply trilobed, rarely 5-lobed. The central lobe is ovate in shape, pointed leaf tip (acuminate, sometimes mucronate), measuring 10-15 × 6-11cm. While the lateral lobes are slightly smaller in size. |
| Flowers | Flowers are spadix inflorescence. The spathe of the flower is larger than the spadix. Flowers are ovoid or ellipsoid in shape, dark purple to reddish-purple on the inside, green on the outside, measuring up to 10-20cm. The spathe convolutes (roll longitudinally inwards) at the base. It has a greenish-white barrel-shaped chamber below the spathe, red streaks are occasionally observed. |
| Fruit | Fruits are berries, green with purple spots, turns white when mature. Fruits are ellipsoid, contains 1-2 seeds. Spathe remains intact even when it fruits. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Corms are produced in this plant. They are white, sub-globose to cylindrical, sizes vary between 1-5cm in diameter. |
| Habitat | It can be found in tropical secondary forests, thickets, grasslands, and roadsides from 0 - 700 m above sea level. In Singapore, it occurs as a spontaneous weed along roadsides, in gardens and fields. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Others: Locals communities in the Southeast Asia region consume corms that are sliced and dried. Leaves are used as fish food. |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Semi-Shade, Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Drought / Semi-Deciduous |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Venation | Reticulate |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Specialised Storage Organ(s) | Underground (Corm) |
|---|
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Purple |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Solitary |
| Inflorescence Type | Spathe & Spadix |
References
| References | Chuakul, W., Soonthornchareonnon, N. & Ruangsomboon, O., (2003). Typhonium Schott. In: Lemmens, R.H.M.J. and Bunyapraphatsara, N. (Editors): Plant Resources of South-East Asia No 12(3): Medicinal and poisonous plants 3. PROSEA Foundation, Bogor, Indonesia.
9. Typhonium trilobatum (Linnaeus) Schott, Wiener Z. Kunst. 1829: 732. 1829. Flora of China. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200027344 (Accessed 16 Oct 2025) |
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Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 33969 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 8385 |
| 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. |