Rhaphidophora lobbii (PROSEA)

Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Rhaphidophora lobbii Schott

Family: Araceae

Vernacular names

• Malaysia: akar asam tebing paya

Distribution

Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo.

Uses

The leaves are used as a flavouring in curries.

Observations

• Climbing herb with 4-angled stem 4-5 m long.
• Leaves thinly coriaceous, entire; petiole 2-7 cm long, thickened at base; blade oblong-lanceolate, 20-22 cm × 5-7 cm, veins in 12 or more distinct pairs.
• Inflorescence a spadix; peduncle 2.5 cm long; spathe cylindrical-cuspidate, 2.5 cm long, yellow, thick; spadix about 2.5 cm long; perianth none; stamens 3-6, filaments linear; stigma discoid.
• Fruit a berry containing 6 seeds.

R. lobbii occurs on low trees and shrubs in jungle swamps.

Selected sources

• Burkill, I.H., 1935. A dictionary of the economic products of the Malay Peninsula. 2 volumes. Crown Agents for the Colonies, London, United Kingdom. 2402 pp. (slightly revised reprint, 1966. 2 volumes. Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 2444 pp.).

• Ridley, H.N., 1922-1925. The flora of the Malay Peninsula. 5 volumes. Government of the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States. L. Reeve & Co., London, United Kingdom.

Authors

P.C.M. Jansen