Chinese Taro

It is native to Sri Lanka, Himalaya to S. China and Indo-China, only found in association with human disturbance, 0-900 m asl.

Jian wei yu (Chinese).

Grows in tropical, sub-tropical/monsoonal climates, semi-shade areas, moist soils or fertile loamy soils and lots of water/moderate water/watersides.

• Inflorescences - rarely produced, usually solitary, sometimes paired, among the leaf bases, subtended by membranous cataphylls; peduncle 20–30 cm; spathe 9–15 cm long, green; lower spathe 4–8 × ca 2.5 cm; spathe limb narrowly cymbiform, 5–10 × 3–5 cm; spadix 8–14 cm; pistillate flower zone cylindrical, 1.5–2.5 cm × 7 mm; sterile interstice 2–3 cm × 3 mm. staminate flower zone 34 × 8 mm, yellow; appendix narrowly conical ca 35 × 5 mm, yellowish; fruit rarely produced, a subglobose berry, 6–8 mm diam., ripening red.
• Leaves - many together; petiole weakly D-shaped in cross-section, 25–30(–80) cm; petiolar sheath reaching to ca ½ way, margins membranous; leaf blade broadly ovate-cordate, 10–40 × 7–28 cm, apex acute, base shallowly cordate; primary veins 4 on each side, radiating from petiole, arching; interprimary veins not forming a collecting vein; secondary veins rather obscure.
• Stem - erect, hypogeal, basically many branches.

• Propagated by seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe.
• Germinates best at 24 °C.
• Propagated by division of the rootstock as the plant is coming into growth.

Steroid, iridoid (alocasgenin, tenacigenin, marsdenoside, tenacigenoside), saponins, glycosides, flavonoids, and polyphenols.

In China all parts are used externally for the treatment of snakebites, boils, rheumatism and arthritis. 

• Pilih daun nampu hijau segar. Bersihkan dari kotoran yang menempel. Cuci lalu tiriskan.
• Iris daun dan letakkan di atas wadah lalu jemur selama 2 hari dan tutup dengan kain tipis berwarna gelap hingga kadar air 10%.
• Setelah kering, masukan ke dalam plastik bersih yang tertutup rapat atau kedap udara.