Accession Data

Amorphophallus konjac

Common Name: Devil's Tongue

Family: Araceae

Synonym(s): Amorphophallus rivieri Durand ex Carrière, Proteinophallus rivieri (Durand ex Carrière) Hook.f.

Country of Origin: China (Yunnan)

Description: Much grown from Indonesia to Japan for edible corms.

Tuber about 10 in. across, flattish round. l. stalk 15 to 30 in. long, brownish green spotted white; blade large, 3-sect, ultimate segs. oblong-elliptic, cuspidate. Peduncle 2 ft. long. Spathe 8-12" long, ovate, tube about 3" long, pale green with greenish white spots, margin purplish, blade 8" long, wide roundish-cordate, acute, green without, dark purple within, margin undulate.

Uses: It is very popular in Japan as a cooking supplement for soups and stew-like dishes. The tuber are raised and then cooked (usually cooking is also done on a commercial basis) or reduced to a substance somewhat stiffer than gelatin. The resultant material is pressed into blocks and sold like tofu in the grocery stores. The Japanese pronounce it cone-yuk. The name Amorphophallus is not generally associated with the product to the lay person.

The main substance in konjac is called Glucomannan which has a low caloric content but is rich in dietary fiber. Clinical study indicates the Glucomannan may be responsible for weight reduction and reducing cholesterol in those who have high cholesterol. It is eaten in Japan to clean the digestive tract of toxins.

Accession Data

USDA Zone: 6a-11

Accession #: 198500882

Accession Date: 1997-02-04 00:00:00

Bloom Status: 🪴 Not Flowering

Location: 2201

Quantity: 4

Source: Unknown

Culture: Corm can be stored dry.

Classification

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Liliopsida

Subclass: monocots

Order: Alismatales

Family: Araceae

SubFamily: Aroideae

Tribe: Thomsonieae

Flowering Data:

This accession has been observed in bloom on:
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005

References

  1. RHS Dictionary of Gardening
  2. Aroid-L posting dated 2/2/97 by Tim McNinch
  3. The Plant List (2013). Version 1.1. Accessed 21 May 2015.
  4. WCSP (2015). World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Accessed 21 May 2015

Images

Amorphophallus konjac
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