Devil's tongue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• devil's-tongue
• elephant-yam
• konjac
• leopard-palm
• snake-palm
• umbrella arum

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Conophallus konjak
• Tapeinophallus rivierei
• Hydrosme rivierei
• Brachyspatha konjac
• Proteinophallus rivierei
• Amorphophallus mairei
• Amorphophallus nanus
• Amorphophallus rivierei

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It falls under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Alismatales, specifically being a member of the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Amorphophallus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across various regions of East Asia. In China, its presence is widespread, spanning from the South-Central and North-Central territories to the Southeast regions. It can also be found growing in the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Beyond the borders of China, the species extends its range into the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, the geographical footprint of Amorphophallus konjac covers diverse ecological zones throughout Eastern Asia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Amorphophallus konjac is characterized by its preference for specific altitudinal gradients and moist, shaded environments. This species typically thrives within a specialized elevational range, found at altitudes starting from a minimum of 830 m AMSL and reaching a maximum of 1200 m AMSL. Within these mid-elevation zones, the plant is often situated in forest understories or woodland edges where it can benefit from filtered sunlight and high humidity levels. The soil requirements generally involve well-draining, organic-rich substrates that maintain consistent moisture to support the development of its large corm, while avoiding waterlogged conditions that could lead to decay. Its distribution is closely tied to these specific montane or sub-montane ecological niches, which provide the necessary temperature stability and microclimatic conditions required for its seasonal growth cycles.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

830 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Amorphophallus konjac is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons by utilizing stored energy reserves. As a geophyte, it survives unfavorable environmental conditions by retreating into a specialized underground storage organ, typically a large corm, which protects its vital structures from seasonal fluctuations. This survival strategy is supported by its classification as a cryptophyte, meaning its regenerative buds are located safely below the soil surface, shielded from external stressors. Through this lifecycle, the plant undergoes periodic cycles of dormancy and active growth, emerging from the earth to produce its distinctive foliage and inflorescence before returning to its subterranean state.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Amorphophallus konjac is characterized by its growth form as a herb, featuring a non-woody structure that lacks any woodiness. The plant typically reaches a mean plant height of approximately 0.8 m. It functions as a self-supporting plant, meaning it does not require external support to maintain its upright stature, and it is classified as a non-climber. In terms of its ecological habit, it is an independent organism that does not act as a parasite, and it is strictly terrestrial rather than being an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.8 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Amorphophallus konjac is characterized by a specialized lifecycle centered around a massive, starch-rich underground corm that serves as the primary storage organ for carbohydrates and water. During its vegetative phase, the plant undergoes rapid metabolic activity to support the development of a large, compound leaf structure optimized for high photosynthetic efficiency, which facilitates the accumulation of glucomannan, a complex polysaccharide. This polysaccharide is synthesized within the parenchymatous tissues of the corm through the polymerization of D-mannose and D-glucose. The plant's metabolic processes are highly seasonal, transitioning from an active growth period driven by intense nutrient uptake and carbon assimilation to a period of dormancy where metabolic rates significantly decline to conserve energy. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, Amorphophallus konjac does not possess the physiological mechanisms for symbiotic associations with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, such as rhizobia; therefore, it is not a nitrogen fixer. Instead, it relies on the uptake of inorganic nitrogen (nitrates and ammonium) from the soil through its extensive root system to sustain its protein synthesis and cellular functions.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Amorphophallus konjac is a complex process driven by biotic pollination syndromes, relying heavily on living organisms to facilitate the transfer of pollen. This plant utilizes a specialized pollination strategy characterized by its attraction of specific animal vectors, most notably through a syndrome involving flies. As a biotic pollination system, the reproductive cycle is dependent on the interaction between the plant's inflorescence and its pollinators rather than abiotic factors like wind or water. Specifically, the plant employs chemical and visual cues to recruit flies, which act as the primary agents in its reproductive cycle, ensuring the successful fertilization required for seed production.

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Amorphophallus konjac has 32 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glucomannan, Konjac glucomannan, glucose, ALUMINUM, Ash.

Glucomannan

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in pharmacology

Konjac glucomannan

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

glucose

1. Dr. Duke
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Dr. Duke

CONIINE

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Amorphophallus konjac has 303 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antitumor, ACE-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor, Acetylcholinergic.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke
2. Oncology reports

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Amphiglycemic?

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Androgenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Amorphophallus konjac has 4 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include breast cancer, gastric cancer, hyperpigmentation, triple-negative breast cancer.

Most Reported Uses