Polynesian arrowroot

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Arrowroot
• East Indian arrowroot
• Fiji arrowroot
• Polynesian arrowroot
• Tahiti arrowroot

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Arisaema gracile
• Tacca pinnatifida var. brownii
• Tacca madagascariensis
• Tacca brownii var. paeoniifolia
• Tacca pinnatifida f. obtusata
• Tacca madagascariensis
• Chaitaea tacca
• Podophyllum trilobum
• Tacca quanzensis
• Tacca pinnatifida var. acutifolia
• Tacca pinnatifida subsp. interrupta
• Tacca pinnatifida subsp. involucrata
• Tacca pinnatifida subsp. madagascariensis
• Tacca sativa
• Tacca pinnatifida var. paeoniifolia
• Leontice leontopetaloides
• Tacca pinnatifida var. permagna
• Tacca pinnatifida
• Tacca oceanica
• Tacca viridis
• Tacca umbrarum
• Tacca brownii
• Tacca artocarpifolia
• Tacca abyssinica
• Tacca gaogao
• Tacca involucrata
• Tacca involucrata var. acutifolia
• Tacca hawaiiensis
• Tacca dubia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dioscoreales, it falls under the family Dioscoreaceae. Specifically, it is identified by the genus Tacca as Tacca leontopetaloides.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Tacca leontopetaloides, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across several nations in West Tropical Africa. Within this region, it can be found growing in the territory of Benin. Its presence is also documented in Burkina Faso, contributing to its regional spread. Additionally, the species extends its range into the coastal and inland areas of the Gambia. Finally, the plant is known to inhabit parts of Ghana and Guinea-Bissau.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Tacca leontopepetaloides is characterized by its preference for low-lying environments, typically thriving at elevations ranging from a minimum of 50 m AMSL to a maximum of 200 m AMSL. This species is specifically adapted to habitats composed of dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation, where it can compete within disturbed or regenerating plant communities.

Elevational range max:

200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

50 m AMSL

Habitat :

dense secondary shrub and ruderal vegetation

Life history

The life history of Tacca leontopepaloides is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a geophyte, utilizing underground storage organs to survive unfavorable environmental conditions, which facilitates its long-term survival in its native habitat. Furthermore, its classification as a cryptophyte indicates that its regenerative buds are located safely below the soil surface, protecting the plant's vital structures from external stressors and ensuring its continued development over its lifecycle.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Tacca leontopetaloides is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. The plant is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, it is a self-supporting plant that does not require climbing structures, typically reaching a maximum height of approximately 1 meter, with a mean height of 1.25 meters and a minimum height of 0.2 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

1.25 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Tacca leontopetaloides is characterized by its specific carbon fixation strategy and distinct morphological dimensions. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway to facilitate energy production, a trait common among many tropical understory species. Morphologically, it possesses large, non-succulent leaves that lack specialized water-storage tissues. These leaves exhibit significant variation in size, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 30 cm to a maximum of 70 cm, and can reach a substantial maximum width of 120 cm. Furthermore, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on available soil nitrogen rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing bacteria to meet its nutritional requirements.

Leaf length max:

70 cm

Leaf length min:

30 cm

Leaf width max:

120 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Tacca leontopetaloides is characterized by the production of violet flowers that give way to the development of fruit. The plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which remains dry in texture and is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These fruits typically range in length from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds vary in size, with lengths ranging from 5.5 mm to 8 mm and a consistent seed volume of 23 mm³. The seed mass is relatively light, with a mean mass of approximately 0.0164 g, though individual seeds can range from a minimum of 0.00976 g to a maximum of 0.03041 g. Dispersal is primarily driven by a hydrochorous syndrome, indicating that the seeds are specialized for dispersal via water.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

2.5 cm

Fruit length min:

1.5 cm

Fruit type :

berry

Seed length max:

8 mm

Seed length min:

5.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.03041 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01642375 g

Seed mass min:

0.00976 g

Seed volume max:

23 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Tacca leontopetaloides has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Taccalonolide A.

Taccalonolide A

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Conditions

Tacca leontopetaloides has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Tacca leontopetaloides has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts of Tacca leontopetaloides tubers.

Extracts of tacca leontopetaloides tubers

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)