Tacca plantaginea
Tacca plantaaginea, commonly known as the Bat Flower, is an exotic medicinal plant prized for its striking, dark foliage and unique blooms. Beyond its ornamental beauty, it holds significant value in traditional herbal practices, where its unique bioactive compounds are explored for their potential therapeutic and healing properties.
- Scientific name: Tacca plantaginea
- Family: Dioscoreaceae
- Native range: Asia-Temperate
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Dioscoreales, falling into the family Dioscoreaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Tacca.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Dioscoreales | WCVP |
| Family | Dioscoreaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Tacca | WCVP |
Distribution
This plant is widely distributed across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is noted in the South-Central, Southeast, and Hainan areas. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found growing in Bangladesh. Additionally, the species extends into the Indo-China region, specifically within Laos. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive in various subtropical environments.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| China | China South-Central | WCVP |
| China | Hainan | WCVP |
| China | China Southeast | WCVP |
| Indian Subcontinent | Bangladesh | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Laos | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Thailand | WCVP |
| Indo-China | Vietnam | WCVP |
Chemicals
Tacca plantaginea has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include plantagineoside A, plantagineoside B, plantagineoside C.
- Total chemicals
- 3
- Scientific sources
- 3
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| plantagineoside A | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plantagineoside B | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| plantagineoside C | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Tacca plantaginea has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer.
- Total uses
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| cancer | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |