Typhonium flagelliforme

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Heterostalis flagelliformis
• Typhonium hastiferum
• Arum ptychiurum
• Arum flagelliferum
• Arum flagelliforme
• Arum angulatum
• Arum divaricatum
• Typhonium flagelliferum
• Typhonium flagelliforme var. angustissimum
• Typhonium incurvatum
• Typhonium sylvaticum
• Typhonium reinwardtianum
• Typhonium cuspidatum
• Typhonium cuspidatum var. ptychiurum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Alismatales, it is classified under the family Araceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Typhonium, with its specific species name being flagelliforme.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is specifically noted in both the South-Central and Southeast territories. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species can be found throughout India and Bangladesh. Additionally, the plant is documented to grow within the specific region of Assam. These diverse locations highlight its adaptability to various tropical and subtropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Typhonium flagelliforme is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a cryptophyte, it relies on specialized underground structures to survive unfavorable conditions, ensuring its long-term presence in its natural habitat. Its specific life form is classified as a geophyte, meaning it maintains its vital organs underground in the form of tubers or rhizomes, which protect the plant during dormant periods and facilitate regrowth when environmental conditions become favorable.

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

cryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Typhonium flagelliforme is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically functioning as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. This plant is primarily terrestrial in its habitat, though it can exist within a spectrum ranging from aquatic to semiaquatic environments. Structurally, it is a self-supporting species rather than an obligatory or facultative climber, and it does not exhibit epiphytic behavior, remaining strictly terrestrial. In terms of stature, it is a relatively low-growing plant, with a plant height that ranges from 0 m up to a maximum of 0.5 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Typhonium flagelliforme has 2 reported plant parts identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include rhizome, root.

Rhizome

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

Root

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Chemicals

Typhonium flagelliforme has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include BETA-SITOSTEROL, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, 9-octadecenoic acid, CHLOROFORM, Coniferin.

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
2. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

9,12-Octadecadienoic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

9-octadecenoic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CHLOROFORM

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Coniferin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Cycloartane-3.beta.,25-diol

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

DODECANE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

EICOSANE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Ergost-7-en-3-ol

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

HEPTADECANE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Typhonium flagelliforme has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, leukemia, lung cancer, malignancies, oral cancer.

Cancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Fitoterapia
3. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leukemia

1. Leukemia research

Lung cancer

1. Medical oncology (Northwood, London, England)

Malignancies

1. Fitoterapia

Oral cancer

1. Fitoterapia

Preparations

Typhonium flagelliforme has 4 reported preparations identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include dichloromethane (DCM) tuber extracts, methanolic extract, raw rhizome, root tuber.

Dichloromethane (dcm) tuber extracts

1. Leukemia research

Methanolic extract

1. Fitoterapia

Raw rhizome

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

Root tuber

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials