Lasia, Livid flower, Unicorn plant
A tropical plant. It is found in moist shady areas along rivers in evergreen forest. It grows in swampy places and wetlands. It can tolerate slightly brackish water. It needs a temperature between 25-35°C. In Papua New Guinea it grows from sea level to 500 m altitude. In Vietnam it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level. In Yunnan.
Also known as:
Asi ange, Bob nam, Changhrat, Chengmora, Chibru, Choc gai, Chonggi, Chusot, Gali-gali, Gegeli, Geli-geli, Golonta, Gongal-kanda, Hamwey, Henru ehong, Hotuplo, Janum saru, Jokha, Kanta kachoramu, Kanta kachu, Kanta saru, Kata kachu, Kattosh, Kebeibua, Kohila, Kohowila, Laksmana, Mop, Mulasari, Nchew, Neerugaddalu, Ngambing, Nhaam, Pachak, Pak naam, Pak-nam, Palang, Phak haam, Phak naam, Rashia supinosa, Rau gai, Ray gai, Sambeng, Sampi, Seng mora, Shidabu, Shir gantha, Sibru, Sor vi, Thatha khlao, Thwaites sampi, Unikon, Yang dou, Zayit
Synonyms
- Dracontium spinosum Linnaeus
- Lasia aculeata Lour.
- Lasia crassifolia Engl.
- Lasia descuscens Schott
- Lasia hermannii Schott
- Lasia heterophylla (Roxb.) Schott
- Lasia jenkinsii Schott
- Lasia roxburghii Griff.
- Lasia zollingeri Schott
- Pothos heterophyllus Roxb.
- Pothos lasia Roxb.
- Pothos spinosus (L.) Buch.-Ham. ex Wall.
- Lasia macrophylla Schott.
- ?
Edible Portion
- Leaves, Roots, Fruit, Flowers, Leaf stalk, Rhizome
Where does Lasia grow?
Found in: Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, PNG, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam
Notes: Rhizomes and leaves are used in medicine. There are 2 Lasia species.
Status: Plants grow wild and are cultivated and are sold in markets in Thailand. It is commonly used in Sri Lanka.
Growing Lasia, Livid flower, Unicorn plant
Cultivation: Plants can be grown by the creeping stems and also by seeds. The small tubers off the corms can be planted. They are planted in a hole.
Edible Uses: Young leaves are eaten as vegetables. They must be cooked or fermented to remove the bitter and poisonous hydrocyanic acid. (This breaks down with cooking) The fruit are eaten after being put in salt water (brine). The leaf stalks are peeled and used in curries to add flavour. The flower spadix is cooked as a vegetable. The harvested flowers can be stored for 7 days. The tubers are peeled then eaten after boiled. The corms can be stored for long periods in dry, well ventilated rooms. Leaves can be stored for 3 days.
Nutrition Info
per 100g edible portion| Edible Part | Energy (kcal) | Protein (g) | Iron (mg) | Vitamin A (ug) | Vitamin c (mg) | Zinc (mg) | % Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corm | 53 | 1.7 | 0.4 | - | 22 | - | 85 |
| Leaves | 34 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 89.9 |
Lasia, Livid flower, Unicorn plant Photos
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