DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES 253 



Genus ALOCASIA 



ALOCASIA MACRORRHIZA (L.) Schott. BlGA. 



Local names: Badidng (Occidental Negros, Cuyos) ; bagidng (Blsaya) ; 

 biga or bigd (Bulacan, Pangasinan, Pampanga, Manila, Laguna, Cama- 

 rines, Samar, Leyte, Mindoro, Romblon, Oriental and Occidental Negros, 

 Capiz, Iloilo) ; biga-biga (Manila) ; bira (Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Panga- 

 sinan) ; gdbi (Manila, Camarines, Cavite, Tayabas, Batangas) ; galidng 

 (Bisaya) ; gandi'is (Pampanga) ; malabiga (Bataan) ; palandn (Occidental 

 Negros); ragidng (Bisaya); sinin-dba (Ilocos Norte); talidng (Bisaya). 



The stems and corms of this plant are utilized to some extent 

 in the Philippines as food. They contain numerous, needle-like 

 crystals, which are destroyed by roasting or boiling. However, 

 they are little used as food, except when better kinds are scarce. 

 The food value is due to the starch content, which is apparently 

 small. Quisumbing,* who studied the corms of a two-year old 

 plant, reported that the percentage of starch when the stems 

 were fresh was 2.75, and when dry 18.80. 



The leaves and petioles of this plant also contain minute, 

 stinging crystals. As the plant is common in towns, being fre- 

 quently planted for ornamental purposes, children sometimes 

 take portions of the leaves or petioles into their mouths with 

 rather painful results. The remedy indicated in such cases is 

 vinegar or lemon juice. 



Alocasia macrorrhiza has large, arrow-shaped leaves and a 

 rather large trunk. It is exceedingly variable in size, depend- 

 ing on its habitat and the age of the plant. 



This species is widely distributed in the Philippines. It 

 occurs in open, wet lands, along streams, and in some types of 

 humid forests. 



Genus AMORPHOPHALLUS 



AMORPHOPHALLUS CAMPANULATUS (Roxb.) Blume. (Figs. 9, 10). 



PUNGAPUNG. 



Local names: Anto, oroi, pamangkilon (Bisaya); bdgang (Cagayan); 

 bagong (Camarines, Jolo) ; piingdpung, dpong, tukud-ldngit (Tagalog) ; 

 tige nga nagmanto (Pangasinan); tokod-bdnua (Pampanga). 



The petioles of this plant are frequently boiled for feeding 

 hogs. The corms, cut into slices and boiled, are also used for hog 

 food. The leaves and corms contain very numerous, stinging 

 crystals, which are destroyed by boiling. In some districts, 



* Quisumbing, F. A., The cultivated root-producing aroids. Philippine 

 Agriculturist and Forester, Volume 3 (1914), pages 85 to 98. 



