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Bat plant (Tacca integrifolia)



Common Names:
  • in China: si xu ju ruo shu
  • in India: colbera, tagoon
  • in Indonesia: beting
  • Malay name: keladi murai

Scientific Names (Synonyms):

  • Ataccia aspera (Roxb.) Kunth
  • Ataccia cristata (Jack) Kunth
  • Ataccia integrifolia (Ker Gawl.) C.Presl
  • Ataccia laevis (Roxb.) Kunth
  • Ataccia lancifolia (Zoll. & Moritzi) Kunth
  • Tacca aspera Roxb.
  • Tacca choudhuriana Deb
  • Tacca cristata Jack
  • Tacca laevis Roxb.
  • Tacca lancifolia Zoll. & Moritzi
  • Tacca sumatrana H.Limpr.


Floral Description:
According to Flora of China:

  • Rhizomes subcylindric, thick.
  • Leaf blade oblong-lanceolate to oblong-elliptic, 50--55 × 18.5--21 cm, base cuneate, apex acuminate, sometimes caudate.
  • Scape ca. 55 cm; involucral bracts 4, outer 2 sessile, narrowly deltoid-ovate, inner 2 long petiolate, spatulate, thin.
  • Perianth purplish black; tube 1--2 cm; lobes 6, in 2 whorls, outer ones narrowly oblong, inner ones broadly obovate.
  • Filaments spatulate at apex. Style extremely short; stigma deeply 3-lobed.
  • Berry narrowly ellipsoid, 4--5 × ca. 2 cm, fleshy, 6-ridged, with persistent perianth lobes.
  • Seeds irregulaly ellipsoid-ovoid.


Pharmacological Actions

  • Tacca integrifolia tubers decoction mixed with honey and powdered bark of Shorea assamica taken for neck and body pain.
  • Caterpillar itch, pound the tuber and poultice.
  • Leaves applied to wounds or swelling.
  • Stem juice used in poison arrowheads.

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