Nguyen, Bui, Nguyen, Tien, Masuno and Matthews, 2015 Useful aroids and their prospects in Vietnam Useful aroids and their prospects in Vietnam

Nguyen Van Du, Bui Hong Quang, Nguyen Thi Van Anh Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Tran Van Tien National Academy of Public Administration, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Masuno T. Graduate University for Advanced Studies, Hayama, Japan.

Peter J. Matthews National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan.

ABSTRACT KEY WORDS Although aroids are best known as food Vietnam, Araceae, ethnobotany, medicine, plants, a large majority of the wild and food, fodder, ornamental cultivated species in Vietnam have medicinal uses. Detailed studies of optimal growth conditions and effectiveness for medicinal INTRODUCTION use are needed for all of these plants. In Vietnam, the family Araceae comprises Ethnobotanical and practical studies also 135 species belonging to 24 genera that are needed for sustainable management of wild distributed throughout the country. Many aroid populations. This paper highlights the are used for medicinal, food, fodder, and general scarcity of information on medically ornamental purposes. Some also have useful aroids. significance in superstition. The uses vary between areas and tribes and many uses represent local customs that may have great

Aroideana VOL 38E NO 1, 2015 130 Nguyen, Bui, Nguyen, Tien, Masuno and Matthews, 2015 Useful aroids and their prospects in Vietnam antiquity. Here the plants are categorized (Table 1) is derived from sources cited in into four main usage groups: medicinal, the reference list, and from authors’ food, fodder, and ornamental. Some taxa observations. Information is lacking for have multiple uses, and some, despite being several genera. Exotic aroid taxa that have found in Vietnam only recently, have great been introduced to Vietnam very recently, potential for industrial development. as ornamental plants, but are not included here (see discussion). While discussing each usage group, we comment on the conservation status and Table 1. Uses of aroid species in Vietnam, prospects for particular species. Special with particular reference to the plant parts emphasis is given to the potential of used. Abbreviations: Medicinal (M), food Amorphophallus konjac as a crop for the food (Fd), fodder (Fr), ornamental (O), industry in Vietnam. indigenous (I), exotic (E), natural (wild) source (Nat), cultivated (Cult), abundant (Ab) limited abundance (L). Vernacular COMPILATION OF DATA names are given for each genus, followed by Relatively little has been published on the details for species. Information sources are uses of aroids in Vietnam, and the available indicated. reports are very brief. Most reports concern medicinal uses. The present compilation

Vietnamese Parts Origin & Scientific name Uses name used abundance Aglaonema Van nien thanh Schott A. costatum N. Br. Van nien thanh  M: respiratory stem I, Nat, Ab song, Van nien diseases (Vo, 2003) dom A. modestum Van nien thanh M: throat inflammation, stem I, Nat, L Schott ex Engl. sang diphtheria, intestine and snakebite (Vo, 1997; 2003)

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Vietnamese Parts Origin & Scientific name Uses name used abundance A. tenuipes Engl. Van nien thanh M: snakebite, venom stem I, Nat, Ab manh. extraction (Vo, 1997; 2003) laxative, poultice for carbuncles (Nguyen 1993) Alocasia Chi ray (Schott) G. Don. A. cucullata Ray duoi nhon, M: colds, windpipe rhizom I, Cult, Ab (Lour.) G. Don Ray tui inflammation, pulmonary e tuberculosis, snakebite (Vo, 1997; 2003) A. longiloba Miq. Ray tai la dai, M: sore-eye with pus rhizom I, Nat, L in cattle; rhizome heated in e bathwater to treat hives, itches, pimples (Vo, 1997; 2003) A. macrorrhizos Ray rung M: uses similar to A. stem E, Cult, L (L.) G. Don odora, next. Also Fd, O (Nguyen, 2000)

A. odora C. Koch Ray dai, Da vu, M: gout, stomach stem I, Nat, Ab Ray bac ha. ache or pain, cholera, broken bone, snakebite, scorpion bite, boiled-water burn, bleeding, liver detoxification (Vo, 1997; 2003; 2004). poultice for furuncles (Nguyen, 1993). Also O Amorpho- Chi nua phallus Blume ex Decne A. paeoniifolius Nua chuong, M: dysentery, corm I, Nat, Cult, (Dennst.) Khoai na, Khoai encourage formation and (M), Ab Nicolson nua, To ngu ejection of sputum (Vo, 1997; corm & (bung ran) 2003; 2004). Also Fd petiole (Fd)

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Vietnamese Parts Origin & Scientific name Uses name used abundance A. konjac K. Khoai nua, M: cancer, lung corm I, Cult, L Koch Khoai ngai, sputum, apoplexy Nua konjac (unconsciousness), aphonia, tightened chest, indigestion, malaria, etc. (Vo, 1997; 2003); reducing blood sugar level; poultice for furuncles (Nguyen, 1993). Also Fd Anadendrum Thang moc Schott A. montanum Ray thuong thu M: snakebite, malaria, etc. stem & I, Nat (Blume) Schott nui, Thang moc (Vo, 1997; 2003) leaves nui Arisaema Mart. Nam tinh A. consanguineum Nam tinh M: toxicosis blood, corm I, Nat, L Schott khong long, children’s convulsion, Thien Nam indigestion, snakebite, skin tinh disease (Vo, 1997; 2003) A. decipiens Schott Nam tinh ky di M: detoxification (Nguyen, corm I, Nat, L 1993). Colocasia Khoai nuoc, Schott Khoai mon C. esculenta (L.) Khoai nuoc, M: snakebite, pimples, corm, Nat, Cult Schott Mon nuoc, etc. (Vo, 1997; 2003); Fd leaf, Khoai so, Khoai (Nguyen, 2000, Vo, 1997; stolon mon 2004), Fr (Masuno et al., 2012)

C. gigantea (Bl. Ex Mon To, Doc M: heated in bathwater to whole Nat, Cult Hassk.) Hook. f. Mung treat hives, leprosy (Vo, plant, 1997; 2003). Fd: peeled leaf petiole Epipremnum Ray leo

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Vietnamese Parts Origin & Scientific name Uses name used abundance E. pinnatum (L.) Ray ngot M: Treating sore-eye, stem & Nat, Cult Engl. rheumatism bone pain, itches, leaves poultice for furuncles (Vo. 2003). Also O Homalomena Chi thien nien Schott kien

H. gigantea Engl. Thien nien kien M: rheumatism (Nguyen. rhizom I, Nat, L & K. Krause la lon 1993), tendon aches and e curled paralysis (Vo, 1997;

Figure 3. Doc mung, a popular soup made with peeled and sliced sections from the petiole of Colocasia gigantea (thin pieces in center of the dish, showing aerenchyma). There is little or no acridity, and minimal cooking is required. Red River valley, northern Vietnam, 2011. (Image Matthews.)

Figure 4. Amorphophallus paeoniifolius in cultivation. Ba Be, northern Vietnam, 2010. (Image Nguyen.)

H. occulta (Lour.) Vat veo, Hia 2003); stimulating digestion rhizom I, Nat, L Engl. hau ton (Dao), under the style of decoction e Thien nien kien, or alcohol soaked; coughing Son thuc up blood, tuberculosis, flu, H. tonkinensis Thien nien kien rheumatism bone pain, rhizom I, Nat, L Engl. bac bo. pimples, swollen foot e (Nguyen, 2007); reducing H. vietnamensis Thien nien kien heat, fever, pain; rhizom I, Nat, L Bogner & V.D. pi-e strengthening tendon. e Nguyen Lasia Lour. Chi choc gai

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Vietnamese Parts Origin & Scientific name Uses name used abundance L. spinosa (L.) Ray gai, Mop  M: sputum, phlegm, whole I, Nat, L Thw. gai, K’lang don asthma, kidney diseases, plant (K’ho) edema, osteoarthritis pain, (M); cough, inflammation of petiole throat rheumatism (Nguyen, (Fd) 1993), light hepatitis and skin healing. Fd also.  Pistia L. Chi beo cai P. stratiotes L. Beo cai  M: skin - I, Nat, Ab disease (pimples, rashes) cough, asthma, menstrual cramps, diuretic (Nguyen, 1993, Vo, 1997; 2003; 2004) emmenagogue antiasthmatic  Pothos L. Chi ray leo P. repens (Lour.) Ray leo  M: hemorrhage, whole I, Nat, Ab Druce restless pregnancy, brain plant membranes pain, post-injury spasm, wrong joints; stem extract for joint pain  P. scandens L. Ray leo la hep,  M: snakebite, stem & I, Nat, Ab Day than lan, smallpox, asthma; post-natal leaves Trau ba rung recovery

Remusatia Ray mon Schott R. vivipara (Lodd) Ray nham, Ray M: pimples, scabies (Vo, stem Nat Schott mon 1997; 2003; 2004) Rhaphi- Duoi phuong dophora Hassk.

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Vietnamese Parts Origin & Scientific name Uses name used abundance Rh. decursiva Ray leo la rach,  M: muscle pain; stem & I, Nat, Ab (Roxb.) Schott Cay duoi strong antibiotic (substitute leaves phuong, Lan to for penicillin or sulfonamide uyn, Day song to treat wound) (Nguyen, ran. 1993; Vo, 1997; 2003; 2004),

Rh. hongkongensis Duoi phuong M: whip wounds, broken stem & I, Nat, Ab Schott hong kong bone, rheumatism, leaves respiratory impairment, whooping-cough (Vo, 1997; 2003; 2004) Rh. hookeri Schott Ray leo la lon, M: soak in alcohol for stem I, Nat, Ab Tram dai aphrodisiacal drink; whip wound, broken bone, rheumatic, respiratory impairment, whooping-cough (Vo, 1997; 2003; 2004) Scindapsus Dau ba Schott S. officinalis Day ba, Ray M: snakebite (Do, 1995; Vo, stem & I, Nat, L (Roxb.) Schott day la lon 1997; 2003; 2004) leaf

Steudnera Khoai thom K.Koch S. henryana Engl. - M: rheumatism bone pain; stem & Nat, Cult snakebite (Vo, 2004) corm Typhonium Ban ha Schott T. blumei Ban ha, Choc ri corm I, Nat, Cult, Nicolson & M: internal wound (small Ab Sivadasan dose) (Do, 1995; Vo, 1997; T. trilobatum Cu choc, Ban ha 2004); phlegm, lung disease corm I, Nat, Cult, Schoott ba thuy, Ban ha (Do, 1995; Vo, 1997; 2004) Ab nam T. flagelliforme Ban ha roi, M: sputum, respiratory corm I, Nat, Ab (Lodd.) Blume Choc roi, Rau disease, pimples, insect bite choc. (Do, 1995; Vo, 1997; 2004)

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Vietnamese Parts Origin & Scientific name Uses name used abundance Xanthosoma - X. sagittifolium Mon Fd, Fr (Masuno et al., 2012) corm, E, Cult (L.) Schott leaf

DISCUSSION considerable income for people in some provinces, and has helped to alleviate Medicinal uses poverty. Taro yields in Ninh Binh, for So far 32 aroid species belonging to 16 example, are 10–11 ton/hectare, earn nearly genera have been recorded as medicinal 100 million VND/hectare. In that province, plants (Table 1). They are used to treat both more than 200 hectares are used for taro internal and external conditions, and are cultivation, mostly in the districts of Nho often taken unsustainably from natural Quan, Yen Mo, Tam Diep. Annually, these (wild) sources. Only five of the medicinal districts produce more than 2000 tons. aroids are also reported as food plants. Detailed studies of optimal growth Among the aroids of Vietnam, C. esculenta conditions and effectiveness for medicinal and C. gigantea are most widely used as use are needed for all of these plants. vegetables. In many areas, the young leaves Ethnobotanical and practical studies are also and stolons of colocasia (wild or cultivated) needed to record current practices, and are cooked for various dishes. The cooking future requirements for sustainable procedures, despite being simple, still management of wild aroid populations, require a certain amount of care because which grow under diverse social and the acridity of the plants used varies. Some environmental conditions. people believe that avoiding use of chopsticks while cooking will prevent the food becoming itchy. Food uses Mon group. Two species from two different Wild C. gigantea is abundant in Vietnam, genera are classed together as Mon: Colocasia especially in kaarst (limestone) regions esculenta (L.) Schott (taro) and Xanthosoma (Figure 1). The petiole of cultivated C. sagittifolium (L.) Schott. gigantea (Figure 2) is a widely popular vegetable eaten by most Vietnamese. The Taro (C. esculenta) is grown widely and is a plant is commonly known as Bac ha in common food. It also is called Khoai so, and southern Vietnam and as Doc mung in many different cultivar names exist (Nguyen northern Vietnam. The leaf stem is peeled, 2000, Trinh et al., 2004). Taro provides chopped, salted and boiled carefully with

Aroideana VOL 38E NO 1, 2015 137 Nguyen, Bui, Nguyen, Tien, Masuno and Matthews, 2015 Useful aroids and their prospects in Vietnam pork ribs or bones along with seasonings China. The discovery of diverse, edible such as turmeric, chilli, and onion. Doc mung Amorphophallus species in Northern Vietnam soup (Figure 3) is one of Vietnam’s suggests that konjac can be developed as a distinctive dishes (Nguyen, 2005). commercial crop in Vietnam. Research on methods of cultivation, breeding and Xanthosoma sagittifolium originated in South evaluation of glucomannan content are now America and was introduced to Vietnam at being conducted. It is hoped that Vietnam an unknown date. Possibly the earliest can produce konjac flour on a larger scale in botanical record of in Vietnam is in the the near future. Flora Cochinchinensis of Loureiro (1789), who described it as a minor cultigen, under the From tropical and subtropical Asia to name Arum sagittifolium. The corms and Madagascar and the Pacific Islands, leaves can be used in the same way as the Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (syn. A. corms and leaves of taro. Xanthosoma campanulatus Bl. ex Decne.) is best known as sagittifolium is easy to grow, can be grown in a source of carbohydrate produced by large a wide range of environments, and can give underground corms (Burkill, 1966; Whistler, higher yields than C. esculenta. The yield of 2009). In Vietnam the petiole of this plant Xanthosoma has been reported to be as much (Figure 4) is also a traditional vegetable. In as 20 tons/ha in Vietnam, with a value Quang Tho (Quang Dien district of Hue equivalent to 1,500 USD. However, the city) this vegetable has been eaten for many cultivation area of this crop in Vietnam is generations. After being peeled and cut, the not known. petiole is cooked for many different food dishes, including salad, fish soup, and Amorphophallus group: Recently five species braised fish. of Amorphophallus (A. konjac, A. krausei, A. corrugatus, A. yuloensis, and A. yunnanensi) Other taxa used as food. Alocasia macrorrhizos is have been newly discovered in Vietnam. a widespread introduced plant in Vietnam, The corms of these species are only used as in the vicinity of human settlement, but is food among the Mong and Nung minorities not well known as a food source at present. in some high mountain areas. In Japan, In some areas in Vietnam, the young leaf of Korea and China the corms of edible Lasia spinosa is also eaten as vegetable. This Amorphophallus species are commonly usage is not widely known due to limited known as konjac, are used in the food distribution of the plant. It is likely that industry, and are highly regarded as a source other wild aroid taxa are also used as food of dietary fiber, or medicinal food. For sources. mountain farmers in Vietnam, konjac corms could become a good income source. Every year, Vietnam has been importing thousands of tonnes of konjac flour from

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Figure 1. Colocasia gigantea growing wild; these have a milky sap (latex) and are very acrid. Sapa District, northern Vietnam, 2012. (Image Matthews.)

Fodder uses Aroids are also important fodder plants in Vietnam, especially for pigs. The taxa used include Alocasia odora, A. macrorrhizos, Figure 2. A cultivated form of Colocasia Colocasia esculenta, C. gigantea, and gigantea, with larger number of veins in the Amorphophallus paeoniifolius. Most commonly blade than the wild form in Figure 1. used is C. esculenta, which contributes Morphological diversity in wild and significantly to small-scale pig raising and cultivated forms of this species has not been household income (Masuno et al., 2012). studied. Near Ba Vi, Hanoi district. (Image Other species (Alocasia odora and A. Matthews.) macrorrhizos) are also fed to pigs but only during dry seasons. Additionally, A. odora is fed to pigs that are only raised to serve the now solely used to feed pigs in the place of demand of local people. Pigs that feed on other fodder plants. A. odora plants produce pork with distinct taste and other qualities, when compared to factory-reared pigs fed on industrial mash Ornamental uses and grains. In Hue, central Vietnam, the Historically, only a few species have been corm of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius is no used as ornamental plants in Vietnam, most longer made into a special cake for human notably: Alocasia odora, A. macrorrhizos, and consumption due to a complicated and Epipremnum pinnatum. These are used for time-consuming procedure. The plant is garden, perimeter and interior decoration.

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Figure 3 Figure 4

Today, many aroid species and hybrid of forest habitats. Some may respond species from Southern America, are positively to limited disturbance of natural imported into Vietnam in large numbers, habitats. usually through a third country. Many of these have leaf and inflorescence with The preservation of these plants will attractive color and shape. Moreover, many depend closely on the preservation and of them can survive in relatively dark management of the forests and the conditions, making them appropriate for environment in general. Close attention also indoor decoration. The majority of these needs to be given to the value of these new ornamental introductions belong to plants for local communities and for trade, Aglaonema, Alocasia, Anthurium, Caladium, and the potential for commercial Homalomena, and Zantedeschia. production under cultivation as an alternative to gathering from the wild. CONCLUSIONS Many aroid are widely used in the daily life ACKNOWLEDGMENTS of Vietnamese people. Amorphophallus and This work was partly supported by a Colocasia species are commercially and cooperative project of the Institute of economically valuable, and are cultivated on Ecology and Biological Resources, Vietnam, a large scale inside or outside Vietnam. and the National Museum of Ethnology, Most of the taxa used for medicinal Osaka. The first author would like to thank purposes come from natural or wild Mr John Tan Hoe, Gardening Society of environments and are likely to become Singapore, for his generous support during more scarce with the continued destruction the study of Araceae in Vietnam. The last

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