Cyrtosperma carrii

Cyrtosperma merkusii

Robust to gigantic herb, up to 4 m tall, growing solitarily or in clumps. Rhizome short and slender to tuberous and very large, cylindrical, up to 2 m long and 0.6 m in diameter, sometimes globose, weighing up to 70 kg or even more, producing few to many suckers. Cyrtosperma merkusii used to be cultivated as a food crop in a manner similar to Taro (Colocasia). Since the unprocessed corms are toxic, they must always be cooked, usually in an earth oven.

Cyrtosperma sp.

Cyrtosperma is a semiaquatic aroid. The stalks have spiny, and the large lobed leaves are green. Perfect for greenhouse culture. Suitable for bogs and water gardens. Cyrtosperma used to be cultivated as a food crop in a manner similar to Taro (Colocasia)The leaves are used as food wrapings or plate; whereas, the stem, tuber, is cooked and eaten in many ways.

This genus is very sensitive to cool weather and must be protected from even the cooler days when the temperature falls to around 60F with wind.

Araceae contain crystals of calcium oxalate and proteolytic enzyme, which are often cited as causing the intense irritation experienced when handling or consuming the raw plant tissue of many genera in the family.

Dalbergia armata

This climber is distinctive by its thorns that grow from the stem. The flowers are small, white to cream, pea shaped and sweetly scented and produced from October to November. The fruit is a rather thin papery pod.

Desfontainea spinosa

This holly-like shrub is a native of the Andes mountains. In summer ut has showy red and yellow trumpet flowers. It prefers an acid, moist, peaty soil in some shade. It is only half-hardy in cold areas.