batflower
Tacca chantrieri André
Tacca chantrieri, described by Édouard André in 1901, is a species in the Dioscoreaceae family. Native to southeastern Asia, it is commonly called the batflower. This plant is known for its unique black, bat-like flowers and a primarily autonomous self-pollination mechanism. It thrives in tropical, moist environments and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for various conditions.
Description
Tacca chantrieri is a flowering plant in the Dioscoreaceae (yam) family. It is native to regions including Assam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China South-Central, China Southeast, Hainan, Laos, Malaya, Myanmar, Thailand, Tibet, and Vietnam. The plant is distinguished by its dark-colored, bat-shaped flowers. It predominantly self-pollinates and is adapted to tropical, moist habitats. In traditional Chinese medicine, it has been used for a range of health conditions.
Other common names
cat's-whiskersbatflowerdevil-flowerblack bat flowercat's whiskersdevil flower
Distribution
Assam · Bangladesh · Cambodia · China South-Central · China Southeast · Hainan · Laos · Malaya · Myanmar · Thailand · Tibet · Vietnam
Synonyms
Schizocapsa breviscapaSchizocapsa itagakiiTacca esquiroliiTacca garrettiiTacca lancifolia var. breviscapaTacca macranthaTacca minorTacca paxianaTacca roxburghiiTacca vespertilioTacca wilsoniiClerodendrum esquirolii
